Flat rate spark plug break down

So I always tell guys to take the plenum off I thought I’d see how long it takes me, no rushing no tool prep. Started 10:06

haven’t done these plugs in over a year





Finished 10:32 even dropped 2 bolts. Always clean the throttle.

The big reason the long way is the short way is there’s risk of cross threading using the cheat method and it doesn’t save that much time.

Even if this takes 3 hours for a diy it still makes more sense. Why save time when you’re chilling in your driveway?

ps I washed the engine bay once I was done the service

 

^Did you drop the 2 bolts into the lower manifold?

 

That's an interesting plug design, are those the stock plugs for the 3.5?

 

Do you get paid for 3 hours of work on the job? Is that how “flat rate” works?

 

ya it’s over quoted on these trucks, it’s 2.5 most dealers agreed to 1.5 but it’s just how it is.

I usually don’t call them until later, these were done at 60,000 but im a believer that it’s good until 100k

they are odd ducks and have varying replacement miles. Maybe these are Canadian spec

One did! The snap on flex magnet is a god send.

 

Wow, it certainly was dirty. I see air filter was dirty. Did you remove the throttle body to clean? Did you use a hose to wash the engine bay?
Nice job. I was wondering how long it would take…. Where did you purchase the plugs? Toyota or parts store?

 

I’m a tech for reference, all oem

we pressure wash gently

 

Did you remove the throttle body to clean?

 

You have to remove it to remove the intake, but I do remove them to clean if it’s really bad.

 

US is the same:

 

Wicked fast.

I might have to try it that way next time.


I agree on 100k, but sticking to 60k also.

 

Bless you for cleaning the engine bay. BTW that was quick great job!

Thanks for all your help to us members now I know exactly how I’m doing my plugs when it’s time.

Work smarter not harder!

 

Do you guys use new gaskets for the throttle body and manifold, or re-use?

 

OP you're giving me the confidence to try doing it myself the next time I need to replace plugs. It's quite intimidating looking at it from the get go, but I know that with any process you just follow correct steps, use common sense and having a bit of understanding on the different mechanisms is really all it takes.
My Tacoma was my first new vehicle and everything I've learned so far about car mechanics has come from my Tacoma. I have a very rudimentary understanding of how a vehicle operates but it still intimidates me when I'm looking under the hood because quite honestly I barely understand or know what I'm looking at most times.

 

I re used them this time because they weren’t quoted. They were still soft, I spray synthetic spray on gaskets like these to keep them soft and they’ll be good till next time.

when they are hard they need to be replaced

 

We can practice on mine... at 85k.

 

I've done them twice. About an hour, because I don't remove the intake manifold. The driver side is the worst.

That air filter looks awful btw.

 

Curious how much more time would be needed in an MT? From what I have read its a tight squeeze on the drivers side.

 

This video helps for the drivers side... (remove a couple of bolts, unclip a wiring harness or two and move things around a pinch.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPEAMNNSLj0

 

Let's do it!