IRIDIUM SPARK PLUGS

The original plugs are iridium and they are good for 120k miles. No need to change them at 60k

 

No doubt their markup is higher on "premium" plugs.
There is no good reason to spend more money on plugs that are more expensive than what the OEM recommendation is.
Especially if you are going to change them again (maybe) before the recommended interval.

Despite the marketing claims, a spark plug is a spark plug and the main advantage of "rare metal" electrodes is longer life.

P.S. While it may not be "necessary" to change the plug before 120K miles, I personally don't feel good about leaving them in there much past 5 years or 70K miles. Sometimes corrosion can happen making them difficult to remove.

 

Everyone is, unless somebody has replaced the OE plugs with the wrong stuff.

-Chap

 

... which is iridium ...

... longer life is part of the story; you can see the other part if you grab a caliper and measure the electrode diameter and compare. A non-iridium electrode would have a short life indeed if you tried to make it that skinny, and the voltage out of a Prius igniter was chosen with that electrode shape and gap in mind.

... and speaking of gap, another little PSA, don't try to gap the iridium plugs. They should be correct out of the box, and the electrodes aren't built to bend/pry in the field.

-Chap

 

I second that! Changed mine at 125k. mi and they were still fine.

 

if anything, back them out, take a look, add some anti seize and put back in. use torque wrench.

 

While that sounds logical it really doesn't make any sense.
Once you have them OUT you might as well put NEW ones back in.
Spread over 50,000 miles or so, the cost really isn't much.

 

it's funny, some people agree, and others will travel to the end of the earth to save a dollar on an air filter.

 

Torque is 15 ft/lb with dry threads.

Toyota makes no mention of anti-seize. My inclination is to put anti-seize on very sparingly, and reduce torque to 13 ft/lb.

Socket size is 9/16" or 14mm. I've used 9/16", but I guess 14mm is kosher, and slightly tighter too.

For sure watch @NutzAboutBolts spark plug video; there's a LOT of wrenching required, just for access.

 

I thought the OEM plugs were Platinum?

 

Mine were all iridium. IIRC, the manual specifies iridium. Changed the wife's '07 at 118k miles, but they looked almost new. Changed my previous '05 at about 148k miles and three looked perfect and one showed minor wear.

 

Here it is. Confirmed in the 2013 PiP manual anyway:

 

see post #2.

 

Thanks. I did see it. I was just providing documentation to back it up.

 

that wasn't for you, i always think it's funny when the correct answer is provided in the second post, but we just go on for days and weeks with various iterations. especially when the o/p never returns. doesn't happen over on ionique chat. that's what is so endearing hear, and one of many reasons why we can't leave.

 

LOL!! We like to beat those dead horses till they finally get back up. And we have mastered the fine art of digression.

 

Enjoy your Ionique.

 

nobody actually owns one, we're all just pretenders. in fact, i'm not sure there really is such a car. it might just be a subversive korean plot.

 

Yep. My 2011 owner's manual actually says the same thing. Good thing I replaced mine with Iridiums!