Ignition refresh: going Denso this time

[octanejunkie]

New truck, new plugs and wires are given.

Last time I went NGK across the board, no complaints, performance is fine, I got crazy good gas mileage too. This time I'm thinking to keep it stock looking and go with Denso wires instead of NGK, and I might as well go Denso double platinum too.

Denso 3289 $6.36 ea @ Rock Auto

Denso 671-6182 wire set $32 @ Rock Auto

Denso coils (673-1201) are $53 ea @ Rock Auto & Amazon

Wondering if I should just refresh it all... Plugs, wires, coils (oh my)

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[RandyBobandy]

I don’t think you will really notice any difference between ngk and denso for the plugs and wires

 

[octanejunkie]

I don’t think you will really notice any difference between ngk and denso for the plugs and wires

I don't expect a discernable difference between OEM products for this application (Denso and NGK plugs came standard in these rigs from the factory) - my question revolves more around proactive coil pack replacements

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[phattyduck]

Weren't the OEM wires Yazaki? Been a few years since I have seen them though - my rig has been running the blue NGK's for 5+ years now...

And if you want to be really OEM, go with 3 NGK and 3 Denso plugs. :nod:

Any reason why you are replacing the coils? (I'd leave those alone - or at least keep the old ones in the parts bin...)

-Charlie

 

[octanejunkie]

Weren't the OEM wires Yazaki? Been a few years since I have seen them though - my rig has been running the blue NGK's for 5+ years now...



And if you want to be really OEM, go with 3 NGK and 3 Denso plugs. :nod:



Any reason why you are replacing the coils? (I'd leave those alone - or at least keep the old ones in the parts bin...)



-Charlie

Factory wires were Sumitomo (according to The Durk on another thread)

I'm not having any issues, and will inspect the coil shields and connections to the plugs when I pull them to do VGCs



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[phattyduck]

Factory wires were Sumitomo (according to The Durk on another thread)

Doh! Mixing up my 3s-gte and 5vz-fe memories.

-Charlie

 

[RandyBobandy]

I’d just replace the coil boots unless you’re having an issue, I don’t think these coil packs really soft fail like on some vehicles, that is where you have degraded performance from old coils.

 

[Unner]

I didn't know they were so cheap, I thought the coils were a lot more expensive honestly. I thought about doing them last time I did plugs but just went with new coil boots instead because those are really cheap. Now that I know all 3 Denso coils could be had for about $150 though I may replace them on my next spark plug change because that will be north of 300k+ miles and I'm big on preventative maintenance like that.

That said, I've never really heard of people having issues with them so I'm sure you'd be fine to keep using the original ones like I did. I may also buy just one and throw it in with my spare parts/tools so incase one does go bad I can swap it out while on the road/trail.

As for spark plugs and spark plug wires I don't think it matters really which one you go with. I went with the blue NGK wires around 140k. around 230k miles I noticed the boot and wire were separating a little bit, but nothing that impacted the function of the wire. At my next change at 265k I had the cables replaced under lifetime warranty at Advance Auto because of the separation. So I ran them for about 120k miles and then had them replaced for peace of mind. I'm sure they would still work as intended though had I not replaced them.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I like MagCore wires. They put more voltage to the plug. A lot less resistance than carbon wire set.


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[dogtail]

I like oem Denso full array for longevity. Like others said, coil boots are a must, Denso is cheap on Rock Auto. Coils will very rarely fail, you can get a million miles on them, but fresh coil boots are a must on every plug wire replacement.
One way you can see a coil boot failure is to squeeze at the end to expose the heat cracks, those are are what lead to arcing.

 

[repo]

I had the blue NGKs with no problems but last time I used the proper Toyota ones. My reasoning was they fit better because the lengths are perfect, they have all the protectors and clips and stuff, I have essentially blind faith in the level of OCD Japanese engineers expressed in this vehicle and I simply like to sperg out on this type of thing.

I also replaced all the coil packs with Denso for no particular reason other than one of them had blue corrosion on the connector that I couldn't fully clean off and I like to just preemptively replace stuff that I'm suspicious of or will have to be replaced one day anyway. It's nice having all OEM because it's one less variable to wonder about with diagnosing things, compatibility, longevity. This 4runner is quite literally the best consumer purchase I ever made so I don't feel guilty about spending extra on OEM parts.

I'd suggest buying Denso stuff from Napa, Autozone, Summit, etc. NOT Amazon or Ebay. I think I got the coils from Summit Racing and the Denso sticker slapped on top of another sticker looked a little suspect but I peeled one off and can't remember now why there was 2 stickers but confirmed somehow they are legit Denso.

 

[repo]

I like oem Denso full array for longevity. Like others said, coil boots are a must, Denso is cheap on Rock Auto. Coils will very rarely fail, you can get a million miles on them, but fresh coil boots are a must on every plug wire replacement.
One way you can see a coil boot failure is to squeeze at the end to expose the heat cracks, those are are what lead to arcing.

This, and you can also put a little dielectric grease on sealing part of the boots for good luck. On the boot itself not on the connectors.

 

[96RedRunner]

I've had 1 coil go bad in 22 yrs. 2 different Runners around 600k mi.
Coil on the shelf 10 yrs. from chasing a rabbit that ended being a bad wire.
Boots will get you occasionally wires get you the most, a new to me ride or 100k mi do both Denso and NGK so far.
If VC gaskets on todo list have a set of wires handy.
198k mi 01 Runner I bought in 17 dealer serviced had Sumitomo wires.

 

[repo]

And when it's time for injectors: Denso Fuel Injector Upgrade Set for 3.4L V6 4Runner Tacoma and Tundra – HP831 – MotorWest Performance

I didn't know they were so cheap, I thought the coils were a lot more expensive honestly. I thought about doing them last time I did plugs but just went with new coil boots instead because those are really cheap. Now that I know all 3 Denso coils could be had for about $150 though I may replace them on my next spark plug change because that will be north of 300k+ miles and I'm big on preventative maintenance like that.

That said, I've never really heard of people having issues with them so I'm sure you'd be fine to keep using the original ones like I did. I may also buy just one and throw it in with my spare parts/tools so incase one does go bad I can swap it out while on the road/trail.

As for spark plugs and spark plug wires I don't think it matters really which one you go with. I went with the blue NGK wires around 140k. around 230k miles I noticed the boot and wire were separating a little bit, but nothing that impacted the function of the wire. At my next change at 265k I had the cables replaced under lifetime warranty at Advance Auto because of the separation. So I ran them for about 120k miles and then had them replaced for peace of mind. I'm sure they would still work as intended though had I not replaced them.

 

[repo]

I've had 1 coil go bad in 22 yrs. 2 different Runners around 600k mi.
Coil on the shelf 10 yrs. from chasing a rabbit that ended being a bad wire.
Boots will get you occasionally wires get you the most, a new to me ride or 100k mi do both Denso and NGK so far.
If VC gaskets on todo list have a set of wires handy.
198k mi 01 Runner I bought in 17 dealer serviced had Sumitomo wires.

I had a similar rabbit chase but didn't have time to hunt it down so just threw parts at it. I think it was one of the coils or boots or maybe the corrosion on one which must have came from a bad wire/boot I guess. Problem was still there after the plugs and wires but gone after the coils. Was going to do all the injectors next if coils didn't fix it. I've had a plug work loose before too so it's probably worth rechecking the torque on the plugs occasionally. If it's not something expensive or difficult IMO it's worth the time and frustration saved just to throw parts at it starting with the cheapest. Can keep the old ones lying around for troubleshooting or whatever.

 

[96RedRunner]

I had a similar rabbit chase but didn't have time to hunt it down so just threw parts at it. I think it was one of the coils or boots or maybe the corrosion on one which must have came from a bad wire/boot I guess. Problem was still there after the plugs and wires but gone after the coils. Was going to do all the injectors next if coils didn't fix it. I've had a plug work loose before too so it's probably worth rechecking the torque on the plugs occasionally. If it's not something expensive or difficult IMO it's worth the time and frustration saved just to throw parts at it starting with the cheapest. Can keep the old ones lying around for troubleshooting or whatever.

What ever gets the job done for a given situation way it is.

Coil I mentioned is the new one that didn't fix problem.