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

.... a meat blender j/k
Well you can now work in Toyota dealership and probably do as quality job as many guys do ...

Antisieze on spark plugs is probably least of the issues. If you find tech that uses torque wrench he/she is a keeper.
Long time ago when you bought Toyota certified vehicle sparkplugs were replaced, all fluids were replaced and brakes were done. Now Toyota Certified means washed and waxed exterior and vacuum inside. And be glad you got that otherwise you get get rinse and spin only.

 

Actually I did my truck and another dudes. He helped but I probably did 60-80% of the actual install. Although I noticed he had an extra line in the way on his truck on the drivers side that was in the way and a huge bitch. I'm guessing something to do with VSC cause it looked like a high pressure brake line. But it sure as shit wasn't on my truck.

Yeah I didn't use a torque wrench. I only have a 1/2" not a 3/8". So I did the old hand tighten and then quarter turn with the socket. My old gaps were at like .55+.

 

Just completed the spark plug change on my 07. It was very easy to do the change on this truck. Took about 40-45 minutes start to finish. The truck has 97,000 miles on it and I am a little embarassed I had not done the change sooner. I purchased the truck with about 60k on it.
They were definitely the origional plugs. The gaps on the NGK side were between .065 and .067. The Denso side were .051 to .053.

 

Okay I'm going to change my plugs this weekend, but I am having a hard time locating a torque wrench. Any suggestions? I've tried pepboys autozone and Sears with no luck. Only time I'm going to use the tw is for my plugs so i don't need anything fancy just something I know that won't strip my heads out.

 

Harbor freight tools?

 

There's a duralast brand at pepboys 3/8 inch pound wrench. Wasn't really sure about it so I didn't get it, but that seems to be the only thing I can find in my area.

 

Does anyone have a duralast tw? Is it any good? Don't really feel like paying the dealer a $100 dollars for a job I know I can do myself.

 

I always just snug um down by feel. Just don't go ballistic. Trouble is it is hard to tell someone how it should feel. A 180 in.-lbs isn't much.

 

Where do you live, maybe someone can help out. Some auto parts stores lend or rent them too. Good luck!

 

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U R absolutely correct sir ! I was shown by a mechanic. What he did was "snug um" down til the crush washers made a good seal - never used a torque wrench. That being said its better 2 B safe then sorry. I have a foot pound torque wrench but not a inch pound torque wrench but once you buy a tool such as a inch pound torque wrench you should have it the rest of you life considering the few times you would use it - it certainly won't wear out.

 

FYI According to a conversion deal I just found, if you have a foot-pound torque wrench, 180 in-lb = 15 ft-lb.

 

or you just divide by 12

 

Gentlemen, thanks 4 the conversion. Learn something else on TW. Best place to learn and pick up suggestions. Thanks again.

 

My personal mechanic always uses one but he told me to snug it up and give a little extra pull for other projects I was doing if you don't have a torque wrench. Don't over do it.
"Advance Auto" was always great for lending out tools when I had vehicles I needed a tool for just a single job. Note: Taylor rental/rental places must rent them cheap; just thought of this. I have a personal mechanic (friend) that is great, honest, does it like his own vehicle and if you make even half the money per hour that you pay him and he does it atleast twice as fast (saving U money) why wouldn't you just pay/find a side mechanic you trust & go this route. It is not worth the aggrevation & potentially breaking a costly part like the modules that sit on the plugs.


I had my mechanic change my plugs. I used NGK iridium laser 100K plugs on2nd change at 72K (from my NAPA account); use NGK or Denso Brand ONLY perservice tech. All/most Toyota dealerships will NOT tell you that you can use these or state it voids the warranty. BS! The service tech I found was honest; had 90K on his iridium plugs in his Sequoia which called for30K interval changes; currently had 118K on vehicle when we spoke & his SUVran like new. He read a chart right in front of him & assured me several times the iridium’scould be used in my 05 Tacoma V6 as well. My truck runs like new; had my plugs in about 9 months now.

Everyone has their own thoughts about this. Some take pride in doing the job themselves and a few noted they wouldn't use iridium’s, "most don't know U can use them" but I'm content with mine and you can always go in a check a few iridium’s at any time if in doubt of wearing like some non-believers noted. I believe the recommended 30K intervals is a scam so the dealer can service your car more frequently and find other things they will claim need replacing. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Note: I'm not sure what the "laser" meant/does but was as an upgrade on the plug They were only .70C more each X 6, so I ordered them instead. You usually get what you pay for and they'll be there for 100K.

 

I dont have duralast but I have TW one from HarborFreight which is cheap and works very well.
$20

 

My personal mechanic always uses one but he told me to snug it up and give a little extra pull for other projects I was doing if you don't have a torque wrench. Don't over do it. X2