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

This post was VERY helpful. I got all of my plugs changed within about 2 hours. The only problem I had was on the last dad gum coil. The bolt got stuck, I tried to strong arm it and it broke off. I've read up on alot of ways to remove it, but I'm a little nervous about some of them. Namely using an Easy-Out. I think I'm gonna use my dremel to cut a notch in the top and try to use a flat head screw driver to remove it.

Any suggestions to get this thing out, or am I better off taking it to a machine shop to get it removed?

 

I have always had good luck with an easy-out.

 

and yes...I realize that I missed a 0 in all of those gaps...Deal with it.

Mine weren't as bad as some folks have reported...but I think it will explain my dip in mpgs. I'm gunna go fire it up and take a test drive.

Just got back- and the FatAss Dyno says the truck runs smoother and has just a bit more pep. We'll see what this tank comes out at and that will be the "real" test...

 

hey dude did your truck have the same plugs all the way around? I have a 07 taco and half were NGK and half were densos. are they supposed to be like that or were they smoking pot when they put mine in. My taco was made in mexico.

 

so when i replace mine, i can put all ngk's or all densos right?

 

thanks

 

Just did mine today. Holy crap my gaps were awful...i'm at 60,000 and i had my 30,000 done at Toyota in Carlsbad CA...Do you think they didn't even change them when they said they did? These are pretty big gaps for only 30000 miles.

Also it seems the NGKs wear a lot faster than the Densos.

These are the gaps:
Passenger Driver
Denso NGK
55 64
56 65
57 64

Here's a pic. their color seems to be normal but my driver's side was a lot darker than the passenger's side



Also i didnt get the plug that was K20HR-U11 i ended up with the

$6 PKH20TT Platinum TT Spark Plug, (Pack of 1)

PKH20TT...
is this alright or should i have went with the normal one or does it even matter...no better no worse??

 

yeah that is what im thinking..what a bunch of punks...if i wasnt up here in northern Idaho and back down there in Oceanside i would have taken my invoice over there and gave em a piece of my mind. My truck should run like a top when im done. that gapping was seriously deficient. i have to stop and get a torque wrench to put the finishing touches on them when the wife gets home and then i'll take here for a drive.

So glad that i am not in an apartment complex and can do my own services now

oh yeah what about that plug? is that just their "one upper" brand?

 

Doesn't this just make you want to do your own maintenance even more ? Not only do do you save $ and have the pride of accomplishment but you know the job is done and done right. How sad to find out the dealer didn't even change the plugs.

 

you're right just do it yourself and you know it's done right. I once took my truck to get an oil change, they changed the oil but not the filter, i was pissed and i did give them a piece of my mind. They said they forgot. How can you forget something like that?

 

yeah there is not really that many moving parts to an oil change

where i lived in Oceanside our apt manager would walk around like a hawk trying to catch you working on your vehicle. she caught me doing the BHLM and freaked out. im thinking to myself, what the hell? its just parked here with no headlights for the day. not like im not putting em back in. Anyways i could do NO maintenance there at all. It was horrible because im used to doing everything myself. it pained me to have to take my truck in for a stupid oil change!

 

Chris thank you for the DIY tips but i have a question on the 15 ft-lb torque application when putiing in your new plugs, i dont have a torque wrench- can you guesstimate it? i read a tip somewhere to 'finger tight the plugs then finish it with a 1/2 turn. what do you think? thanks!

 

That is not going to do it man...you can get a $10 one that is just a solid beam type and has a needle that points at he torque reading from any auto parts store. i got mine at Oriley's.

I put mine on finger tight and then even used a ratchet till they felt tight. then went to purchase my TW. i had to turn some of them 2 full turns to get 15 ft/lbs. some only needed one turn. that just goes to show you that finger tight and then a 1/4 or 1/2 turn is not even close and more importantly finger tight on one plug is not the same torque as finger tight on another plug.

Get a TW.

 

Thanks for the write up and pictures. Easy to do other than the front driver side like other posts said but overall under an hour to finish and that was not waiting to drive and get my favorite beverage. Thanks

 

Thanks for the write up, good pics. Front plug is PITA to get off easy on, everything else is simple, changed at 90,000 and didn't look bad more wear on driver side. Go to Moab, UT it is fun and the taco loves it.