Any high mileage 4 cylinders?

Some fools don't believe that I'm riding with the original spark plugs in my 99 Tacoma. 285k & going..,

 

That's what I would expect 285,000 mile spark plugs to look like. I bet that gap is about 3x the spec gap. Not good.

But overall I agree you can't buy a better truck... 2nd gen!

 

From a different era perhaps, but my 1983 4 cyl. 22RE had 415,000 miles on it when I gave it to one of my in-laws. The engine/transmission/differential/etc. were still fine. The steering/suspension were worn out - A/C gone. It was time for new one.

Best truck I ever owned.

 

The vast majority of vehicles (including Tacomas) that have gone 400,000 miles and beyond are driven tons of miles early in their life. Like 100+ miles per day minimum )very much along the same lines as sucra commented above, with commercial use being the best example). So they rack up huge mileage early in their lives before things start rotting and falling apart. Yes there are older vehicles with tons of miles but they are rare -- older vehicles tend to get scrapped due to some issue not related to general drivetrain condition (structural/rust, electrical, etc).

 

I had 367,000 on my 09 I had to put new spark plugs in it at 250k. It was a auto base model. I sold it in one day for $3500 and regret getting ride of it. Never had any major issues. The alternator went bad at 320k. Ac always worked great.

 

I believe

 

My 1998 Access cab 4x4 2.7L manual had 405,000 miles when I sold it. It was my work truck and I logged over 100 miles a day. Other than regular maintenance, never replaced anything major except the front brake rotors. Other then that only brakes pads/shoes, battery (twice), and tires. Drove from Atlanta to LA 4 times towing a trailer 3 times, and a car once. Never missed a beat. Best truck I ever owned. I hated to sell it, but we moved to Colombia, and I didn't want to pay to ship it here.

 

My folks have a 97 sr5 4x4 (3.4).. The odo reads 243,000 and it stopped working in 2008. My dad still drives it as a daily

 

Mine got 215k & still running with the original spark plugs

 

All these people with original spark plugs... the engine feels like it's still running fine and you aren't seeing or feeling any adverse affects, but you really should change them. If for nothing else but to confirm they are not seized into the head. (If you pull them for this purpose alone, might as well replace them eh?) I can see circumstances conspiring in someone's life and having to wait maybe 20-30k miles beyond the recommendation but 100k beyond is a bad idea, pure and simple. It's your truck, obviously do whatever you want to. I just needed to put in my $0.02

 

Once I get to 225k, I will replace them.. well maybe..

 

Bought a new 1994 22re 5 speed.

Put 400,000 on it then gave it to a Preacher in Alabama.

He put another 200,000 on it before he broke the timing chain.

 

Well, maybe we are being lied to about the "real" life of a spark plug just like everything else. I put NGK Iridiums in my 2.7 48,000 miles ago. I pulled them and checked them out at 30,000. Nothing to say. They were perfect. I'll see how long they last. I do pull them every 30-60,000 miles to see how they are doing. After reading some of these posts maybe I've been "over maintaining" my vehicles for the last 10 years. Newer engine oils, spark plugs etc. mean less maintenance. At least that is what I'm thinking.

I'm going to see how long theses Iridiums really last.

 

I changed mine at 100,000 - they looked fine.

 

I don't understand the obsession with running plugs until they reach 100,000 miles. Toyota recommends replacement every 30,000 miles (Tacoma V6 non platinum/iridium plugs). I know that many folks here say Toyota specifies double-ground iridiums, but their factory service blog (https://parts.olathetoyota.com/blog/9526/when-to-replace-spark-plugs) shows non-platinum/iridium with a 30,000 mile recommendation for the Tacoma V6. Either way, a 100,000 mile plug that has seen 80,000 miles is 80% worn out. New plugs put less strain on the ignition system, let the engine idle better, and give the best gas mileage. Besides, a set of plugs (even platinum/iridium) only costs about 50 dollars.

Changing spark plugs, especially on a V6, is a PITA but definitely worth the time and effort.

- JAMES

 

The reason those like me use iridium's or platinum is because they last so long. It has nothing to do with mileage or performance. It's the fact that we don't want to pay a gazillion dollars and take a day off of work to have them changed and we don't want to waste the time every 30,000 miles changing our own. Which, while quite simple, still takes time. I personally, am in the "I'm not paying the price to have someone else change my plugs crowd" but at the same time I'm in the "I'm not changing my plugs every 30,000 miles crowd". I'll see how long my iridiums last and then make my decision.

So far fuel mileage as well as idle has never changed and "performance" never changed as if anyone could associate the word "performance" to a 2.7 which is non-existent. The only time my "performance" changes is when I run 91 octane. I've been running 87 for months now though. I can't put my finger on it but my Taco seems to run better on the 91. Even at 7000 feet.

So far my iridiums have worked flawlessly and my bulletproof, under powered 2.7 is running perfectly at 162,000 miles with almost 50,000 miles on the NGK Iridiums. This Taco got oil and filter changes every 3000 miles with Pennzoil dino for the first 119,000 miles.

I also run my oil up to 7500 miles as well and may eventually go to 10,000 between oil and filter changes. After the last oil analysis at 7500 miles Blackstone told me to go an additional 2000 miles which I don't want to do at this time but may try in the future. I like to stay well on the safe side and get my money's worth out of a full synthetic but I'm not taking chances with a $6000 engine. I use Amsoil 10-30 Platinum all the way down to -15 degrees. I did just install an oil pan heater and have a battery heater but went two winters without and never had a problem starting. It did crank slower down around -15 degrees though.

If changing plugs in the 6 is a PIA I'd doubly recommend Iridiums so you have to do it less often.

 

They say not apply anti-sieze because of torque specifications but the only reason I pulled my Iridiums at 30,000 miles was because I didn't have a torque wrench when I installed them. I also wanted to check the gap and adjusted it. The directions said not to mess with the gap but I didn't trust them so I set the gap at the factory spec. I also applied anti-sieze to the threads which they say not to do because of the coating they put on Iridiums since they last so long. From what they say applying anti-sieze screws up the torque spec but I did it anyway and torqued them at the higher end of the torques spec since anti-sieze is going to add more lubrication to the threads and there-by change the torque.

So far, I'm good. I'll pull them again some day and see how tight they are coming out. I'll bet they are just under "loose" coming out which is the way it should be in an aluminum head.

 

This my 85 I purchased in Guam in in1985. 335,000 and still going

 

I recently purchased my 2000 Tacoma from the original owner with 289k. Yes, I believe in Toyota. My wife drives a 98 Camry that has 324k and running like the day I bought it in 2004 with 88k. By years end, we will hopefully both be driving 300k mile vehicles.

 

That's sweet it is still rolling strong!

But how does the chassis look? Rusty?