4AFE Plug Carbon? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

BennyProphane · 10-30-2010, 04:57 PM

Hi, i'm hoping someone can give me some info on my plugs and carbon buildup. I got a 4AFE Corolla about a week ago, and it seems to run very good, but as usual I do when i first get a car, i check/change plugs, inspect wires, etc. The plugs that were already in it where me autolite platinums, so i decided to put some NGK copper (v-power) which I'v always had good success with. At the time, I didnt the correct plug gapper, but i knew they were very close (gapped at .031-.032"). But after about 100 miles of driving, I got the right gapper and took the plugs out to make sure the cap was right, and they were pretty much right-on. But there's already a this film of soot on the electrode ground (the metal arm part) and also there is a blackness the bottom of the plug (where the threads go into the cylinder). So i'm wondering this is ok or normal for this engine (only after 100 miles?).
As far as the white ceramic part of the plug, they are completely white, just as when purchased. The car doesnt seem to smoke at all (that i can see), and the engine seems to run very good (127,000 miles).

By the way, the plugs that were originally in it were gapped way too wide, at about .045 or .046. I understand the earlier 4A and the 4AGE motors are to be gapped at .044, but the 4AFE is to be gapped at .032, am I correct?

My new NGK plugs are BKR5EYA, with heat range of 6 (I believe)

Just wondering if this carbon buildup is ok/normal for this motor, with such low mileage on the plugs.

Thanks for any input on this.

Flashmn · 10-30-2010, 07:29 PM

Quote:

My new NGK plugs are BKR5EYA, with heat range of 6 (I believe)

Plug temp is 5 actually and light sootiness isnt an issue and plugs can get sooted from lugging around in town, get some high rpm action and they should change to brownish color. Only if the soot is oilish wet then you have some issues.

BennyProphane · 10-31-2010, 07:58 AM

Flash, thanks for the info. I'v checked out different plugs, so i guess I got a couple specs mixed up. For some reason, when looking up NGK plugs, the number 1266 has had a couple of different numbers attached to it. BKR5EYA is the 1266 plug, and then there is another number for 1266 also. It may just be that the information on a particular site was wrong. Cool, now i see how you can tell the heat range of the plug, just by looking at the Number BKR-5-EYA, you learn something nearly every day.

Are yuou from Minnesota?
I'm from minnesota, and just got the toyota last week for $450. Coming from Minnesota, and being 21 years old, the car is rusty, but seems to run very well. New tired, good exhaust, no leaks, and the frame is ok, so I had to get it, desperate for a car. I figured i'd drive it through the winter, and then who knows, it would pay for itself by that time. Thanks for your info.

BennyProphane · 10-31-2010, 08:03 AM

Oop, i just saw you're from Finland. See how confused i get, when I dont pay attention? haha.. .. Hejsan, if you're from the Swedish side. Dont know how to say it in Finnish.

***REN69*** · 11-06-2010, 02:05 PM

go to the NGK site and enter the car information and it tells you which plugs you need to buy.

Flashmn · 11-06-2010, 07:20 PM

BCPR5EY or BKR5EY should both be pretty much fine there. Tho I think the BCPR5EY would be the "more correct" one

BennyProphane · 11-07-2010, 02:15 AM

Thanks Guys!
Yep, I put the right plug in. It calls for BCPR5EY.
It seems the only difference between the BCPR5EY and the BKR5EY is that BCPR5EY plug length is JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard), while the BKR5EY has the length of ISO (International Standards Organization). So the BKR5EY are actually 2.5mm shorter, possibly causing a problem with a good connection. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem now, but i'd rather not worry about one og my plug boots coming off after ?? hundreds or thousands of miles from now.

Thanks again.