Check your plugs

Been reading over some posts about loose plugs from factory
Decided to do my spark plugs today at 72k miles (have only owned it since 68k)

Cylinder 5 completely loose no resistance
Cylinder 6 slighty loose little resistance
The rest were tight enough, some felt tighter than others.

All plugs looked decent and uniformish

Check your plugs

 

Spark plugs are due every 60,000 miles, its early by modern standards but they were ready to be replaced.

I usually dont see loose plugs on 2gr early or late so its not typical.

Doesnt hurt to check though, the drivers side is a bit of a pain.

 

Been seeing a lot of these loose plugs threads … wondering if it’s a block issue or part issue on these trucks that’s causing the problem . How loose are u finding these plugs . They shouldn’t be tight just snug to create a seal .wondering also if people are assuming they are loose . The ones that are tight are just lacking anti seize grease .

 

I saw a few Toyota techs in a Facebook group saying that their dealers “quietly” recommend plugs every 30k to help prevent burnt valves (p11ee etc). I was under the impression that ended up being a manufacturing defect with the valve seats that seems to mostly be resolved after 2020.

 

we saw it briefly but it was never explained to us and we reverted back to 60k

it’s crazy how they never resolved the 2019s

 

I did my ‘21 OR at 60k. Had one plug loose from the factory.

 

Side note for this topic…..what plug brand do you recommend?

@Bishop84

 

Denso

 

FYI Denso and NGK specify no antiseize.

 

I'm still a relatively new Tacoma owner with 16k miles on mine. This thread prompted me to research and I learned the factory plugs are copper; which for 60K miles isn't bad.

I used to replace plugs at 30K miles on my old Hondas, but they for FWD I4's so it was a 10 minute job at most.

 

ngk or denso, pretty much the same

I use a dab of anti seize but that’s me.

 

Thanks Bishop’

 

So not to belittle this issue, because they should all be torqued to spec when built. But I see these posts saying they found a loose plug after 60, 000 miles of driving!

They must have been tight enough to not cause any issues or throw any codes for 60K hard miles , right?

 

I've posted this a few times already, but I did all mine at 18k (7 years old at the time). All three passenger side plugs were extremely loose not even finger tight and a couple of the drivers side were loose, but not as bad.

 

Let’s say you were not a tech. Would you actually torque the plugs of go by feel?

I never torqued a plug in my life yet.
Never had an issue.

My father has a Husqvarna string trimmer that will loose up once a season. He even had me “check” to make sure it just wasn’t him not getting it tight enough. Nope, he had that plug in there TIGHT. Still came loose. That’s the only time I’ve seen a plug come loose.

 

The first time I did plugs I used torque wrench, and got a decent feel for what 15 ft/lbs feels like. Now I just use a couple of fingers on the socket and half an ugaduga. I also use just a bit of anti seize.

 

How loose? Well I have been doing many spark plugs replacements on many vehicles throughout my life and when I say loose, I mean loose as in just unscrewing by extension without a ratchet attached. Never have I encountered such a scenario before.

 

Conveniently Denso also specs an angle for tightening.

https://am.denso.com/plug-global/basic/torque/

I replaced my plugs at 70k. Could have gone to at least 90k. None of mine were loose.

I wonder if people aren't just mis-judging how tight they were with all the extensions that are necessary. 13 ftlb is not a lot of torque.

 

Extension don't affect torque. Not if the ratchet head and extension stay inline with the bolt head.
Binding of the extensions and ratchet head can, but the extensions themself do not.
As does choking up on the ratchet. Choke up = Less torque.

Torque In = Torque Out.

 

Just so we're clear... this does not apply to a torque wrench. The head is going to click at the designated torque, regardless of where you're holding it or if you put a 10' breaker pipe on it.