40k spark plug change evaluation

You probably care about your catalyst and engine. Misfiring can destroy cats and pistons.

 

If I was misfiring I’d change the plugs. Just like my mechanic told me.

 

The Service adviser at my dealer had no idea the plugs needed changed at 40k.

 

The world is filled with ineptitude.

 

By then it's too late as misfiring can and will destroy catalytic converters.

 

Most of the Service Advisors have little to no mechanical Knowledge or aware of the baseline maintenance requirements. IMO of course

 

Plugs needing to be changed at 40K shows how dirty these new engines must run. I changed my original plugs on my 5.7 at 120K and they looked a lot cleaner.

 

It has nothing to do with "how dirty the engines must run" and everything to do with complying with stupid EPA regs.

 

Change the oil on a healthy 5.7 at 5,000 miles and the oil will be medium brown with light still coming through it.

Change the oil on the 3.44 TTV6 at 5,000 miles and the oil will be black.

 

I change the oil in mine every 5,000 miles and it has yet to be black. You can tell it's used of course, but not black. What oil are you running?

 

I run Toyota 0w20 because I get a great price from my local dealer at $6 a quart. I'm at 195K and engine sounds exactly the same way that it did when I bought it at 28K.

 

And a comment like this shows how little you know about engines in general, and these modern DI/turbo engines specifically.

No, it won't, and does not. Why would it?

 

And fuel dilution because of the direct injection. You're making more power with fewer cylinders at much higher pressure than the old v8. Of course its going to wear out faster.

Not saying the UR v8s are without their faults: cam towers, valley plate leaks, front timing cover leaks and chain tensioner rattles. But if you fix all of those issues, they should outlast the new twin turbo motors IMHO.

P.S. if you get a chance, watch The Care Care Nut's teardown video of the new 3.44TTV6 there are some pretty interesting findings. The main bearings don't have locators, the timing chains are thinner than previous non-turbo Toyota v6 engines.

 

yes, I will change at 40k miles cause I have an extended warranty and do not want to give them an excuse to not honor it.

 

Forced induction motors run hotter cylinder temps and higher cylinder pressures. This causes more wear on plugs/electrodes. It’s pretty standard fare for turbocharged applications to have a shorter plug intervals. Even the venerable 5.7 has a shorter plug interval in supercharged applications, and we’re only running ~7psi in standard trim vs 15-20psi on the 3.4TT, IIRC.

 

Plugs have always been a consumable. They just didn't get consumed as fast in the past due to lower cylinder pressures and temperatures.

DI/FI engines consume at a significantly higher rate than the older NA units.

I religiously changed mine in my GTi every 10k miles, but granted that was running methanol injection and 26psi of boost on 2.0l 4cyl.

Now, one thing these trucks have going for them is consistent IATs from the Air to water intercooler/heat exchanger.

That will keep combustion temperatures down, but these are not meant for 80-100k changes like the older style engines were.

This is an example of a properly tuned DI engine plug. Notice the white mark on the strap and electrode. Complete combustion, clean and not running hot (lean).

I'd be willing to bet these trucks could stand to use a step colder plug.

 

Still a lot more carbon on the end of that plug compared to mine at 120K.

Give me port injection all day long for longevity.

 

DI definitely has some drawbacks, but the nice thing with these engines is the dual injection. Port and DI.

Carbon isn't that big of a deal, especially if you drive the vehicle hard and get the cylinder temps up to operating spec with top-tier fuel.

The ceramic coloration is what has me concerned. Too hot IMO.

 

https://youtu.be/VBRS_cffEhM?si=WTGIsTeyGya5DYhKI encourage everyone wanting to learn more (especially about the bearings with no locators, carbon buildup even with D4S) about the V35A motor. Weaker internals making a lot more power per cylinder does not bode well for longevity.

Way too much added complexity for what, 1 or 2mpg better than the v8?

 

its not about 1-2 MPG, it was about emissions, thats what killed the 350.

 

It's an emissions vehicle it would seem, which means Toyota prioritized the government's needs over its customers.

Never touching a 3rd Gen.

 

how have they put the goverment first, they have to comply with the regulations and since they were slated to tighten and were tightening they planned ahead.

and how did they not meet the customers needs?

@Raven67

well.. bye. ?

 

Weaker internals, making way more power per cylinder under high compression isn't going to last like previous generations. Toyota is sullying their reputation of reliability.

No recovery hooks, plastic bed, beefier frame but thinner and lighter everywhere else (see Tinker's Adventures)

3rd gen has terrible turning radius when the 2nd gen was best in class. Less headroom and legroom in the 3rd gen with less visibility.

3rd gen has better power, slightly better mpg and a better ride.

Just too many mechanical compromises made for the 3rd Gen. They do look nice though.

 

The jury is still out about how long it will last on the average, it's too early to come to that definitive conclusion, so we'll agree to disagree there I guess. For me, I don't keep shit long enough anymore to really have skin in that game anyways, but I understand it for others.

it seems your heading more toward off-roading priority, I get that, not my cup of tea.

As far as the turning radius, its a few feet and driving it , its not really noticeable in most circumstances, again, Im not a tight trail off-roader.

If you want tow hooks, the OEM gen 3 ones are light years ahead of the gen 2 ones. they should be standard though on off road models, Ill concede that. you can also get a 3" OEM lift , locker and MTS now.

the bed is better, it wont rust, so Ill disagree a little there.

fully boxed frame and the rest of the platform are significantly improved for towing stability wise, also auto load leveling rear is tits as is the powertrain towing performance.

 

They have to due to the interstate commerce clause of the US Constitution that gives the feds domain over them. Or...............they can build a factory in every state and sell the production only in that state.

And then there's the customer. Too. Very very very very very very careful balancing act.

 

That’s a horribly uninformed take

 

meh, at the rate the wife is putting on mileage, it will be 5 yrs before she gets to 40k miles on her 23.

took 5.5 yrs to get to 44k on her 2018 tundra.

she is currently at 14,866 miles at 2yrs 4 months

 

My ‘16 Taco with dual injection and our Venza both had irridium OEM plugs that looked new at 70K mi. That one looks really rough for Irridium. Might have had something to do with the misfiring. Curious to see others.