Spark Plugs

So, I've had the same plugs in my vehicle for all 125000 miles I've owned it.
I assume I am somewhat overdue.
So The NK.. ones with platinum and iridium are the best?
 
Platinum single electrodes work just fine

I just put platinum single electrode plugs in my 00' runner and it runs great. Decided I would choose a plug based on user reviews rather than number of electrodes as the quad electrode Bosch plugs have damn near the lowest rating of any plug that I considered.

To each their own.....:gun6:
 
Drcoffee said:
What are the chances that once those ground electrodes wear down like that, that the spark will jump to the piston top instead? That can't be good for the engine.

That is probably why Toyota wants them changed at 30,000 miles.
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Absolutely zero. The piston is 1/2" or more away from the plug and it's a poor ground.
 
lbhsbz said:
Absolutely zero. The piston is 1/2" or more away from the plug and it's a poor ground.
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Thats good to know.

If you go to a single ground electrode, you'll need one with precious metal on both center and ground electrodes. With the wasted spark ignition, the ground electrode will have excessive wear in a short time.
 
If there was a better way to skin the cat, Toyota would've done it that way. It takes 20 minutes to change the plugs if you're slow. The NGK or Denso OE plugs are cheap. Why mess with it?
 
lbhsbz said:
If there was a better way to skin the cat, Toyota would've done it that way. It takes 20 minutes to change the plugs if you're slow. The NGK or Denso OE plugs are cheap. Why mess with it?
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$30 with tax, and 20-30 minutes of your time. Also, I keep hearing you have to remove this hose and that bracket on the driver's side...I must be working on a different truck because I did it this morning with 12" extensions, socket and flex head ratchet. All 6 plugs.
 
At the dealer, I would just loosen the ground connection, rotate it 90 degrees, and retighten so that the front plug wire clears, then pull the fuel return line outta the hanger on the intake bracket and put it back when was done. No bolts need to be removed for the drivers side bank.
 
I would run OEM.

This is what I run - DENSO K20R-U

lexus_ls400_1999_spark_plug_oem_k20r_u11_k20ru11.jpg
 
I use Bosch 4 plus, no issues, looks good after 15,000km, so far,
noticed significant difference after changing from the dual tips

yes yes i know someone here is going to say " i wouldn't even use bosch in my lawnmower, blah blah blah"
whatever.....:gun5:
 
lbhsbz said:
If there was a better way to skin the cat, Toyota would've done it that way. It takes 20 minutes to change the plugs if you're slow. The NGK or Denso OE plugs are cheap. Why mess with it?
Click to expand...

Toyota HAS found a better way to skin a cat, they are using Iridium plugs now good for 120,000 miles that come standard on my 08 Sienna. I dont understand the resistance to new plugs. Multiple ground is technology from the 1970s. Much better tech is available now.

Watch those two vids on Page 2, especially the one made by NGK.
 
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Best Plug Ever

I've recently rolled over the 300,000 mi. odometer reading on my '01 SR5 2X
4Runner. You will love the new NGK Lazer Platinum, part #BKR5EKPB-11 4302,
dual electrode! As stated in a previous post, the lost spark system fires like a two stroke engine. This is twice as hard on a single electrode plug. The dual electrode will fire from the point it favors untill the gap is greater than the second electrode. It will then switch untill the ballance changes again. It doesn't matter if it is every other fire or sustained intervals, you will get twice the wear of a single electrode.
 
infamousRNR said:
Soooooo which side of the engine do the denso plugs go on and which side do the NKG plugs go on?......
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Don't worry about it. You can use all NGK or all Denso, doesn't matter. I've been using NGK since the first change at 30k...170k now. They just did it that way for production reasons. The heads were built in different factories and Toyota wanted to use both suppliers.
 
wait, so that explains the mixmatched set of spark plugs on my newly acquired t4r... that i bought at 293k miles. I wonder if these plugs were ever changed!

6 on the left are original, two on the right are new Denso


The old tips were shaped like a highlighter tip
 
If you have a spark plug gap tool, take the reading on the use plugs and post the numbers on those used plugs.

Look original, and all have worn well.
 
I believe that any plug, functioning within spec and gapped correctly, will work. The question is how long will they last?

Platinum, double platinum, and iridium will give you better life than plain old copper.

The 3rd gen runners being hard on spark plugs due to the ignition design would suggest to me that the longer lasting plugs might be a good idea.

That said, pulling the plugs now and then to check them is part of my routine maintenance so it doesn't really matter. If you want to just slap them in there and forget about it for the next 100k, then I wouldn't recommend copper.

I'm not sure if double ground plugs are really needed with the new materials, but it can't hurt. Might as well since they will last even longer.
 
LittleCaesar said:
If you have a spark plug gap tool, take the reading on the use plugs and post the numbers on those used plugs.

Look original, and all have worn well.
Click to expand...

I had a CEL pop up (misfire cyl 4, which is spark plug in my photo; top middle used) and the wires/spark plugs fixed it right up. I tossed the spark plugs last week.
 
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