Getting ready to replace the Spark Plugs

Check them good when you get them , just read a thread that a PC member just found out he got some cheap knock-off imitation Denso plugs that were ordered online .......and in Toyota boxes too ! Yikes !
Who did you order them from ? If it was an online Toyota dealer , I wouldnt worry . If it was from e-bay, Amazon, etc .......check them real good ! If the car acts up right after replacing the plugs, you might have bought the imitations.

 

Aren't plugs plugs? Denso SC16HR11 are what they are?

Maybe if you're buying on EBay, paranoid about conterfeits. But if you buy from a reputable automotive retailer, I don't see a problem.

 

+1 on that philosophy! I also bought spark plugs from the Toyota dealership and didn't care what the price was. There seems to be a lot of confusion on the correct type to buy.

You are only changing the plugs once every 120 K miles and is a pain to do. So why risk it for a small savings now only have to pay more later to fix the mistake.

 

The problem is no auto parts stores (at least in my area) carry the correct Denso plugs . Neither the Denso 16's or 20's .
So, if I wanted the absolute correct plugs to install in my gen 3 , I either had to get them from my Toyota dealer that was 10 minutes away. and pay the small "dealer" mark-up , or get them online and wait for them. Like I said , there is so much stuff to take apart just to replace plugs on a gen 3 that I wanted to do it right the first time.

As far as hoping to get the right plugs online through ebay ............this post made me nervous , so I just went to the Toyota dealer for mine !
See post #24 ............
rapping noise after spark plug change | Page 2 | PriusChat

 

Meh, plugs is plugs.

My go-to automotive specialty store is a small place with a big warehouse, and if they don't have it they will get it. They're shopping at the same wholesalers as the dealership, and are a lot cheaper.

 

bought oem plugs from china and gave me the death rattle while driving. replaced them with ngk and everything works normal

 

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Supersessions within the Spark Plug range

30 June 2017 | Article

Supersession of Automotive Iridium Power and Tough plugs to Iridium TT (IrTT). Fast moving SC20HR11 Iridium Spark Plug superseded with SC16HR11

Supersession of Automotive Iridium Power and Tough plugs to Iridium TT (IrTT)

For automotive applications, Iridium TT will supersede a part of the Iridium Power and Iridium Tough range.

After 20 years of 0.4mm patented Iridium we are now moving forward with Iridium TT long life for
automotive applications. Iridium TT utilizes 0.4mm center electrode, with an addition of a needle type ground electrode. This new development is the next step of evolution in Iridium technology and continues the high quality legacy of Iridium Power and Tough.

From June 2017 we will automatically supersede the phased out Iridium Power and Iridium Tough references to the new Iridium TT. You will receive stock of the new IrTT plug if the old stock is depleted. This will ensure delivery of the correct alternative Spark Plug in case you order the old reference.

Below is a Cross Reference overview with applicable part numbers.



Fast moving SC20HR11 Iridium Spark Plug superseded with SC16HR11

Part Number SC20HR11 will be phased out. Due to OE requirements all demand will continue to the existing SC16HR11.

In the past only the 2014 Aygo/108/C1 and Yaris had 16 heat range, however going forward all other engines will move from SC20HR11 to the SC16HR11 Spark Plug. For Aftermarket it is safest to switch gradually to SC16HR11 for the whole connected car parc and sell out the current stock
of SC20HR11. We will supersede SC20HR11 with SC16HR11 automatically in terms of ordering and delivery, following Toyota’s decision. Please refer to the DENSO Spark Plug catalogue for the correct crossing.

Due to OE requirements DENSO has to change the heat range from 20 to 16. These connected applications are mainly Toyota engines. The OE car manufacturer has already switched to SC16HR11 for newly manufactured vehicles. The Aftermarket will follow this consequently.

The level of heat range is connected to low or high speed driving. The initial choice for the right heat range is a result of expectations towards average use of the engine. After a few years of experience with this engine, the manufacturer decided to lower the heat range.

In all digital catalogues like TecDoc and MAM, the change will take effect in June 2017.

From June 2017 onwards we will automatically supersede SC20HR11 with SC16HR11. This will ensure delivery of the correct Spark Plug in case you order the old reference.

Find out more about DENSO's Spark Plugs.

 

I just replaced my spark plugs at 145,754 miles and here are the pics of the old spark plugs. FYI, I was getting 46mpg using every trick in the book. Hopefully, new Densos will bring that back up to =>50mpg.

Thanks to NutzAboutBolts for the yt instructional video:

 

Thanks for posting the images, hope the new plugs restores ya FE back.

 

Welcome to Prius Chat .

Good first post and we see you are the DIY type.

If you want to ensure you’ll get your fuel economy back up and reduce future issues, I’d clean the circuit from the cooler through to the intake manifold .

I’ve done this twice with our 2010 with 180 k miles on it and each time I cleaned it, the fuel economy improved.

Good luck and keep us posted .

 

Thanks for the welcome. Any links to how I can DIY "clean the circuit from the cooler through to the intake manifold'? I'm not familiar w/ those parts and the procedure.

 

No real procedure for cleaning as all toyota shows is how to replace it in the repair manual.

Here’s the videos for all the maintenance items and how to do them on the Gen3 :

Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos

This is linked in the maintenance section of the Gen3 forums.

I have a spare cooler that I clean and have ready for the swap .

Speeds the process up and ensures the cooler is tidy for entry .

Good luck and keep us posted .

 

Looks like those plugs still have some life in them. I changed mine at 120K and were still in great shape.

Welcome to Prius Chat!

 

That was me.
The plugs came from China, but printed on the box was "Toyota Lexus Made in Japan". So if I'm to believe them, the plugs were manufactured in Japan, then shipped to China, then shipped to me in the US??? Highly unlikely. Also, the individual boxes that the plugs came in were of dubious quality: the cardboard was very thin, and the adhesive was failing -- they were counterfeit.

 

Shop Trick of the Day:

Problem: Because the plugs on these cars are so small, your spark plug socket will likely not fit, so you'll be using a standard deep well socket with no rubber insert to grab the tip of the plugs.
Solution: Go to your local auto parts or hardware store and get a foot of 5/16" fuel hose (30 cm of 8mm hose for the non-USA folks). Use your socket to loosen the plug, but don't back it all the way out. Now remove the socket, and press the piece of fuel line over the tip of the plug (see pic). Now you can use the fuel line to back the plug the rest of the way out, and remove it from the hole. Do the same to install the new plugs, and get the threads started.

 

I managed to cadge a set of spark plug sockets, with rubber inserts, through Princess Auto, in 9/16", 5/8", 3/4" and 13/16". The 9/16" is roughly equal to 14 mm, which I believe is the kosher size? Sadly they no longer have these.

Searching right now, pretty sparse pickings, odd.

 

Or do what I did! Fish for the plugs LOL.
This method was very effective for me.

 

I've resorted to a grab tool too. If 14 mm spark plugs become more common hopefully decent sockets with rubber inserts will catch up.

I'm all right, lucked out with my Princess Auto set, but looking on amazon right now rubber insert 14 mm sockets are pretty much nonexistent, and there's a few dubious "magnetic" sockets, pricey, mixed reviews.

The overpriced (Jet) socket at the left end cost more than the rest (complete Princess Auto set), and is just a regular socket, no rubber insert: