How To: Spark Plug Change (1 GR-FE)

Got mine done today. The passenger side is definitely easier than the drivers side, however I did not pull off most the parts the post recommended. The photos made it so much easier, thanks!! I found that the used plugs came out with a gap of 0.50 compared to the new plugs that had gaps of 0.45. I ended up buying a Tekton spark plug adapter for my ratchet which made the job SO much easier. Came with an extension and the head was magnetized so it held the spark plug as I pulled out the tool. This was done with 35,000 on the ODO.

 

thanks chris4x4 for the detailed direction, i wouldn't have attempted this without. 1.5 hrs and satisfaction!

 

Just changed my plugs at 82k. I bought the truck at 80k and figured id change them because i doubt they were ever changed before and turns out I was right.

 

nice job, can you tell a difference in the performance?

 

Did this on two Tacomas last Sunday.

2007 Sport was more difficult because the bracket on the drivers side has other "stuff" attached to it that made it harder to get out of the way. Plus this was the first time attempting this for me. Elapsed time = 2 hours.

2005 SR5 was a cake walk. Bracket was easy to get out of the way and I learned from the first truck. Elapsed time = 45 minutes.

 

Not right off hand. I'm hoping I will see a difference my next fill up.

 

I did notice an increase in MPG this past tank, upwards of 1-1.5mpg. Before I changed them out I was averaging 14-15 mostly highway with some city driving (70/30), but afterwords I got 16.5 on this last tank with the same ratio of hwy to city. And that was only after 34K.

 

This is an excellent write up. Bought Denso form the Dealer for $3.28/ea. Took about an hour to install. I don tknow if anyone has mentioned this previously as i did not read all 80 pages. I like to use a Piece of hose to grab the plug once it has been loosened. THen use it to install as well. The black Hose is probaly a $1 or $2

 

When installing new plugs can just NGK be used or does one side need to be Denso?

 

You can use either or .....personally I prefer Denso!

 

Just did mine (at 154000 km). It had Den so on the passenger side, and NGK on the driver side!

 

Yeah mine had both as well. I ran all denso this go round and I can't tell any difference other than they needed it

 

As far as I could tell, they were the original spark plugs. They have been in there for 8 years. It is either that or the previous owner had it serviced at the dealer and that is what they were doing (I highly doubt it, though).

 

Just changed my spark plugs (thanks for the write up Chris) and found that the whole driver's side had the NGK plugs and the passenger's side had all denzo. This was for the 30k service so the dealership shouldn't have done this right? If that is the case, has anyone else seen this in their 30k service?

 

Lucky for me I didn't have to pay for any services until this 30k which is why I did it myself. But that makes sense that they wouldn't kill themselves over doing the driver's side...
Either way, I have some phone calls to make to the two dealerships that have serviced the truck to find out who owes me.

 

Anybody have any suggestions that will help me, I'm getting ready to change the plugs on my v6 and I don't think they've ever been changed I have currently 160,000 miles on the vehicle, I bought it used with 62,000 miles on it, this will be my first time changeling plugs in an aluminum head

 

it's a very easy job, just take your time. there is really nothing special about, you'll want a long extension for your socket and swivel extension would be nice but certainly not required.

i have a magnet on a chain that i use to drop in "catch" the old plug. do the passenger side first because its much easier and you'll get a hang of it before tackling the more difficult plugs.

you should notice a huge improvement once completed!

 

I'm just a little worried about damaging the threads on removal, being the head is aluminum and the threads on the sparkplug are steel