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

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by chris4x4, Mar 16, 2009.

  1. May 23, 2012 at 9:33 AM
    #801
    Orion Antares

    Orion Antares Well-Known Member

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    I'm coming close to my 30k and I was wondering if any of you have used the Denso IKH20 Iridium Plugs? I'm curious if they live up to their hype about being a more efficient 30k plug over the standard 30k plugs?
     
  2. May 23, 2012 at 12:16 PM
    #802
    jdkeller

    jdkeller How many words can be fit in this s

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    Just a tip. I don't know if it's been talked about before. I just changed mine last weekend. I found the driver side front wire harness really hard to get off. Spent maybe 10 minutes trying. Finally I got two flatheads. Used one to push in the release and one at the bottom to push it up. Got it right away.
     
  3. May 24, 2012 at 3:34 PM
    #803
    Halo913

    Halo913 Well-Known Member

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  4. May 24, 2012 at 4:13 PM
    #804
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Any Iridium, or Platinum plug is going to be less efficient than a typical copper plug. Copper is a much better conductor than the other metals used in plugs.
     
  5. May 25, 2012 at 9:24 AM
    #805
    Orion Antares

    Orion Antares Well-Known Member

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    Doesn't the advantage of copper go away really quickly because of it's lower melting point? It sounds like the point of these particular plugs it get the advantages of both copper and iridium in a 30k plug because they have a copper core in them but the iridium seems to help to protect it from premature wear.
     
  6. May 25, 2012 at 2:24 PM
    #806
    BUZZCUT

    BUZZCUT Well-Known Member

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    If the plugs are melting you have some serious detonation going on
     
  7. May 25, 2012 at 4:54 PM
    #807
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Not really. You get a more efficient spark, but you have to change the plugs more often (30k miles in our trucks.) Copper gives a larger, hotter spark, thus giving more performance to your vehicle. Being as its not hard to change the plugs (in most cases, slightly longer than doing an oil change), and physically checking your plugs is a great indicator of how your engine is running, I always recomend Copper/Nickle plugs when they are used by the manufacture.
     
  8. May 26, 2012 at 8:24 PM
    #808
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Thanks Chris. Changed them out today with dealer Denso plugs. As with most others Denso plugs looked better and held their gaps better.
     
  9. May 28, 2012 at 3:28 PM
    #809
    JoeSchmuck

    JoeSchmuck Well-Known Member

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    Chris,
    As you know, very good writeup. I'm finally approaching 30K so will be purchasing my plugs next month and replacing them.

    As for torque wrench comments I've been reading... No matter where you buy your torque wrench you will never know how accurate it truly is unless you get it calibrated (not saying you have to, just you won't truly know it's accuracy). Also you should never use the lower 10% or upper 10% of the torque wrench range as it tends to be very inaccurate, even for a calibrated torque wrench. So buy a torque wrench that meets your specific needs if you can. For the spark plugs here a 0 to 30 lb-ft would be ideal or something similar. A 10 to 150 lb-ft would be very inaccurate. Also, a dial type is more accurate than a snap action although I really like snap action myself. In one of my previous jobs I learned more about torque wrenches than I ever wanted plus I got the wonderful job of calibrating them and rejecting quite a few as well, oh joy.

    Cheers!
     
  10. May 28, 2012 at 4:09 PM
    #810
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Very good points! Ive found Craftsman wrenchs to be within 5% near the top of their scales. That being said, on a quality torque wrench, even if its off 10%, its still plus or minus 1.5 lbs.-ft. if set to the 15# 's required for the plugs.....in a worst case scenario. Which shouldnt be a concern. Now......If over torqued by 15 to 20#'s, then you could be in the "stripping-threads-gonna-cost-a-shit-load-to-fix" catagory.
     
  11. May 28, 2012 at 6:01 PM
    #811
    theredofshaw

    theredofshaw Well-Known Member

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    was your previous job an AT? lol
     
  12. May 29, 2012 at 2:28 AM
    #812
    JoeSchmuck

    JoeSchmuck Well-Known Member

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    Let's just call them very special weapons systems that we hope to never actually use. It was only fully tested once way back on May 6, 1962, the tested was called Operation Dominic.
     
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  13. May 29, 2012 at 6:45 AM
    #813
    DEEVON911

    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

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    :eek:
     
  14. Jun 2, 2012 at 9:25 AM
    #814
    cruda

    cruda Well-Known Member

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    Awesome write up! Did mine yesterday. Flawless!!!
     
  15. Jun 2, 2012 at 12:01 PM
    #815
    Supra TT

    Supra TT Supercharged Lifter

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    Did mine just now, took about an hour maybe more. My old plugs were a rusty color, with a gap of .054-.060... Autolite x9? I can't even remember and I just changed them.

    Back to factory Denso. Thanks Chris!!
     
  16. Jun 2, 2012 at 10:45 PM
    #816
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    That sounds like a normal plug color. Look at the pictures posted on the first page Of worn spark plugs.
     
  17. Jun 3, 2012 at 5:34 AM
    #817
    ajohnson

    ajohnson Glamour Shot

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    Thanks for the write-up Chris4x4. I changed mine in about 1 1/2 hours with no problems and the plugs looked normal.
     
  18. Jun 3, 2012 at 12:44 PM
    #818
    Supra TT

    Supra TT Supercharged Lifter

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  19. Jun 3, 2012 at 2:34 PM
    #819
    JoeSchmuck

    JoeSchmuck Well-Known Member

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    Looking at buying some plugs this week. Advanced Auto sells these plugs, would these be considered acceptable?

    Denso PKH20TT Platinum TT Spark Plug $2.49/ea
    Center Electrode Material:1.1 Pt
    Thread Reach (in.):1.04
    Thread Reach (mm):26.5
    Gasket or Seal Included:Yes
    Length (in.):3.35
    Seat Style:Gasket
    Center Electrode Core Type:Copper
    Rib Configuration:5-rib
    Terminal Top Type:Solid
    Hex Size (in.):5/8"
    Number of Electrodes:1
    Insulator Type:purified Alumina Powder Insulator
    Ground Electrode:Ni + Ti
    Heat Range:20
    Center Electrode Firing Tip:1.1 Pt
    Gasket Installed or Loose:Installed
    Thread Size/Diameter (mm):14
    Sealing Type:Copper-glass seal
    Side Electrode:Yes
    Resistor:Yes
    Resistor Type:5023 ohm
     
  20. Jun 12, 2012 at 8:29 AM
    #820
    VA Tacoma

    VA Tacoma Well-Known Member

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    NICE POST AND PICS!!!! I just bought my 06 with 82,000 miles and I am definitly changing the plugs soon. Any thoughts on using iridum plugs?
    Thanks,
    Frank
     

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