I have a 2001 Toyota Avalon (3.0L V6) with 95,000 miles and a 1999 Toyota Corolla (1.8L I4) with 100,000 miles. Is it about time for both cars to get new spark plugs or can I live for some more time? Both cars run fine...
Would anybody care to give some tips, required tools, etc etc? Do I need a torque wrench?
Changing spark plugs DIY?
Platinum plugs are rated for 100k miles. It sounds that yours are ready for replacement if they've never been replaced.
The four-cylinder engine will be easier, because the plugs will be easily accessed.
The six cylinder will have three plugs facing the firewall of the car (the wall the separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment). This will be more difficult to access.
If the car runs fine, there will be little improvement by replacing the plugs, but it would be a preventative step.
When removing plugs always do it when the engine is cool (%26lt;100 F). This is because the spark plugs are made from steel and the engine head (where the plugs are inserted) are made from aluminum. These have different rates of expansion such that removing the plugs from a hot engine can strip the aluminum threads.
You will need a spark plug socket and a socket driver. It's helpful to have some compressed air (you can purchase cans of compressed air) to clean the spark plug area before removing the plug.
When you pull the wire from the plug, make sure to grip the wire/boot. Don't pull directly on the wire, as you can pull the wire from connector.
The gap information can normally be found on a label inside the engine compartment.
When inserting new plugs, be sure to apply anti-seize compound to the plug. Make sure that the plug is seated when it becomes tight. I do this by counting the turns required to become tight. Count the threads on a plug before you start to know the right number of turns required to seat. This is important because plugs can feel tight before they are seated.
You should be able to do this without a torque wrench.
Here is an example of information for replacing plugs.
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/090鈥?/a>
Changing spark plugs DIY?
Spark plugs are easy to change, all you have to do is pull the old ones off and put the new ones on. They shold only cost a few dollars at the store. But spark plugs are rarely an issue, it's usually the spark chords that cause problems.
Well depending on how mechanically challenged you are, to most this is a simple task. Yes this will save you money, as doing any car project yourself( given its done correctly.) Also with newer cars, they plugs are generally good to about ( est. depending on make/model) 100,000 miles. I would say yes to the change for both.
The one tip I`d give you is don`t tighten them too tight or they will break(or strip the threads).
Make sure you set the gap rate correctly
It is fairly easy to do yourself. Changing the plugs is easy...hard part for you may be if they are hard to reach or if there are brackets in the way that have to be removed.
Change the plugs when the engine is cold. Remove the old plug, double check the spark plug gap on the new plugs, and install them. If they are somewhere hard to reach get a 12%26quot; long piece of vacuum hose at the parts store that fits tight over the end of the plugs and use that to twist the plugs in. Make sure you put a little dab of antisieze on the plug threads before you put them in. A lot of parts stores like Autozone loan out torque wrenches with a deposit. You might not be able to get to all of the plugs with a torque wrench...just torque one down and get a feel for how tight it should be by undoing it by hand and then do the others by hand.
If you are going to be trying some of your own maintenance then buy a Haynes, Chiltons, or other repair manual off of eBay before you start. Also, the antisieze they sell in the little packets at the counter of the parts store costs about as much as a big tube down the aisle. After you buy those things the cost may not be a great savings over having it done on the first car but after that you'll have the manual to help save on future repairs. With those miles new plugs will probably help.
It will save you a bit of money to change the plugs yourself. It shouldn't be to hard to do. Toyotas will run forever without much maintenance, but the more you invest into your vehicle, the more you'll get out of it. Refer to a Chiltons or Haynes manual if your going to do it yourself. It will tell you the ins %26amp; outs of the repairs, including torque poundage, removal and installation, and types of plugs needed.
new spark plugs are a good investment be careful if you have aluminum heads they should be cool when attempting to change plugs otherwise the threads could be easily stripped some times undoing the upper motor mount will make access easier make sure the wrench fits correctly or you could round off the plug when removing the wires pull from the boot not the wire or you could ruin the wire it's really not that difficult if you take your time
Of course you'll save money. You'll only pay for the price of the plugs, not the labor.
If your car runs fine, I wouldn't change the plugs. You've gotten quite a bit of mileage out of both sets for your cars, considering the high mileage.
When you do have to change plugs you can normally get by with a socket wrench and a special socket, (usually included in most sets) for pulling plugs. Your owner's manual should give the gap degree (width of the spark tip and anode, I think that's what it's called) and you can use a feeler gauge to set the correct gap. Also, you should usually just hand tighten the spark plug. If you tighten it too much, once it heats up it may seat to where you need a tow truck to remove them next time!
good luck
You can do it yourself.It's not hard.Make sure and get the gap setting for the plugs and set them before you start.Then only take one out at a time.Be careful not to pull the end of the wire off when removing it from the plug or you'll be buying a new set of wires too,which wouldn't be a bad idea of doing anyway.They have a small tube of silicon lubricant that you should put inside the boot of the plug wires so it won't stick to the plug when you take it off next time.Just be sure not to mix up the wires.That's why you do one at a time,and be sure each one is snapped on securely.
Yes, it is DIY. At that mileage, yeah it's that time. Depending on the access to the spark plugs. Most have difficulty accessing the plugs at the bulkhead/firewall area. It does saves you money, but you must know the details regarding your plugs gap, this means that each vehicles spark plug gap must be precise, check your vehicles manual, sometimes it's posted inside the hood or around the radiator. Tools needed, screw driver flat or phillips, spark plug gap tool, and maybe some sockets/wrench to remove some components if you are comfortable with it.
Spark plugs are just %26quot;1/4 turn pass hand tight%26quot;.
