Wrong spark plugs....

Hey guys, I just replaced the spark plugs in my fiance's 2002 Taco. They haven't been replaced in about 6 years.. they were waaay past due.

I put the correct plugs in... The old ones were the wrong ones. Single ground, and not double, like they're supposed to be.

Should I be worried ?What can I expect now that we have the RIGHT ones. More power, better performance, or.maybe just improved gas mileage? Also, been smelling gasoline a lot when she pulls up. Could the right spark plugs fix that.

Thanks

 

There is absolutely zero performance difference between dual electrodes and single electrodes. If you see any performance increase it will be from replacing worn plugs with new plugs and nothing more. Dual ground plugs increase plug life spanand nothing more. No, plugs have nothing to do with fuel smell.

 

If the old plugs wernt burning hot enough to get all the fuel that may ve why you were smelling fuel.

 

Well, that's the opposite of what the last guy said. Lol

 

And it's also false

 

Failure to ignt can cause the rich smell

Though more then likely it’s actually being cause by a vacuum leak or bad maf

 

If it was rich enough that you were getting raw fuel smell the thing would barely run if at all

 

Just replaced my plugs today. From my research it seems the plugs are dual grounded to increase life span. The coils actually fire twice during the cycle (once for combustion and again during exhaust to burn any remaining fuel before ejecting it, this is why there are 3 coil packs and 3 jumper wires). If the old ones weren't burning all the fuel on the combustion stroke then it should have been taken care of on the exhaust stroke. I am no expert but this is my understanding.

In short, I believe Vern650 is correct, new plugs should have no correlation with the gas smell.

 

Your right on everything except the second spark being "to burn remaining fuel". Simply put 3 coils are cheaper than 6. Waste spark ignitions are not new, been around a while in many applications.

 

Ok cool thanks guys.

And @Sperrunner my ladies truck has a CEL code P0440 which, yes, is the EVAP system. So I think we have a problem with vacume or seals somewhere.

Already replaced the MAF, checked hoses (need to again) and now changed all the plugs.

Any advice on my next steps?

 

P0440 can cause a gas smell for sure. The canister is on the drivers side engine bay and can be causing the smell, check hoses or odors from the canister. Checking gas cap for locking and sealing is a good idea as well.

Leaking injectors are another concern. Spark plugs typically won't cause a fuel smell unless its flooding from a serious misfire.

 

Thanks Bishop. Yeah I already replaced her gas cap, MAF, and plugs. So the canister is the black box on the driver's side engine bay? it's not behind the rear tires. Or is that the valve, back above the gas tank.

 

2002 should be in the engine bay I believe, your 11 is behind the gas tank.

Edit I think I'm wrong you are right.

 

Ahh good point. Yeah I have a 2011. My fiance has a 2002.

I gotta do the 80k maintenance on my 2011 next. Ugh. Never ends. Kinda fun tho

 

Canister is under the truck on 2002, looks like it changed after 2001, most 3.4's prior had engine bay charcoal canisters. I stand corrected

 

95-97 has one small canister in in he engine bay
98-01 had a more complex one in the engine bay
02-04 has it right over the gas tank

 

But you don't get 2 Sparks, the laws of physics and science dictate so. Electricity ALWAYS follows the path of least resistance. So whichever electrode is slightly closer is going to get all the spark. As a spark plug fires it gradually breaks down the electrodes opening the gap ever so slightly. So on dual ground plugs eventually the gap on the slightly closer electrode that is seeing the work will open up enough that the other electrode now is closer and will become the active electrode. This will continue for the life of the plug. Thus the dual electrodes having double the surface area to wear down, they should have double the life span over a single ground plug. Now days nobody uses multi ground plugs because we have platinum and iridium plugs that are harder material so they last longer, but Just like dual ground plugs, They do NOT give any more performance. Just life expectancy because nobody wants to maintain their vehicles now days, they just wanna add gas and go.

 

So @vern650 the single ground NGK Iridium I originally had woulda worked fine... and possibly better than the cheaper Denso i swapped em out with, to ensure I had dual ground. lol.

and thanks @Sperrunner i guess it won't be an easy fix today then.. I'm not quite ready to drop the gas tank. I was hoping the canister was in the engine bay. ugh. I'll still check all my hoses n such and see what I can find.

Anyone know of a do-it-yourself smoke system. Or something I can buy that will let me find the leak using smoke. I've seen a few videos do that online.

 

You can check the canister easy if you crawl under the rear. It’s pretty easy to spot

 

Really? Any help would be much appreciated. I'm trying to get rid of this error code and CEL today, is possible. I'll crawl under there right now