I have been running Bosch Platinum +4's for a while and started noticing a performance decrease, so decided to change plugs. I bought a set of Autolite Double Platinums to put in. I gapped the plugs at .040 and put them in, and the car wouldn't start. I pulled them out and rechecked the gap, put them in, and it still wouldn't start. It sounded like it wanted to hit on about one plug, but still, nothing. I pulled them out, put the old Bosch plugs back in, and it fired right up.
Anyone know what I did wrong? I've got fat performance wires that are loomed together, and changed out one plug at a time, so there was no mix up in the wires. Is my gap wrong? I couldn't find my manual to find what the gap was, so I looked it up on the Autolite website, and it shows .042, so the slight difference (.040) in gap shouldn't cause the car not to start at all. Could I have gotten faulty plugs?
its not the plugs keeping him from starting, check that the wires on on in the right order. the car would start with a .020 gap or a .060 gap with copper plugs or iridium plugs. it just would run like poopy, but it would start.
The gap should be .031 And I agree with all other parties. NGK or DENSO plugs is recommended by Toyota. Also, make sure you're hooking up the wires correctly. Lookin at the engine from the front cylinder order from left to right is 1,2,3,4. Most rotor caps are numbered.
I tried to reply to this earlier, but it didn't post for some reason.
Speedy25, the Bosch plugs lasted over 30,000 miles. I tried them because a friend said that he really liked them. I won't say they were great, but not bad either. And no, I didn't do anything wrong in putting in the new plugs, unless Autolite's website is wrong on the gap. I ALWAYS replace my plugs one at a time, so that there's NO CHANCE of getting a wire on the wrong plug. Add to that the fact that my wires are cut to length and loomed together, so that it is physically impossible to put the wrong wire on the wrong plug. I think I already stated that.
Someone mentioned that I should have gapped the new plugs at .031, so I might try that when the weather clears up. Seems odd that Autolite would say .042 though. If I can find my manual, I'll see what it says.
Also, just because Toyota recommends NGK or Denso plugs doesn't mean that they are better. I've got a Dodge Ram, and Dodge recommends Champion plugs. I wouldn't use a Champion in my lawnmower, much less my truck! They're junk. I've always had good service from Autolites, so it's just natural to buy them. Don't get me wrong, NGK and Denso are good plugs. I've used them in my dirt bikes and never had issues whatsoever. Auto manufacturers contract with certain companies for parts, and recommend them based upon those contracts. Doesn't make them better, or worse (except for Champions! ).
So, I'll try the .031 gap, or whatever the manual says, and report back if I'm successful or not. Thanks for the comments.
So, does that mean that Kia and Hyundai owners need to find Korean plugs for their cars??
Sorry, couldn't resist!!
It wasn't very smart of you to stray from the recommended parts as stated in the owners manual yet you chose to take a risk and did it anyways. Ren just mentioned what the general consensus on the subject of plugs is on TN. And if Autolite can't even get the recommended gap specifications right, then that should say something about how "good" they are. To me, it just reinforces the fact that they are complete crap. In the end, you get what you pay for.
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Originally Posted by TURBO Das Automagazin
A BRZ, a curvy mountain road makes one liter of happiness hormones.
It wasn't very smart of you to stray from the recommended parts as stated in the owners manual yet you chose to take a risk and did it anyways. Ren just mentioned what the general consensus on the subject of plugs is on TN. And if Autolite can't even get the recommended gap specifications right, then that should say something about how "good" they are. To me, it just reinforces the fact that they are complete crap. In the end, you get what you pay for.
Wow! So do you use a Genuine Toyota air filter? A Genuine Toyota oil filter, etc..? If not, are you using "complete crap"? I wouldn't think so. Like I said, Dodge recommends Champions, and every Champion I ever used was garbage. Should I use them just because Dodge says so? Not on your life! If my manual says to use NGK's, and I decide on Denso's, have I committed a cardinal sin? After all, that would be deviating from Toyota's recommendation. Would anyone expect Toyota (or Honda, or Nissan...) to recommend a non-Japanese plug? Would Chevy, Dodge, or Ford recommend NGK's or Denso's? Not hardly.
Look, I didn't come to argue about who makes the best plug. I simply bought what I liked, couldn't find my manual, and looked at Autolite's website to get the gap for the new plugs. I'm sure .042 is probably a standard gap for some vehicles that use the same plug, so that's what they put. Just happens to be wrong for mine and, obviously, didn't work. Doesn't make the plug bad. I've probably been using Autolites longer than some of you have been alive, and they've always been good plugs for me, even in heavily cammed and carburated motors. I found it hard to believe that there was something wrong with them, so I posted my question. Autolites are just my preference, that's all. If that hurts anyone's feelings, I apologize.
Once again, I'll re-gap them when the rain and snow stops and see what happens.
actually, NGK and Denso seem to work better with a lot of cars... Bosch seem to work better with European cars and a lot of domestic cars, Champion also seems to work better with a broad line of cars, not just Euro or domestic, etc. I normally use NGK on all my cars as I've been happy using them for over 10yrs, don't care if NGK or Denso are more money than Bosch or Champion, I chose them because they work for me regardless of price.
Bottom line, the moral of the story was that you would be better off going with NGK or Denso than with Autolite or Bosch.
As for the OEM comment... I chose a lot of OEM parts rather than general parts, I would probably not go with an OEM air or oil filter BUT I would rather buy things like OEM wires, cap and rotors than the aftermarket crap that parts stores sell, mainly because I know the extra price is worth the actual quality and durability of the parts. I've bought wires before where I would install them, then try to remove them again a few months down the road and they fall appart in my hands.
i have NGK's in my car and it just seems alot smoother! then again you have had a history with bosch so i understand but dont you think you should at least try NGK's to see if it works any better?....... im just saying if NGk or denso didnt work better we wouldnt be recommending it. this isnt coming from a manual its coming from toyota owners just like you!
On the whole OEM debate... some parts are better OEM. My a Mexican distributor cap had a small crack in when I got it, and the OEM was thicker. For plugs... I can't say why some work better with other cars but the Denso Platinum Twin Tips I put in a few months ago are awesome. They are smoother, save fuel, and are very nicely made plugs. The only thing that concerns me is how often they may need regapped, as I figure the whole twin tip gimmick will eventually wear off.
Otherwise, I've used every brand of part out there, good and "bad". Purolator, Fram, Formula Shell oils, Castrol GTX, ProTec, K&N, Denso, etc... at the end of the day, the cars last the same and run fine. My preference at the moment are ProTec filters as they are made by Purolator and are half the price, and Castrol GTX because the additives mean it doesn't get used up quite as fast in my car and I can get it cheaper than generics when it is on sale. Doesn't make one better. Likewise, I don't notice any difference in consumption in our Mitsubishi Outlander between Formula Shell oil and a ProTec filter the local shop puts on or Castrol GTX and a Wix like the one time I changed it. A lot of it is your head.
One thing though NOT to skimp on in terms of a brand name are brakes, and most major gaskets. My Raybestos Professional brake pads and rotors blow away the OEM/cheap stuff in feel, stopping power, noise, and dust. If there is one part of your car you overbuy on and pay extra for a brand name, let it be your brakes.
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NGK or Denso would work better. 
). 
im just saying if NGk or denso didnt work better we wouldnt be recommending it. this isnt coming from a manual its coming from toyota owners just like you!
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