Spark Plug Cost - 60,000 Mile Maintenance

Morning all,

What do shops in your area charge to replace 6 spark plugs on a third gen? What type of shop would I even look for for better quality work and/or a better price than the dealer? All previous cars I've owned have been make-specific shops and weren't under warranty.

Dealer verbally quoted $689 which seems insane. Hit up the dude in the service department for an itemized quote, he replied real quick last week that he was putting it together, then ghosted me.

I know that the one plug on the driver's side is kind of a PITA, but I was expecting like $350-450ish out the door, even accounting for the market conditions on trucks and parts. They're just spark plugs, but I know the labor market is rough as well.

What's a fair price in December 2023 for a V6 spark plug replacement? I'm in OR fwiw but curious to hear what others have paid recently. Also, thoughts on replacing plugs at 60,000? Truck is fine; doesn't seem necessary but I don't want to be cheap. Planning to do the plugs, 4x4 service (diff and xfer case fluid), transmission flush, and brake flush. Planning to skip fuel injection service and throttle body decarb for now. I had hoped to get it all done for $1500, but not seeming possible anymore.

Any recommendations for 60,000 mi service appreciated. I've done a ton of research here, but more curious about recent anecdotal experience, especially with dealers. Seems like you may be paying an even more inflated price for even more sub-par labor than is typically expected from a dealer.

Thanks

 

I would take it to an independent shop if u are looking to save some money or do it your self . It’s very labor intensive that’s why it’s so expensive . That cost sounds about right u might be able to get a better price from other dealers in your area.

 

$290 for plug replacements on a V6 Tacoma at the local dealer last year.

 

Bought the plugs off Amazon for $91 and did it myself in about 2 hours. Passenger side is super easy. Driver side can be with the right tools. A few socket extensions and going in through the fender well is key.

 

If you have basic hand tools it can be done in under an hour for just the cost of spark plugs. Paying anyone any amount of money for such a menial task is nuts. Sure, the one plug that's on the rear side of the driver's side head is slightly inconvenient, but by no means is it difficult.

 

Try the Car Care Nut Shop, if you happen to be nearby.

Otherwise if thats's actually the quote then that doesn't seem too bad. The service manual quotes with removing the intake plus I hear that plugs from the dealer are expensive. They are a tri-ground strap plug and a little different than your average plug.

I wouldn't get Amazon or Ebay plugs because so many counterfeits are flying around there. Rockauto is a pretty reliable parts source. I also recommend OEM (in this case Denso) or NGK for spark plugs. I've had lots of "issues" when straying far from those two options. Rockauto also sells both

 

You absolutely do NOT have to remove the intake to change the spark plugs...I changed my plugs after installing the maggy. Didn't remove anything other than the hardware to pull the coil packs and maybe a small bracket or two.

 

That price is insane. I am not sure why people say it is so hard. I watched a pretty good video on YT to see if there were any tricks to it and there were a couple good methods he used for the driver side. I bought my Denso plugs from Rock Auto and it only took just under 1 hour start to finish to do it. It is not labor intensive as said above and with an 18" extension it is not bad at all. Any dealer charging more than $300 is taking you for a ride. I don't know what the book rate says it should take though.

 

Agreed, I also just greased them out with the intake on as i'm sure most guys on the floor do. However they're gonna quote book time and take it as a gravy job

 

Thanks, guys.

While researching this I came across a Costco deal for 15% off Toyota dealers. One popped up nearby. I just got this membership a week ago for unrelated reasons, so this is nice. Probably save me a couple hundred bucks -- wanted to pass along as I didn't previously know about this.

https://www.costco.com/auto-program-parts-services.html

 

Do em yourself

 

Fly me out for 1500 I’ll bring my tools and do all mentioned services above. The 1500 includes my ticket and OEM parts.

 

Watch this video and see if you feel comfortable changing the plugs yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=737qAw6Z0n0

 

Funny thing is a lot of us have stopped doing the cheating method.

The intake can be removed in 5 minutes, so we just take it off now like the transversed 2GRs.

Labour time is all over the place. Some say 1 hour some say 2. I just charge book time on it whatever it is.

 

Hate to admit it but like many others here I don't. I've done plugs on old Volvos and a 94 Toyota pickup. The thing I absolutely detest about all new cars and trucks is the amount of sensors and electronics. I just don't trust myself to not open a can of worms over something I'm incapable of diagnosis and fixing down the road. On top of that the truck runs fine, and I'm not even convinced the plugs need to come out. Basically, trucks are too nice, too expensive, and too complex for me to want to mess with em these days. I have mine optioned down electronics-wise, but still when I look under the hood I have no idea what the hell is goin on in there. Seems like some witchcraft compared to what you'd see 20 years ago.

 

Sorry I don’t have much to contribute here but just have to say over $600 for spark plugs is insane. I did my own on my 2nd generation, kind of a pain but not to bad. I miss the days of my old 1986 Toyota pu with the 22R, less then 10 dollars and less then 20 minutes. General maintenance in newer cars is just rediculous

 

I know someone who just paid $350 at the dealer. 4.0L V6. Tax, environmental fee extra. The labor was the big hit. The plugs (Denso) on the invoice were only $6.25 each. They got an estimate from another dealer that was $425. Dunno why there is such a difference. Shop around.

 

It's really not bad. I've never done plugs on any vehicle. I'm not a mechanic. Everything I've done and learned is from watching YouTube videos. My buddy and I were both able to do our trucks together. We're IT nerds and not mechanically inclined lol. Maybe that gives you some confidence.

The hardest part we both agree on was getting one of the electrical connectors off.

 

I remember 'tuning up' my 93 Toyota Pickup Truck. Plugs, Cap, rotor, wires.
Used to do it twice a year whether it needed it or not because it was a breeze, even for someone with no mechanical skills.

Looked forward to doing it with my son and teaching him the method to my madness but I sold it with 199,999 miles on it for $1,000.....
( i understand it still runs by the way )

Now, I can't even find the spark plugs.... we've lost something along the way with all this new 'stuff'.
Oh I like the 'new stuff' but for cryin out loud - design the engine so this stuff is easy to get to....

 

I wouldn't bother with the plugs before 100k miles, unless you've got issues.