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

Where should i put the di-electric grease?

 

I just bought 6 Densos from Amazon, weather permitting I'll be changing them out in two weeks. Supposedly the plugs were replaced by the previous owner at 39k, I just rolled over 74k so she's due. I'll probably change the oil while I'm under the hood.

 

I know the truck comes from the factory with Densos and NGK plugs, when the dealer changes the plugs do they use the same set up or go all 6 Denso or NGK?

 

Joe, you may want to check out the MAF and Throttle body cleaning write-up.If you have never done it you'll probably need to soon, I did mine at about the 70k Mark and it made a huge difference. Just a suggestion...

 

Dealer did mine at 30k and they were all densos when I pulled them at 60k.

 

From what I've read the Densos seem to perform better than the NGKs

 

Depends on who you hear it from. Some people swear that iridium NGK's give a little bit more pep to the engine. I just think new spark plugs are all around better

 

Just changed them on July 4th. Previous owner had NGK iridium in all 6 horrible choice. Replaced them with Denso and feels so silky, runs quieter, quicker response, and shifts/takes off smoother thanks, again, for the write up!!

 

did this at 54334 and the NGKs on the driver's side were all rusty. the whole job took maybe an hour. wish i had done it two years ago! pepped the truck up a little bit right off the bat. and it even feels like the starter doesn't have to crank as long anymore.

Thank you @christina2x4 you traitorous SOB! <3

 

Just did mine at 40k, all is looking good under the hood!

 

First post. So I've got a 08 Pre-runner 2wd double cab that was my truck originally, then went to an employee of mine for a while. Now I've got it back for my soon to be 16 year old daughter to drive. Pray for me on that one.

It has 191k on it and still drives great, still on the original plugs. Going to change them tonight. I was kinda surprised to see the recommendation of changing at 30k. That doesn't seem like very long life for a plug. I haven't driven this truck regularly for at least 5 years but after having it back for a week, I'm noticing that the gas mileage stinks big time. I'm guessing this has something to do with the plugs and probably dirty injectors. I'll post pics of the old plugs when I get it done and report on the old plug gap. Having the radiator flushed, hoses changed and refiled right now. Next up will be getting the transmission and rear end serviced.

 

Plug change done. First up here is one the factory Denso plugs after 191k miles.

Next up is a factory NKG also 191k miles on this plug


Gap on the Denso plugs were .061-.063, the gap on the NKG were .070-.072

 

Thanks for all of the info here. I just replaced my plugs on 2015 Tacoma 4x4 at 30,500 miles. Chris, you have an excellent write up of how to do this job. Not sure if the newer ones have more pollution crap on them, but I could hardly get at one of the bolts for the air cleaner assembly(the one in the rear). Your pic shows a clear shot at the bolt. I could hardly get a wrench on mine. I was able to bend the assembly around enough to do the passenger side, without taking those bolts out. Hardest part for me was getting a couple of those coil clips loose. The 15 foot lbs on the torque wrench seemed to be a little excessive to me. Took me about an hour and a half and saved myself a few bucks. Thanks to all of the guys input.

 

~3 hours includes pulling tools out and putting them away, with coffee and b-room break. Thank You for the instructions it did help.

 

Just did it in 2 hours. Plugs were toast at 37k. NGKs were way worse than the densos. One denso wasn't in as tight as it should have been for sure. Overall a very easy job with the right tools. No longer getting a shudder up to 20mph.

 

I did mine a few weeks ago my NGKs were toast as well I have all Densos in now

 

Just did a plug change over the weekend and thought I'd post a couple notes for other novice mechanics:

-Passenger side was a breeze without having to completely remove the intake. I just unhooked it as if I were changing the air filter and I was able to push it out of the way to access the plugs.
-Driver side took a bit more patience but all I had to remove was one vacuum hose. Otherwise it went well too.

In all it took me an hour and should be a pretty easy job for just about anyone as long as you have the right tools.

Thanks for the write up OP!

 

Just did mine at 65K. Electrodes looked clean, the the gap was growing but wasn't beyond the 1.1mm max.

They all broke free with a little effort but no hint of seizing. The ignition coil bolts were all super clean. Man, that #2 coil connector is a son-of-a-bitch to get on and off. The other 5, no problem.

AFAIK these are the factory plugs, notice anything? The RH bank was Denso, the LH bank was NGK.

 

Yes that's how Toyota did it something about wanting to make both of the manufactures happy. I thought the same thing when I pulled mine out.

 

Reading more this is fairly common it sounds like. Camry owners talk about this, too. You'd think Toyota wouldn't have to do that with Denso since they're already part of the Toyota Group. I could see NGK wanting volumes used for pricing. Well, in any case, now I know the plugs were original.