Spark Plugs

[camryjunkie17]

Anybody know how many spark plugs there are in a 1996 toyota camry 4 cylinder? I'm looking to upgrade my spark plugs to iridium performance spark plugs and don't know how many to buy for my engine. Can anyone help me? Any advice or help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[nogard]

When I first read this I thougth it was a joke, I did laugh, but all joking aside, everyone needs to start somewhere.

Easiest why to find this out on any engine is to count the spark plug wires.

[triggerhappy007]

Good thing you're asking online rather than face-to-face.

[Sportivo Concepts]

If your going to be changing the spark plugs yourself, dont forget to properly gap your plugs.

[Heat]

You can buy a gap checker (gapper) at Autozone for a buck or so. Besides the checking the gap, be sure to tighten the plugs to the correct torque. Too tight and you may break it or cause it to be extremely hard to remove the next time. Too loose and you won't get good spark - the car won't run right.

Consider picking up a torque wrench to ensure proper torque unless there is some rule of thumb for Camrys (something like "twist spark plug in with your fingers until snug, then turn an addition 3/4 turn with a wrench" (which is what the manual for my Accord says). If you want a torque wrench, Sears has some good ones - make sure the range of the wrench covers the torque you need. What torque do you need? Read the owner's manual (I really don't know, haven't changed my Camry's plugs yet), but it'll most likely be in the 8 to 12 ft-lbs.

Also, be sure that you have a spark plug socket for your socket set, it'll fit spark plugs like a glove and will have a little rubber part in them to protect the spark plug when you are putting them in.

[CamrySExxx]

you are getting iridium...they should be pregapped.. you cannot gap them due to the iridium

[nogard]

Usually right on the back of the box of spark plugs it tells you what torque, or how much of a turn past finger tight to tighten. There are usually two different types, with and without washers. I believe all of the ones made for your car are going to have washers on the spark plug. Because the washer smashes a little with you tighten the spark plug, the amount it is turned will always be more. The turn method works good, you don't need a torque wrench.

Also, as mentioned about having a hard time getting the plugs out. What is a must to make them come out good the next time, is to use anti-sieze. You can get this in little one time packs right at the automotive store. Or if you plan on using more, you can get it by the tube, or can. I use it on every thing I take apart, except for wheel lug nuts. When I put something back together I have it on there, it lubes the threads, and will make it easier to get off the next time. Plus something like spark plugs, which are steel, and the head on your car which is aluminum. Dissimilar metals corrode against each other, and there is a lot of heat on the spark plugs which is hard on the thread joint between the plug and head. Remeber when using anti-sieze, a little goes a long way. You just need to put a little on the tip of your finger and put a dab on the threads. You don't even need to coat it all the way around, it will definetly work its way in, as you thread it in. Be careful what you get it on, it is slimy and gets everywhere. Sounds like this is your first time getting into something like this. Read all instructions, and apply common sense, put it back together the way it came apart. And if there is multiple of something do one at a time, in case you forget how to get it back together, you still have an assembled one to use as an example. You will do fine!