Spark Plug Schedule

Hey guys, I know people will give me heck but I have a 2007 Tacoma with 248,000 km. Amazing vehicle, 2017 was the first year I spent any money on it other than fluids, tires etc. (needed an alternator). I cant remember ever getting the spark plugs changed. If I did, it has been no more than 1 time. Is this bad? The truck seems to run perfectly, quick starts, lots of power, no weird idling. I know I need to do it, just wondering if Im in a serious danger zone as far as my vehicle dying on the side of the road and leaving me stranded. Secondly I want to do it myself. Im not that mechanically inclined but Ive watched several videos and am pretty confident I can do it. Drivers side looks a little tight. I bought the plugs, socket and extension. Do I really need to gap the NKG Iridium plugs I just bought? And do I have to have a torque wrench or can I do it with the same socket I removed them with? Thanks.

 

you cant go wrong w/ replacing spark plugs.... and in my experience, they work great...... until they dont work at all. haha

a spark plug job is easy to do for the novice.... go hand tight then go a 1/4 turn

most plugs come pre-gapped, but you might want to just doublecheck the gapping for good measure.

 

Fixed.... you dont want them loose. You hand tight and then tighten ~1/4 turn more till you feel that the crush washer has been fully crushed.

 

Ok Im going to give it a shot, but Im not sure what you mean go hand tight and back off a 1/4 turn.Thanks. Also do I need to put anti seize on the threads? Some videos Ive watched they do it, others dont. Cheers

 

yea sorry.... that's what I meant...


brain is tired.

 

hand tight then a 1/4 turn more until I feel the crush washer crush. got it. thanks

 

The anti-seize on spark plug thread debate will always go on. Personally, I put some on the threads. I have never experienced misfiring cylinders because of it. I've also never had a plug get stuck, which is what I'm more concerned with lol.

 

My $0.02 here....

Yes change the spark plugs and as someone else has previously mentioned, it won't hurt doing it. If anything you'll only be helping your engine's performance (that is if you use the recommended spark plugs and the job done right).

I highly recommend that you use Toyota OEM (Denso or NGK) spark plugs which of course can be purchased from the dealership. Yes they tell you that they come "pre-gap'd" but I would strongly suggest to double check the gap ( 0.039 in. to 0.043 in. just in case).

If you really want to know if the spark plugs have ever been changed, when you remove the spark plugs if one side is Denso brand and the other side is NGK brand then they had never been changed before. All Tacoma's for some reason or another all come like that from the factory. Don't ask me why because I don't have any idea.

When changing the spark plugs I would start on one side and do the process "one-at-a-time" for each side (3 on each side equals a total of 6 spark plugs, that is if your's is a 4.0 ?). For removing spark plugs use a regular ratchet to perform this duty.

When you remove the very first spark plug, when installing the new spark plug (again pre-check the gap before installing) and add just a small dab of "anti-seize" to each side of the spark plug. Then when you first install the spark plug which is inserted in the socket with an extension only and use your hand (for feeling because you definitely don't want to cross thread) to gently and properly thread the spark plug back in place until it can't be threaded any longer using your hand.

Once it's set in there, to finish installing each spark plug properly use a torque-ratchet. Attach the torque-ratchet to the extension and torque down (15 ft-lb.) the spark plug and that's it!

Some may argue and disagree to not use "anti-seize" and that it does not matter to "torque down the spark plugs" but believe me the process is important and should not be over looked.

Do the same for each other remaining spark plug(s) and once finished your done!

The passenger side of the engine to get to the spark plugs is a breeze the drivers side is a bit more challenging but definitely not complicated so just take your time and allow yourself the time and don't rush.

You can do it.

P.S. Oh and by the way, I've been replacing my spark plugs, just as described above, on my Tacoma since I first purchased it brand new back in 2008 and have "never" had or encountered any problems and like your 2007 the engine runs excellent. Mileage on the odometer...well over 200,000 K!

 

You should do it.

If you buy anything other than Toyota plugs you will need to gap them (I had to gap my Bosch Irridiums).

 

I didn't have to gap my NGK Iridium plugs and they have performed flawlessly for the last 6000 miles.
Be interesting to see what the old plugs look like after 250K miles.
Good luck.

 

Above spark plug gap is NOT correct - specs are .039 - .041 inch which is 1.0 to 1.1 mm.

 

Toyota Prescribed maintenance schedule - every 30000 miles, replace plugs with copper tipped plugs (either NKG or Denso)

or

Matt's Prescribed maintenance schedule based off Supercharger schedule - every 100000 miles, replace plugs with iridium tipped plugs (either NKG or Denso)

 

Shhh, don't tell my truck! She doesn't know the difference.

 

As for spark plug gap setting that I listed, I'm going by the specifications for a V6 engine (4.0L) that are listed on page 406 of my 2008 Owner's Manual:

ENGINE
Valve clearance (engine cold), mm (in.):
2.7 L 4−cylinder (2TR−FE) engine
Automatic adjustment
4.0 L V6 (1GR−FE) engine
Intake 0.15—0.25 (0.006—0.010)
Exhaust 0.29—0.39 (0.011—0.015)
Spark plug type:
2.7 L 4−cylinder (2TR−FE) engine

$57 DENSO SK20HR11 ---- IRIDIUM PLATINUM power pack Spark Plugs -- # 3421 ----- 6 PCS NEW

DENSO SK20HR11
NGK ILFR6C11
4.0 L V6 (1GR−FE) engine
DENSO K20HR−U11
NGK LFR6C11
Spark plug gap, mm (in.):
1.1 (0.043)


The Service Manual (2005+) on page SS-11 under Torque Specifications say's the following for spark plug torque:


Spark plug x Cylinder head sub-assembly: 15 ft-lb.


And on page SS-30 (of the same Service Manual) under "SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS – 1GR-FE IGNITION" it states the following information concerning spark plug gap:

Spark plug Recommended spark plugs: DENSO: K20HR-U11 NGK:

$10 LFR6C-11 V-Power Spark Plug, Pack of 1

LFR6C-11
Electrode gap 1.0 to 1.1 mm (0.039 to 0.043 in.)
Maximum electrode gap 1.46 mm (0.057 in.)


Value 0.041. is the "nominal value setting" basically meaning that it is the middle or center point of the actual tolerance of the spark plug gap setting of 0.039 0.040 0.041 0.042 0.043

Are you implying that the manufacturer's information is "incorrect"? Because that information that I listed is straight from them, not something I just thought about or made up.

Now that I've stated my source of information, by "fact", on where I've got those values from what source or sources did you ever get your information from?

Can you list them here?

And if by chance you don't believe then I strongly suggest that you search and look up the Owners Manual for a 2008 Tacoma and Service Manual 2005+ and look at the pages that I listed to prove that the info is fact and true.

 

at 177k with original plugs

 

Tex-Tac, I think you had a typo initially "I highly recommend that you use Toyota OEM (Denso or NGK) spark plugs which of course can be purchased from the dealership. Yes they tell you that they come "pre-gap'd" but I would strongly suggest to double check the gap ( 0.030 in. to 0.043 in. just in case)."

You got it in your second post - .039-.043 in. my Denso's were all gapped perfectly from the factory.

 

Tex-Tac - what you first posted was :
I highly recommend that you use Toyota OEM (Denso or NGK) spark plugs which of course can be purchased from the dealership. Yes they tell you that they come "pre-gap'd" but I would strongly suggest to double check the gap ( 0.030 in. to 0.043 in. just in case).

 

Type’d error corrected and I apologize for the error.

Though member emd3rd still has the spec’d valve incorrect its not 0.039 to 0.041 its 0.039 to 0.043
again with 0.041 being the nominal gap setting.

 

Tex-Tac, I also apologize for my error. Personally, since gap increases with age, I shoot for .040 on brand new plugs.

 

Guys are you saying buy these plugs from the dealer? Or walk in any auto parts sore and by either NKG or Denso plugs that came on Tacoma?