Best Spark Plugs - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

texadelphia · 03-13-2009, 11:39 AM

Hey all. I have a 91 Wagon with the 4AFE engine and was just curious what spark plugs people have had the most success with. There are so many options even just among Bosch (platinum, iridium, single point, double, quad), and I know vehicles can sometimes be sensitive to what kind of fire they produce. I had a Jeep that seemed to run better with the low end Bosch than it did with Platinums. Anyway, I'm hoping to stop and get new plugs and wires on the way home today so any guidance would be appreciated.

retiredat44 · 03-13-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texadelphia

Hey all. I have a 91 Wagon with the 4AFE engine and was just curious what spark plugs people have had the most success with. There are so many options even just among Bosch (platinum, iridium, single point, double, quad), and I know vehicles can sometimes be sensitive to what kind of fire they produce. I had a Jeep that seemed to run better with the low end Bosch than it did with Platinums. Anyway, I'm hoping to stop and get new plugs and wires on the way home today so any guidance would be appreciated.

don't buy cheap crappy wires... buy good quality and at least a 2 year warranty..

***REN69*** · 03-13-2009, 11:41 AM

NGK or Denso... Bosch is more geared towards euro cars... not saying they don't work with Toyotas, I'm just saying Denso or NGK (which are usually japanese OEM) work better on Japanese cars.

Either go with the normal plugs or platinums, you won't see a lot of change putting the super expensive plugs on an economy motor like the 4AFE.

As for wires, either OEM Toyota or NGK wires work best... I believe OEM are either made by NGK or Sumitomo, and I believe another company which I can't remember.

texadelphia · 03-24-2009, 07:22 AM

Anyone have a suggestion on where to find NGK or Denso platinum plugs? I've found the V-power, but it seems that neither PepBoys nor Advance Auto, nor the local shop have the platinums in stock. Some have the iridiums, but I don't want to go that extreme. Also what's the best place to find wires? I'm open to online retailers for both.

Flashmn · 03-24-2009, 08:57 AM

Copper plugs function the best... Platinum and iridium are there mostly for lifespan, but they have a much higher resistance in firing than copper. OEM wires are made by sumitomo... however alot of non-oem brands are made from good stuff too. just avoid marketed NGK hotwires, or those Magnecor wires with additional grounds, you dont need them.

Ghostyman · 03-24-2009, 03:12 PM

I agree with flashmn. Coppers are the best except for their shorter lifespan. I use cheap NGK BCPR5EY-11 copper plugs that are $2 each on my Toyotas.

freakinbox · 03-24-2009, 04:59 PM

I usually buy the higher end NGK plugs and I've had no problems. Owners Manuel recommends NGK or Denso plugs.

eage8 · 03-25-2009, 02:41 PM

yeah, I just did a bunch of research... and I've decided unless your car is turbocharged or has retarded high compression, coppers are the best. but you have to replace them more often. if you want to put them in and forget about them get some NGK iridiums.

Ghostyman · 03-25-2009, 03:28 PM

For MR2 turbos, the recommended plugs (by most people) are NGK copper BK7REs. But we change them every 10k or so.

Flashmn · 03-25-2009, 04:17 PM

eage8, Coppers are recommended for turbocharged engines...

Even iridiums arent fit and forget items.

eage8 · 03-25-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashmn

eage8, Coppers are recommended for turbocharged engines...

Even iridiums arent fit and forget items.

http://www.automedia.com/Iridium_Spa...pht20010101ds/

I came across that earlier.

pretty much everything I've come across contradicts everything else...

*goes back to his RX7 where there are only 2 types of spark plugs made*

***REN69*** · 03-25-2009, 09:55 PM

I just did my plugs and wires, NGK platinums (BKR6EGP) and OEM Toyota Sumitomo wires, plus I replaced the stuck thermostat with a Prestone one, car runs pretty good but I think I still have a fouled O2 sensor.

kathyricks · 03-27-2009, 11:46 PM

The best plugs are copper core Nippondenso's and the part number is listed in the back of your owners manual. If you buy them from a Toyota dealer, they'll come pregapped to the correct spec of .031". If you buy them from an auto parts store, they'll commonly come with a wider gap that hurts power and fuel economy. At Titus-Will Toyota (www.1sttoyotaparts.com) the Denso's are only $1.60 each - a lower price than you can get in any auto parts store. There is a 10% shipping fee, but you pay no sales tax so that offsets the shipping - especially in California where the sales tax will be in the 9.0 - 9.5% range beginning April 1. Other deals at www.1sttoyotaparts.com include $3.91 genuine Toyota oil filters and alot more bargains along those lines.

aHarmony · 03-27-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathyricks

The best plugs are copper core Nippondenso's and the part number is listed in the back of your owners manual. If you buy them from a Toyota dealer, they'll come pregapped to the correct spec of .031". If you buy them from an auto parts store, they'll commonly come with a wider gap that hurts power and fuel economy. At Titus-Will Toyota (www.1sttoyotaparts.com) the Denso's are only $1.60 each - a lower price than you can get in any auto parts store. There is a 10% shipping fee, but you pay no sales tax so that offsets the shipping - especially in California where the sales tax will be in the 9.0 - 9.5% range beginning April 1. Other deals at www.1sttoyotaparts.com include $3.91 genuine Toyota oil filters and alot more bargains along those lines.

Nice site, Kathy. I'll keep it in my bookmarks

toyotaspeed90 · 03-29-2009, 11:22 AM

any engine that takes a .44 gap... when you buy NGK's they will come pregapped to .44 if the last digits are -11.

I don't trust pregapping, however.... just takes a simple bump of the plug hitting the ground for the gap to be messed up.... ALWAYS check before you install... a gapping tool is usually around $1.20.

I use v-power NGK's in all of my vehicles.... locally they are $1.89 a piece or $2.10 a piece (depends on where I go).

Bosch +2 and +4's are garbage. Many parts stores try to get their employees to sell them because they have the highest markup value on them. However, any plug with more than 1 electrode really doesn't have any advantages that they claim... Parts people will tell you that with multiple electrodes as one wears down it will start to jump to another electrode. This is false because carbon doesn't care what's in the cylinder and if the engine is depositing carbon on the plug, it will deposit it onto all electrodes at the same time evenly.

Further, many japanese cars actually run worse with the bosche plugs in them.