Frozen Spark Plug Removal on a 5.7 with 350,000 miles (1 Viewer)

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

So how many other Heavy SUVs with V8s do you think would survive 270k miles without changing the plugs??

I guess my other question is why change them at 100k . I changed plugs in a lot of my cars when I was young and didn’t know better, but I enjoyed it!! I also rebuilt most of my cars engines when I was young too, and my dad always asked me why I did it…. But in time, he realized I simply loved building motors and improving them, and for $1500, I could fully build, balance and upgrade a 454 LS 6 , so it was inexpensive to do, and there was nothing like a balanced 440HP LS 6 in a 70 Chevelle with 4:56 gears……

Now I appreciate Japan Built LC 200s….. and have lost interest in rebuilding anything if it doesn’t need it….

I don't think many spark plugs will last 270k miles...but I'll bet that a lot of engines will run with really old spark plugs...just not optimally.

If I recall, I think Toyota recommends 192,000 km for the first spark plug change. I think it's reasonable to assume the performance of plugs degrades after that. New spark plugs can improve fuel economy and encourage complete combustion. These are a wear item, and they are cheap and easy to replace. Well worth it, in my opinion.

I love building motors too. Keeps me out of trouble.

 

[Craig Haworth]

I don't think many spark plugs will last 270k miles...but I'll bet that a lot of engines will run with really old spark plugs...just not optimally.

If I recall, I think Toyota recommends 192,000 km for the first spark plug change. I think it's reasonable to assume the performance of plugs degrades after that. New spark plugs can improve fuel economy and encourage complete combustion. These are a wear item, and they are cheap and easy to replace. Well worth it, in my opinion.

I love building motors too. Keeps me out of trouble.

I agree fully with your comment on plugs being wear items and degrading but still functioning, and I agree they should be replaced per manufacturers recommendation.

I think what happens is people like me get too busy with all of the other things we choose to do ourself, and put off changing things like spark plugs on modern vehicles where access isn’t so great, and car runs perfectly…

Trying to come up with an excuse, being someone that as mentioned, has always loved working on cars, Andover maintained them when he had more time….

I’m now going over everything I would like to do to help get to 500k, while it’s down, as it isn’t fun to create access to one of these to do things like change timing cover gaskets, water pumps, etc…. and as we do not have an ethical Toyota dealership nearby, independents are really independent, and all of the above are beyond expensive, it’s really up to me to do the work…..

I would love to retire and set up an air conditioned shop with a proper lift, and park it for a major renovation, and get back to doing what I did for so many years before I “grew up”……

 

[TimCFJ40]

I agree fully with your comment on plugs being wear items and degrading but still functioning, and I agree they should be replaced per manufacturers recommendation.

I think what happens is people like me get too busy with all of the other things we choose to do ourself, and put off changing things like spark plugs on modern vehicles where access isn’t so great, and car runs perfectly…

Trying to come up with an excuse, being someone that as mentioned, has always loved working on cars, Andover maintained them when he had more time….

I’m now going over everything I would like to do to help get to 500k, while it’s down, as it isn’t fun to create access to one of these to do things like change timing cover gaskets, water pumps, etc…. and as we do not have an ethical Toyota dealership nearby, independents are really independent, and all of the above are beyond expensive, it’s really up to me to do the work…..

I would love to retire and set up an air conditioned shop with a proper lift, and park it for a major renovation, and get back to doing what I did for so many years before I “grew up”……

Honestly, I'd replace them every 100k miles as it takes less than an hour and the OEM plugs aren't that expensive. I bought this truck with 200k miles and have worked my way through the maintenance items. Because I hadn't owned it for the first 200k miles, I assumed in the back of my mind that they had been done at some point surely, but when I pulled them they told the truth

 

[pvchaitanya]

the toyota spark plugs are made out of platinum tips I think and will last a long time. When I saw mine at 135k the tips looked intact without any wear. I am not surprised they lasted till 270k miles but it will start throwing off the timing and to adjust for that the ECU will change its timing I think which leads to inefficient burns.

 

[04UZJ100]

the toyota spark plugs are made out of platinum tips I think and will last a long time. When I saw mine at 135k the tips looked intact without any wear. I am not surprised they lasted till 270k miles but it will start throwing off the timing and to adjust for that the ECU will change its timing I think which leads to inefficient burns.

They’re not platinum, they’re iridium….even better.

 

[stonepa]

I just have the dealer do the plug change with every major service - fluids, serpentine belt, plugs, PCV, etc. good to go.

 

[bj70bc]

I just have the dealer do the plug change with every major service - fluids, serpentine belt, plugs, PCV, etc. good to go.

this potentially scares me more than leaving the damn things in there, dealer service.....eewwww gross

 

[willstroo]

I would love to retire and set up an air conditioned shop with a proper lift, and park it for a major renovation, and get back to doing what I did for so many years before I “grew up”……

Yes!!!!!!!

 

[stonepa]

this potentially scares me more than leaving the damn things in there, dealer service.....eewwww gross

Im sorry you have such bad dealers. I guess I am lucky.

 

[pvchaitanya]

Im sorry you have such bad dealers. I guess I am lucky.

the services you are getting are very basic that you can trust a dealer to change belts, fluids and sparkplugs.