Do the spark plugs really need to be replaced at 60K miles on Gen 3?

lol. Some of the arguments cited the plug manufacturers stating do not use anti-seize, that the plugs have a coating already to prevent seizing.

Those dumb manufacturers. Wait… we trust their plugs since were using them …. nevermind.

Rather than rehashing the topic of anti-seize and changing the subject of this thread, I suggest folks read through this one and piling on there if you must:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/anti-seize-or-no-anti-seize.788420/#post-28221216

 

Appreciate all the experience here. My dealer parts counter said $27/plug. I found them for $15 at a parts store. Yeah, I’m gonna do it myself. Probably go thru driver wheel-well to loosen bottom bolt on front bracket. Hope I don’t break any of those electrical connectors. My transmission fluid looks great and the Service Mgr said to wait until 100,000 miles on it? I have checked it properly several times using the jumper wire in OBD plug for correct temperature. I did drain and replace the rear diff fluid at 30,000 just for the heck of it.

 

Some automobiles you have to get under the motor to get up to the spark plugs. You can shade tree it with the car on ramps or jack stands but a lift can sure make the job easier. That Lincoln town car, the big ass 2 door, I use to put those suckers on the lift and getting under that thing was scary. That is a big ass car. Those GM cars in particular, especially the V-8's, had all kinds of emission hoses wires and crap that getting at the back spark plugs from the top would be impossible even for Stretch Armstrong. Yeah, I sometimes miss those days. Mostly drinking beer and hanging out in the garage after hours.

 

Aren’t the spark plugs just Denso?

 

I don't know if it is needed. It is NOT needed on anything unless you are mating two different metal types together, hence my comment about the aluminum blocks.

 

yep. my post came accross wrong. answering the torque question and shouldve seperated the antiseize comment. that wasnt directed at you.

 

I’m past due on mine at 75k miles and debating, if I should take them to at least 100k since these type plugs (Iridium) are designed for well over 100k.

My hesitation has to do with the reason why TOYOTA wants them replaced at 60k?
They offer no explanation or reason, so I’m left to wonder and speculate without any facts or data to support their 60k recommendation.

And my guess is that they (TOYOTA) are not sure for this application, maybe due to the unique use of Atkinson, or the port injection cleaning cycle and DI injection on this engine, as there’s a lot going on here.
Or it could be they simply want to make sure they’re all good and tight?

IDK but an explanation would be nice, and right.

And no, I’m not an anti seize fan, just proper torque

 

As I understand it a toyota uses Denso and NGK. Some people have found both originally installed in there engine.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/horribly-degraded-performance.628800/page-7#post-28248214

 

i often read on TW to follow the recommendations in the manual and do not question the engineers as they know best....then this.

if you plan to keep your truck for many years and many miles, my suggestion is to change the spark plugs at the first recommended interval of 60K miles if for no other reason it is a visual indication of how the truck is performing. if all looks good, you can extend the interval next go-round.

that's my MO, always has been for vehicles and machines i own - do maintenance at the recommended interval or a bit sooner so you can determine how it has been functioning.

 

Now that you have your new plugs don't forget to change your oil every 1k miles.

 

OP--there are really solid threads on this subject on TW. If you go over 60000 w/o changing your plugs no doubt you will be fine, but I would not wait until 100k. These service intervals are what the engineers feel is "best" for your truck based on years of experience in the industry. I do not discount others here who have run their plugs longer w/o any ill effects or those who have mechanics who recommend against following a manufacturer's recommended service interval, but I also know that no mechanic would put that in writing for liability reasons. The spark plug is an intricate part of the system, just like the rest of the truck. There are degradation issues, often not visible to you, that can affect your engines performance and longevity. I respect others decision to put off the replacement of their plugs, but I will say you cannot understand the health of your system by visually examining one plug. Each cylinder is in its own way an indicator of your engine's health. Why Changing Spark Plugs Matters (napaonline.com) Many links like this one.

 

I changed mine at 90,000 and they looked normal. I am about to change them at 120,000 miles

 

Modern electronic controlled ignition systems do not beat up plugs like old school mechanical distributors did. Your plugs can easily last 100K or more. Now getting them out might be a little tougher than if you had done them at 60K, but those plugs will still be sparking just fine.

 

Napa doesn't mfg spark plugs......

Denso FK are "long life", which they define as 100000km. (Or 62,000 miles)

https://www.denso.com/global/en/pro...ervice-parts-and-accessories/plug/basic/life/

They also discuss the rationale for service interval:

"The physical service life for a spark plug can be thought of as the number of kilometers driven until the spark plug begins to misfire. Misfiring causes not only wastage of fuel, but also irregular engine vibration and output drop. In particular, for vehicles with emissions controls, misfiring can damage the catalytic converter, so using a spark plug all the way to the end of its physical service life is inexpedient economically."

 

Some good information in here. I changed mine at 60K if for no other reason then to be sure if they were tight as I had read about some loose plugs. Sure enough, I had 4 or 5 loose plugs and evidence of combustion gases on the boots. Someone in this thread mentioned that their boots were" worn" but didn't attribute it to loose plugs which I guarantee is what made those boots look worn.

The plugs that are hard to do are on the drivers side, getting progressively harder as you go from front to back. I used a You-tube video as a reference but when you start to do it, plain old common sense takes over and you can kind of see what needs to be removed/loosened/disconnected - to get to each plug. Also, the right tool for the right job is really important. A universal spark plug socket, a flexible magnetic pick-up tool and various extensions (wobble are best) are essential. I also suggest using a piece of vacuum tubing that tightly fits the top of the plug to insert and start the plugs in their bores. This eliminates the chance of stripping the threads in the head.

Lastly, I've always torqued spark plugs using torque angle as opposed to lbs/in or N /m. If you've done enough plugs you can feel the crush washer finish crushing. DENSO uses a torque angle of 2/3 turn after the moment the plug becomes snug. Also, I don't use antiseize as it could introduce metals to the combustion chamber and it's not recommended by the spark plug manufacturers.

https://www.denso.com/global/en/pro...vice-parts-and-accessories/plug/basic/torque/

 

Dudes spend thousands of clams on stuff to make their Taco their own, but balk at replacing 6 spark plugs. Sometimes spending the clams on stuff that you can't see is the smartest move of all.

 

I'm a bad owner and didn't change mine until 82k. It took me about 2-3 hours to do it myself, primarily because I kept pausing to watch the youtube video. It wasn't too bad.

 

My favorite line to mouth off in the oil threads is "I'm not smarter than the owners manual."

I kind of feel like that if I argue "follow the manual" for oil, I should probably do the same for plugs.

 

Another joy of the 2.7 is plenty of engine bay space. I’d imagine it be easier. I’ll find out in another 50k mile

 

Changed own plugs at 64K miles, after having bought my late gen-2 V6 Taco used at ~60K miles. Immediately noticed a smoother-sounding engine upon first start up, as well as improved torque/power. Plan to continue replacing every 50-60K miles; sparkplugs are cheap.