Spark plug question
 

so i was reading around about spark plugs for the FRS and i read about how you have to remove the engine to get to it. Did toyota come out with a sst "special service tool" for the spark plugs o.O would suck to have to remove the engine for it :cry:

You don't have to remove the engine, it needs to be lifted about 2 inches. There are a couple people who have done it with the engine in place though. I fully plan on trying this first.

those must be some good spark plugs but hopefully they come with something to make it easier

Stock should be a Denso iridium.

I believe it is and have always been surprised that they can't stay in until 100K miles .

They'll probably be fine at 60K...the problem is why wouldn't you get new plugs since they're out and it's not exactly easy to get them out like an inline engine. Whole lotta effort not to change plugs, nahmean?

I really think you gotta lift the engine there's barely any room to take the coil out.

maybe children have small enough hands to get in there

Toyota did launch a SST for these. It's a set of blocks to help raise the engine a couple inches.

ohhh ok, im assuming that doesnt cost as much as removing the engine:w00t: lol

No. IIRC Warranty labor time from Toyota is around 2.2 hours for spark plugs, but it's been a few months since I looked that up.

dang thats unfortunate but i guess thats the price to pay for owning these beauties >:)

When do you expect to have 100,000 miles on your vehicle?

You think the plugs will last 100k? Honest question. I plan on owning the car awhile, and I drive a lot. It would be nice having another two years (40k) before I have to tackle this ;) I would almost be at 6 years of ownership before I have to deal with it

Subaru apparently doesn't, since the spec is 60K.

My experience with long-term use of platinums has been mixed. I had one car go to ~95K with no issues, but three others needed new plugs in the ~50K-60K area. So the factory spec is probably reasonable.

Hopefully someone will make a diy kn this

Honest question. What happens if one of the 4 spark plugs went out? How will you feel/know it? An engine code? And what happens to the fuel that gets pumped there and not get burned?

-Sent from outer space

I've never had, nor heard of (in non-motorsports operation) a spark plug failure.

If one did, you'd definitely know it. You'd have tremendous vibration, lack of power, and CELs galore.

Spark plugs just wear out. Platinum, iridium, and other materials are used recently because they wear very very slowly - not because they're good conductors (which they aren't). Depending upon the design, though, they may not last as long as intended.

Some plugs use/used a little 'puck' of the material tack-welded to the cathode. AC/Delcos used to be made that way. And those little pucks tended to fall off, long before 100K, which didn't cause any failures, but resulted in incorrect gapping.


Regular old copper-conductor plugs are as good or better in terms of performance, all else equal. But they don't last anywhere near 100K, so automakers use platinum, et al so that they can 1) advertise really long tuneup intervals, and 2) design so that you can't change plugs without helluva work.

I haven't even got my car yet and I'm already dreading the day I will have to swap them out :(