What do you gap your plugs at? I changed my oil, plugs and air filter and lost mpg

[20034RunnerV84x2]

According to the Toyota manual you do not adjust the gap. They are already pregapped so just install them.

In shipping they can get dropped and knocked around and it can screw with the gap.

 

[bvc]

Also worth noting is that a gapping tool (technical term?) is about $2 so why wouldn't you check them?

 

[MikeInNH]

I see no downside in checking the gap. And I potential down-side if you DON'T check the gap. Yes the tip can get damaged IF you don't take care when checking the gap. So..just be careful. As I've stated...most of the time the plugs are right in spec. But every now and then they are off (significantly off). So you want to put a plug that's NOT gaped within spec in the engine?? Why would you do that?

As for going with a small gap. It'll wear the plugs our sooner. One of the nice things about electronic ignition when it became standard about 30 years ago was that the higher voltage meant you could install a plug with a wider gap. In a vehicle that used points/condenser...the plugs would last 15-20 thousand miles.