Spark plugs changeable in new BRZ without engine lift? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

jbarm · 11-10-2021, 04:58 PM

My old FRS required an engine lift to replace the plugs (per standard maintenance guidelines).

A lapse in engineering in an otherwise great car.

New owners: are the spark plugs in the new BRZ more accessible?

jb

timurrrr · 11-10-2021, 05:00 PM

Pretty sure it's the same, unless someone tries and proves it's not.
Or checks the "Factory Service Manual".

Ernest72 · 11-11-2021, 07:43 PM

Unless they put a dent in there or an access hole I think it will be the same. Only really need the lift for the driver side rear.

Interceptor777 · 11-11-2021, 08:09 PM

Wait seriously?

Boy this is gonna be fun coming from a Miata. I can replace my engine in 5 hours in the Miata...

timurrrr · 11-11-2021, 09:04 PM

Replacing the FA20 also isn't that hard.
It's just the spark plug job that's notoriously complicated, because of the boxer layout.
I believe it's doable without a lift if you have tiny hands?

mazeroni · 11-11-2021, 09:07 PM

Haven't people on here with 150K miles still not done spark plugs?

When I first got the car, I planned on it, but then someone on here with over 100K miles pulled the plugs and showed they were still perfect. I'm at 85K with no plans on doing it, even if I wasn't going to trade it in.

MyHybridBurnsGasAndTires · 11-11-2021, 10:04 PM

i did it on a bugeye wrx while doing the valve cover gaskets. never again will i do this on the floor of a garage. i'll take to a DIY shop and do it on a lift or pay a mechanic.

Ernest72 · 11-12-2021, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyHybridBurnsGasAndTires

i did it on a bugeye wrx while doing the valve cover gaskets. never again will i do this on the floor of a garage. i'll take to a DIY shop and do it on a lift or pay a mechanic.

WRX is easier than BRZ. With right tools it’s no issue. Even with the custom taped tools I use, it will not fit for the driver side rear on the BRZ. Loosening both engine mounts and jacking up about 1-2 inches does the trick. Not hard at all.

iag48st · 11-12-2021, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazeroni

Haven't people on here with 150K miles still not done spark plugs?

When I first got the car, I planned on it, but then someone on here with over 100K miles pulled the plugs and showed they were still perfect. I'm at 85K with no plans on doing it, even if I wasn't going to trade it in.

88k for me and car idles fine. I’ll do it at 100k; it’s only $390 at my dealership.

Yoshoobaroo · 11-12-2021, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iag48st

88k for me and car idles fine. I’ll do it at 100k; it’s only $390 at my dealership.

60k service is only $500 and includes spark plugs as well as almost all fluids and filters.

finch1750 · 11-18-2021, 12:16 PM

I've changed plugs 4 or 5 times now between me and a buddy. Never lifted the motor and can do it in under 2 hours now. Just need a 1" extension and feed them in piece by piece. Once you learn the process it gets much quicker.

As long as they didn't take room away it should be ok.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyHybridBurnsGasAndTires

i did it on a bugeye wrx while doing the valve cover gaskets. never again will i do this on the floor of a garage. i'll take to a DIY shop and do it on a lift or pay a mechanic.

The WRX has miles of room compared to the twins. When i was trying to chase down a misfire on my old STi I could do plugs in 20-30 minutes lol

Tcoat · 11-18-2021, 12:29 PM

Something around 140,000 miles and several track days. My old FRS but plugs not changed by me!

I wouldn't want to change them but then the last car I actually did plugs on was really easy.
You could practically stand beside the engine right in he bay.

Dadhawk · 11-18-2021, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazeroni

When I first got the car, I planned on it, but then someone on here with over 100K miles pulled the plugs and showed they were still perfect. I'm at 85K with no plans on doing it, even if I wasn't going to trade it in.

Mine were done the first time at around 110K miles as part of the valve recall. They didn't exactly look new, but they didn't look like anything to concerned about either.

Sasquachulator · 11-18-2021, 01:56 PM

its not really a lapse in engineering, it just happens to be the size of the engine bay + the boxer layout just doesnt make it as straightforward as other engines. Make the car wider, get easier access...change the engine configuration to an i4 or a V6, it'll be easier.

But then again i guess they could have put some sort of access panel in the wheel well or something (if its even possible without compromising the structure....)

11-10-2021, 04:58 PM	#1
jbarm Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 2013 FR-S Location: Anywhere Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Spark plugs changeable in new BRZ without engine lift? My old FRS required an engine lift to replace the plugs (per standard maintenance guidelines). A lapse in engineering in an otherwise great car. New owners: are the spark plugs in the new BRZ more accessible? jb

11-18-2021, 12:29 PM	#12
Tcoat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2020 Hakone Location: London, Ont Posts: 69,845 Thanks: 61,656 Thanked 108,283 Times in 46,456 Posts Mentioned: 2495 Post(s) Tagged: 50 Thread(s)	Something around 140,000 miles and several track days. My old FRS but plugs not changed by me! I wouldn't want to change them but then the last car I actually did plugs on was really easy. You could practically stand beside the engine right in he bay. __________________ Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar, because Racecar.

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11-10-2021, 05:00 PM	#2
timurrrr Senior Member Join Date: May 2019 Drives: 2022 GR86 Location: Between Sonoma and Laguna Seca Posts: 1,707 Thanks: 2,128 Thanked 1,296 Times in 718 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Pretty sure it's the same, unless someone tries and proves it's not. Or checks the "Factory Service Manual".

11-11-2021, 07:43 PM	#3
Ernest72 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Drives: 16 Silver BRZ, 04 Silver WRX wagon Location: Rockland county, NY Posts: 1,410 Thanks: 181 Thanked 768 Times in 439 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Unless they put a dent in there or an access hole I think it will be the same. Only really need the lift for the driver side rear.

11-11-2021, 08:09 PM	#4
Interceptor777 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Drives: 2022 BRZ, 1999 "touge-spec" Miata Location: MD Posts: 153 Thanks: 33 Thanked 110 Times in 54 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Wait seriously? Boy this is gonna be fun coming from a Miata. I can replace my engine in 5 hours in the Miata...

11-11-2021, 09:04 PM	#5
timurrrr Senior Member Join Date: May 2019 Drives: 2022 GR86 Location: Between Sonoma and Laguna Seca Posts: 1,707 Thanks: 2,128 Thanked 1,296 Times in 718 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Replacing the FA20 also isn't that hard. It's just the spark plug job that's notoriously complicated, because of the boxer layout. I believe it's doable without a lift if you have tiny hands?

11-11-2021, 09:07 PM	#6
mazeroni Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Series 10 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,116 Thanks: 600 Thanked 1,017 Times in 512 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Haven't people on here with 150K miles still not done spark plugs? When I first got the car, I planned on it, but then someone on here with over 100K miles pulled the plugs and showed they were still perfect. I'm at 85K with no plans on doing it, even if I wasn't going to trade it in.

11-11-2021, 10:04 PM	#7
MyHybridBurnsGasAndTires Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Drives: what Location: WA Posts: 341 Thanks: 337 Thanked 278 Times in 161 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	i did it on a bugeye wrx while doing the valve cover gaskets. never again will i do this on the floor of a garage. i'll take to a DIY shop and do it on a lift or pay a mechanic.

11-18-2021, 01:56 PM	#14
Sasquachulator Pavement Grey Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: 2020 Toyota 86 GT, 2017 BMW X1 Location: Calgary Posts: 3,083 Thanks: 109 Thanked 2,222 Times in 1,204 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	its not really a lapse in engineering, it just happens to be the size of the engine bay + the boxer layout just doesnt make it as straightforward as other engines. Make the car wider, get easier access...change the engine configuration to an i4 or a V6, it'll be easier. But then again i guess they could have put some sort of access panel in the wheel well or something (if its even possible without compromising the structure....)

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