Spark Plug Cost - 60,000 Mile Maintenance

Found a mechanic to do the job at 1.4 hours. Denso spark plugs from RockAuto. Needed to replace manifold gasket when intake was removed for job. Total cost $178 labor. $80 parts.

 

That's a damn good deal. You're not in OR are you?

 

I'm not too mechanically gifted and was able to do it without removing anything, so if I could do it, I think anyone could.

 

LOL just got quoted $800 for 2011 V6. Unreal.

 

I don't have use of my left hand and I did the spark plug change without pulling the intake in 3 hours. Most people on this site should be able to change their V6 plugs.

 

1.5 hours for me and that’s with me never have worked on a 3.5 in my life. Hardest one is the forward most plug on the drivers side. After you loosen the support struts for the intake manifold it’s relatively straightforward. 2nd Hardest part is trying not to break any of the clips on the sensors or coil packs.

 

I just added up parts and labor for plugs, AT trans service (pan drop, filter change, refill), diffs and transfer case. $1100.

My rate is $129/hr

That’s charging 2 hours labor for plugs, 2 hours labor for transmission service. I have a hard time charging much labor for the diffs and t-case, they’re just drain and refill. So I put $30 labor for each. I use Amsoil for everything except the t-case, for that I use Redline MT-LV. This is also $20/ea for the factory plugs.

Hope that helps. And I still think $1100 is a lot of money for that. But I’ve been told by a lot of friends I don’t charge enough…

Dealers up here are up to $200/hr

If you’re getting quoted over $1500 for plugs and all the gearboxes, that’s WAY too much. There’s making enough money to comfortably keep a shop up and running, and then there’s being greedy.

I will also say that I don’t have any employees. That does make a difference.

 

Back in the mid 90's I charged $100 an hour for my computer programming services.
I had a guy pay me $100 with a smile on his face to do 15 minutes worth of work for him... ( $400 an hour ).

When I was going on about that someone said to me hey they're not paying you for what YOU know.
They're paying you for what they DON'T KNOW.

I slept well that night.

 

I'm going to do the plugs soon.

I've seen a few plugs recommended. Would appreciate input on them please.

• Denso 3491 FK20HBR8
• Denso Iridium TT-4705
• OEM 90919-01263

I will heed the advice here to get them from the dealer or reputable online vendors like RockAuto.

 

Get 90919-01263 from the dealer. This is same as

• 3491 FK20HBR8

My online dealer sell for $17. Used to be $11-13
Being in HI is going to be expensive regardless

 

Changed my plugs last week in my 17 Tacoma. Key is take your time and have good tools. Started on passenger side and it's easy enough (practice for the driver's side) On driver's side remove foam piece at back with 1 10 mm bolt. 2 black metal brackets need moving by loosening the bolts on their bottom and remove their 2 bolts at top and swing out of the way. The rest is just a few connectors and moving some hoses for access. You can do it!

 

I will stop by the dealership this week.

Quickly looking online, nucartoyo in MA will send them for $16. Sparkstoyota in SC website will ship a set to me for a mere $90. LOL

 

I just ordered for 89 shipped from the Toyota dealer (ca tax)- check the website for various ones because some run 30% off vs 20 when there is a sale. If you’re in Hawaii I’d offer to order and send it to you for 100 but I’m not sure if just walking into Servco would be cheaper at that point.

 

If you’ve got a 10mm and a 12mm socket and a couple long extensions, it will take you an hour to change them.

Be aware, if your truck didn’t come with iridium plugs, stick with the DENSO copper V groove plugs. They’re $6 each at the dealer and last 30k. If you decide that you’re going to go to iridium’s so you only change plugs again after 100k, see my picture below of what a 4.0 will do to a DENSO Iridium after just 20,250 miles…. TOAST! $65 worth of plugs right in the trash!

 

Are you supposed to use copper plugs on 1gr-fe?

 

I thought it was platinum or nickel?

 

I remember the topic popped in the past.1gr-fe plugs replacement schedule is 30k miles because of copper plugs. Im sure people stick anything

 

I went with the factory plugs listed in owners manual. Not iridium and calls for 60,000 mile change. Oh well at least I know how to change them now. BTW I changed mine at 75,000 miles and it still ran fine but now it feels maybe possibly slightly better

 

The cost with parts, and shipping from Sparkparts.com, to Hawaii, seems cheaper than, if I buy parts from my local Toyota dealer. I don't about prices at my Toyota dealer now, since another company bought them out, last year.

 

You might have missed that I was only talking about shipment cost being $90. The total cost is $192 .... $102 for the plugs and $90 for shipping.

• Subtotal Amount: $101.70
• Total Savings: $17.94
• Estimated shipping to Hawaii : $90.14

For a huge bulky item like the fender flare I bought from Texas, I'd understand paying a lot for shipping. But for something that fits in a puny USPS priority mail? Laughable.