Do I gap my Iridium plugs?

[Okie]

I just bought a set of Denso Iridium plugs for my '04 V6 4 Runner. The guy at Advance Auto says check the gap. I bought a set of Iridiums for my Yukon a year ago and the guy at Autozone said NOT to gap them, it would ruin the plug - so I did not gap them, I just put them in. It runs fine.
So, what do you guys suggest? I don't want to ruin the very fine tip on these $8.50 plugs.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I just bought a set of Denso Iridium plugs for my '04 V6 4 Runner. The guy at Advance Auto says check the gap. I bought a set of Iridiums for my Yukon a year ago and the guy at Autozone said NOT to gap them, it would ruin the plug - so I did not gap them, I just put them in. It runs fine.
So, what do you guys suggest? I don't want to ruin the very fine tip on these $8.50 plugs.

:iagree: They are pre-adjusted and the fine wire does make it very hard. Just run it as is...

 

[riceandpho]

i would check to make sure every spark plug the gap is the same, just a precaution, i didnt do it one time and on the i4 2.7l on my 96 base, it would cause it to stall sometimes.

 

[jharris2]

i would check to make sure every spark plug the gap is the same, just a precaution

:iagree:

 

[Monkeyspanker]

Don't gap the iridium plugs. You will most certainly break the electrode on at least one of them. They are designed to be left alone. The same plug, ungapped, runs engines from mild to wild. No need to modify.

 

[Okie]

Don't gap the iridium plugs. You will most certainly break the electrode on at least one of them. They are designed to be left alone. The same plug, ungapped, runs engines from mild to wild. No need to modify.

I guess I lucked out - I did check them, but I didn't get too crazy with them. I just slid the plug gently to make sure they were gapped all the same. Thanks for the responses.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I guess I lucked out - I did check them, but I didn't get too crazy with them. I just slid the plug gently to make sure they were gapped all the same. Thanks for the responses.

They can be scewed up... From the "they don't build 'em like they used to" school I would add... Beginning 20 years ago or so we started seeing the 'sleeve' in the sparkplug packaging. That happens to coincide with large gap, more specifically, specialized gap plugs. Prior to this plugs were .035-.042 and that was it. Once a size, heat range and reach was established the plug was made and sold. They had no sleeves and it "assumed" the installer would check the gap. As we entered the fuel injection/computer controlled era the gap became evn more critical to ensure passing emissions testing. That's when we saw 30,40,50 different spark plugs come to market. That's also when we saw the "sleeve" become more common.

Unless something bizarre occurs in transit the gap on new plugs is usually fine...