Spark plugs should be changed about every 30,000 miles, but you can find a more exact recommendation in your vehicle's owner's manual.
Are you wondering how often to change spark plugs in your new Toyota vehicle? While most Toyota experts in the Cincinnati area will recommend having your spark plugs replaced every 30,000 miles, it will vary based on your specific model.
Ordinary copper and nickel spark plugs should be changed every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, unless otherwise suggested by the spark plug manufacturer. Platinum and iridium spark plugs tend to last longer than standard copper and nickel spark plugs. Expect to change them every 60,000 to 150,000 miles unless otherwise noted.
Many automakers recommend you replace the spark plugs in your vehicle around every 100,000 kilometers.
Spark plugs, themselves, can cost anywhere from $5 to $20, depending on the make and model of your car. Mechanics and auto shops will typically charge anywhere from $115 to $200 for a professional spark plug replacement.
A spark plug usually lasts about 30,000 miles, but cleaning them and maintaining them periodically lets your engine perform better and increases your plugs' lifespan. If you see rust, carbon, gunk, dust, or any type of buildup during the inspection, it may be time to clean them.
The deposits that build upon the plugs can eventually cause them to misfire. When this happens, the unburned fuel in the cylinders can start to eat away at the cylinder walls. This can cause dangerous pressure levels to build up, and it can even lead to engine failure.
Standard copper spark plugs last around 20,000 – 30,000 kms. The spark plugs play an important role in your engine, they produce electrical sparks that ignites the mixture of fuel and air in your engine's combustion chambers, causing the pistons to move up and down.
NGK gives them a life expectancy of 40-50k miles. But they have to temper their projections as driving conditions and motor modifications differ. Typically we have found you can expect 60,000 to 80,000 miles on an unaltered motor. NGK Laser Iridium Spark Plugs have iridium center and a platinum ground electrodes.
Continuing to use a spark plug with worn electrodes puts stress on the ignition coil and can shorten its life. Please replace spark plugs sooner rather than later. Beware of only using your vehicle for short trips or slow driving! This can lead to carbon fouling or oil fouling.
The spark plugs in many vehicles today have iridium or platinum tips on the electrodes (the parts that transmit the spark) that last longer than conventional plugs with copper and nickel-alloy electrodes.
The reason spark plugs have become more expensive in the past couple of decades is because precious metals that resist corrosion/deterioration are now used that help them last as long is 100,000+ miles. A good example would be iridium which is far more expensive than the copper/nickel alloys used in the past.
Generally, an iridium spark plug can last for 3000-4000 hours of engine runtime or up to 100,000 miles or more. While an iridium spark plug is made to last longer than platinum or copper core spark plugs, the iridium plug isn't made equal.
The average, modern iridium spark plug should last for 3-4,000 hours of engine uptime, depending on the gas quality.
Whenever you change spark plugs, it is a good idea to replace the ignition wires and vice versa. This will keep your vehicle running at peak performance and prevent you wasting money on unburned gasoline. In fact, a sudden drop in gas mileage may be an indicator that your ignition system is not functioning properly.
Replacing worn spark plugs can greatly improve your engine's performance and efficiency, and it can be done at home with basic hand tools. Recommended spark plug replacement intervals can range from 30,000 miles to every 100,000 miles, and they vary widely by car manufacturer and spark plug metal types and design.
The answer depends on the type of engine in your vehicle. Some V-6 models require removing portions of the intake manifold to replace the spark plugs. If you're not comfortable with that, take your vehicle to a pro. But if your engine affords easy access to the rear bank, you can probably do the job yourself.
At the top of the list, we have the NGK Spark Plugs. With iridium as its core material, this spark plug pack can operate at a much wider heat range as compared to ordinary spark plugs made out of platinum or copper.
Investing in high-performance spark plugs is a surefire way to save some money in the long run. Better gas mileage is just the beginning. These premium spark plugs last longer than conventional plugs, which means you'll be able to go a longer time between tune-ups, keeping your maintenance costs down.
Increased Fuel Economy – Misfiring spark plugs can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%. New plugs that are replaced at regular intervals maximize fuel economy, saving you money.
Fortunately, spark plugs only take about an hour to replace in vehicles with a four-cylinder engine. For V6 engines, the process could take at least an hour longer.
Driving With Faulty Spark Plugs
Malfunctioning spark plugs cause engine problems including, misfires, hard starts, reduced gas mileage, rough idling, and lack of acceleration. Driving with a faulty spark plug will be difficult because the engine might fail to function.
Replacing spark plugs will take roughly an hour if your vehicle has a four-cylinder engine. With a V6 or V8, it could take two to three hours. The cost to replace spark plugs will also vary by vehicle, as some spark plugs designs are more expensive but are designed to last longer.