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Spark plugs for 1GR-FE

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by nickfromsd, Feb 7, 2018.

  1. Feb 7, 2018 at 9:36 AM
    #1
    nickfromsd

    nickfromsd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Im seeing a lot of mixed opinions on which spark plugs should be used on this engine. I know tacomas come stock with three denso's and three NGK's. What do you guys think? Can you refer me to some part numbers?

    I plan on changing every 30k, so longevity of plugs isn't as important to me.
     
  2. Feb 7, 2018 at 9:40 AM
    #2
    replica9000

    replica9000 Das ist no bueno

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    nickfromsd[OP] likes this.
  3. Feb 7, 2018 at 9:46 AM
    #3
    nickfromsd

    nickfromsd [OP] Well-Known Member

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  4. Feb 7, 2018 at 10:32 AM
    #4
    replica9000

    replica9000 Das ist no bueno

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    Ceramic pads create a lot less dust and are quieter. They cost a little more and performance isn't quite as good in really cold winters.
     
  5. Feb 7, 2018 at 10:36 AM
    #5
    nickfromsd

    nickfromsd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Good thing i live in San diego where we get 9-12 months of summer :D
    Thanks for the quick replies. Lastly, the 2nd gen tacomas don't use traditional spark plug wires. they have coils. Do these ever need to be replaced?
     
  6. Feb 7, 2018 at 10:44 AM
    #6
    replica9000

    replica9000 Das ist no bueno

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    I don't think many newer vehicles use spark plug wires anymore. Most seem to have the coil-on-plug system. I suppose unless one gets damaged somehow, they should be good for a long time :notsure:
     
  7. Feb 7, 2018 at 10:45 AM
    #7
    lawrenccar1

    lawrenccar1 Well-Known Member

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    I noticed at least on Amazon Toyota part #90919-01235 it states "Toyota adds nickel and iridium to the platinum; this alloy helps make the spark plug strong and durable, while helping to prevent cracking". The part#K20HR-U11 doesn't show this. The color of the plugs are different also..
     
  8. Feb 7, 2018 at 10:53 AM
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    replica9000

    replica9000 Das ist no bueno

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    I bought my plugs from the dealer. They were cheaper than the auto parts store for the same plugs. The dealer plugs are also supposed to be correctly gapped out of the box.
     
  9. Feb 7, 2018 at 10:55 AM
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    Bannerman

    Bannerman Tasteful Thickness

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    My Densos were gapped closer to 0.41 when I changed them at 30k so I'm doing my 60k with all Densos. $4 each on eBay. Less than $21 shipped to my door.
     
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  10. Feb 7, 2018 at 10:58 AM
    #10
    knottyrope

    knottyrope Well-Known Member

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    coil packs go bad at some point, mine have been fine for 185k miles
     
  11. Feb 7, 2018 at 11:23 AM
    #11
    FinnJ

    FinnJ Well-Known Member

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    Denso Iridium Tough VKH22 plugs.
    [​IMG]
    These should be good for next 100k.
     
  12. Feb 19, 2018 at 11:55 PM
    #12
    nickfromsd

    nickfromsd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    IMG_5221.jpg So i got everything to replace the spark plugs. Pulled a couple out and they don't look very worn (plug on left is new, plug on right is pulled out of motor). I've owned the truck for about 3800 miles now, so im thinking the dealership i bought it from probably already replaced them. Should i go ahead and wait another 30k miles? No sense in wasting money if i don't need to.

    Is there anything i can do other than replacing plugs and engine air filter to increase MPG? i do mostly city driving and based off my last tank of gas i get about 12mpg. Maybe i just have more of a lead foot than i thought? :bikewhoops:
     
  13. Feb 20, 2018 at 12:05 AM
    #13
    ijonahtacoma

    ijonahtacoma Well-Known Member

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    Seriously I'm just learning how to work on this thing.
    You could clean the MAF and the throttle body. Pretty simple job. Not more than an hour. Easier than the spark plugs IMO, the front 3 on the right (if you're looking at the engine, from the front of the truck) are really annoying. Might help with your MPG's, might not. Depends on if anything is super dirty.
     
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  14. Feb 20, 2018 at 12:32 AM
    #14
    Chuy

    Chuy Well-Known Member

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    Toyota is part owner of NGK and Denso, which is why, I think, they have Denso plugs on one side and NGK's on the other. Although that wasn't the case on our same year Lexus 3.5 V6. Thus, whatever plug NGK and Denso show in their catalogs for our Tacos will be fine. I just put 101K on my NGK Iridiums; truck truck ran fine till the end but the ground electrodes were starting to wear down. Repaced with Denso Iridiums Long Life and expect same mileage from them. The 30K replacement recommendation is for emissions purposes; says so in the manual; so, you can go 40-60K on copper plugs - just check the gap and check for fouling.
     
  15. Feb 20, 2018 at 12:38 AM
    #15
    nickfromsd

    nickfromsd [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thought about cleaning the Throttle body but I didn’t wanna take that big hunk of plastic off #lazy I’ll probably do it one of these weekends just to make sure all is well
     
  16. Oct 9, 2021 at 2:15 PM
    #16
    TacoTuesday1

    TacoTuesday1 Well-Known Member

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    People saying copper makes no sense.
    I doubt they used copper.
    Copper is a dirt cheap $2 plug you put into a high performance vehicle that barely gets driven because they need to be replaced every 5k miles as opposed to other more expensive versions used for longer intervals on normal cars such as platinum, iridium, etc
     
  17. Oct 9, 2021 at 2:46 PM
    #17
    winkel

    winkel Well-Known Member

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    No, you don't need to change those. Save your new ones for the next change in 30,000 miles. I think I did my last change at 50 ish and the ones I took out didn't look too bad.
    No need to change those.
     
  18. Oct 9, 2021 at 2:56 PM
    #18
    Dalegribble02

    Dalegribble02 Well-Known Member

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    I only use oem denso's
    Just did my again here's what my over due plugs look like

    20211009_113542.jpg
     
  19. Oct 10, 2021 at 6:21 AM
    #19
    TACOMA2NDGEN

    TACOMA2NDGEN Well-Known Member

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    I’ll be doing mine shortly before it gets to cold out. Im pushing 40k on them right now. Even though im getting 19mpg all around im debating if I should change them
     
  20. Oct 10, 2021 at 6:40 AM
    #20
    winkel

    winkel Well-Known Member

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    This is just my opinion but the 30k interval is overkill, at least for the type of driving my truck sees. I changed mine in my truck the first time at 30-ish and the ones I took out looked fine. The next time, I think I went to 50 and even those could have run a bit longer. The only time I've noticed a difference changing plugs (and I know this is extrememly subjective) was this last time. I bought a set of E3s and I'm certain I can feel a difference. I've only filled up four times since I last changed them and I am getting about a mile per gallon better. I usually get 17-18 mpg. For the last four tanks, I've been getting 18-19 mpg.
    I've thought about starting a separate thread on this but the snake oil skeptics would just have too much fun with it. So far, I'm pretty happy with them.
     

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