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

thanks for the great step by step spark plug replacement post. i have a 1GR-FE engine on my 05 4runner and plan on changing my plugs this weekend. have changed plugs in the past on different vehicles but never on my 4runner. stealership quoted me $250 to replace the spark plugs. i payed them only $25 for the new plugs. thanks again for saving me some hard earned cash.

 

Great write up Chris!! Thanks for the step by step w/great pics!

 

what spark plugs do you guys recommend for a 60k? and is there anything else that you guys did on your 60k V6 tune-up?

 

aw man...i just saw your post just now..I already bought plugs from napa its ngk v power (copper) is that any good?

 

ok...thanks for the reply...and yes, I did notice when I was trying to gap the plug that it was already gaped to .45 which was pretty eerie knowing that recommended is from .39 to .43. Am I correct?

 

My recommendation. Switch to Irridium 100K denso or NGK plug only. I bought NGK Iridium Lasers for.76C more than regular iridium’s at Napa discount. My dealer told me I couldn't switch over but had a serviceman from another dealership tell me that was BS & he had the specs right in front of him. My first set I changed at 30k which I thought was ridiculous for a 31,600 vehicle. Transmission flush I do every 35-40K. Change transfer case, front diff and rear diff fluids and switch ALL OF THEM over to FULL synthetic. Try Wal-Mart for best price. My vehicle required anti slip for rear which was very expensive $17 quart x 3 at NAPA, but you will not have to change for a while. They say change this at 35-40k under rough conditions w/regular oil so figure how much longer you can go with synthetic. *Do the breather modification while you’re at it on the rear diff. Switched over to synthetic oil at 70K myself and will now change every 5k miles. Dealer states you can do this (5k) with regular oil changes but I did mine every 3K w/regular 5w-30. Radiator fluid change-use DEALER ONLY ANTIFREEZE. $30 per gallon but my knowledgeable mechanic says that it has special additives for Toyota. $40 at dealer: 1/4 rubber 4 pack rubber bushings for squeaky leafs. Just remove the 1/16 inch ones in there and replace while on a lift. I'm a bit meticulous. Hope this helped. Good luck.

 

Anyone leave the bracket between the block and intake off when they were done?
I just saw it laying in my garage yesterday. oops.

 

Excellent write up Chris. I just did my 60K service in the driveway and saved myself a lot of money which I will now spend on lifting my truck. Thanks.

 

so the guy at carquest told me to use these since they are"recommended" paid about $90 ...now my question is? should i return these? since i just read the entire thread lol.

 

thank you!!

 

yea def chris4x4 thank you for all your help. on the TWLIVE thread someone also answered my question. good thing I checked on here because I was about to down my truck and change them out ... would have been pretty salty if I knew these weren't the right ones after I changed them...sigh

 

so the closes thing i could get my hands on with carquest was these lol. this will have to do. since i could only exchange.

 

lemme see if i can go toyota dealer and find plugs there first , if not I will take your offer. thank you sir

 

Damn, my dealer(stealer) charges $5.64 per plug,, just regular denso. What a fricken rip!
Oh well, gona put em in tomorrow depending on the weather. Thanks for great instruction in this thread.

 

Just put my new plugs in...but shit! the old one's looked almost like new. So Im going to save them and put them back in at 90k miles. I just bought this taco and didn't know what service has already been done.

Anyhow, this thread was a big help, followed it step by step and it was a piece of cake!

 

bought these for $31.19 of servco auto parts sand island, HNL.

but then I ended up buying a bed mat too since i was there lol
for $114 ish out the door.

thanks again Wolf and chrix4x4 for all the help and offer.

 

mine were prettyy used up. finally finished after posting the last picture.

only hard part was the last plug driver side next to fire wall. disconnecting the coil was giving me quite a headache & it started raining on me. but overall was easier than I thought. I just gotta fire it up and see what happens lol