I've found that the plugs recommended in the owners manual work just fine.
DENSO PK20TR11
NGK BKR6EKPB11

 

Had been using Bosch platimuns then swithced back to the above NGK OEM double platinums and noticed a clear difference for the better. I changed the wire to NGK at the same time also.

 

You can toss a coin and either way should be fine. That said I do prefer NGK Iridium-IX spark plugs because NGKs seem better built and hold up better. Their platinum electrodes don't wear as much too. Also get their low resistance wire set to match.

Just torque them down using a (3/8"-drive) torque wrench. Harbor Freight has them on sale often enough. (Just got a coupon in AAA magazine for the 1/2"-drive, $9.99!).

 

get NGK Iridium IX Spark. i replaced all four and replaced wires aswell to "NGK (8916) TE58 Wire Set. also if you can get your hands on a 30mm socket tighten the spark plug tubes 1/4 turn, 4cyl models had issue with tubes loosening up and oil getting into the plugs.

 

I found the following dyno test to be interesting:

http://www.sparkplugs.com/sparkplug411.asp?kw=NGK+Dyno+Results&mfid=0

In summary of the NGK line-up, the Laser Double Plats and the IX Iridium demonstrated significant increases in hp and torque with the Iridiums scoring highest and most consistent.

Update: I found a dyno test between Denso and NGK and according to this test Denso produced 2% more power and 3% more torque than the NGK:

http://www.elitedubs.com/index.php?topic=2491.0;topicseen

 

I have a question. Ive been told by toyota mechanics that the cool twin tipped denso spark plugs are the best. Im currently running NGK's single tipped iridium IX series plugs. Would going back to the DENSO PK20TR11 or
NGK BKR6EKPB11be better in the long run?

 

Here's something that I never noticed. Open your hood, and look to the right of the center latch, about a foot, right near the front underside of the hood. I've got a small blue and white sticker, maybe 2"x2" and believe it or not, it has the Toyota recommended spark plugs printed right on it. I wonder if that sticker is on all cars Toyota makes.

Check yours and chime in......

.

 

Yup, alot of car makes have this.

 

I've always have used the NKG twin tipped. Never had a problem with them. I just changed mine and 4 of em cost me $10.00 each. Won't replace them for another 50 or 60,000 miles.

 

For the OP's question... I use NGK iridium plugs in all my cars (95 Camry sedan 4 cyl, 93 Camry wagon 4 cyl, and an 89 240SX with an S14 engine in it) and I've never experienced anything other than improvements. A factory mechanic will always tell you the stock plug is the absolute best plug for the car. They will also tell you if a car could be made better in any way then the engineers would have done it from the factory.
My recommendation is to use the NGK iridium plugs with an NGK wire set or a Toyota factory wire set.

 

1) The Denso IK20s have the smallest center iridium electrode (0.4mm), and thus require less voltage than the NGKs or long-life Denso iridiums (0.7mm) or any OE plug reducing the chance of misfire

With that said:
2) The OE twin-ground plugs project the electrode tip farther into the combustion chamber and are side discharge (the ground straps run parallel to the valves) allowing the air-fuel mix to propogate in the combustion chamber without blockage

Here's the difference:

NGK Iridium IXs vs ultra-cheap Denso K16TR11s (non-platinum)

The NGK plug will face perpendicular to either the intake or exhaust valves.

 

^+1

The thinner Denso electrode will be easier to fire, but won't last as long as the NGK's 0.7mm iridium center electrode.

IMO the improvement with iridiums are clearer than the side electrode plugs, which do not block flame propagation.

So NGK Iridium-IX FTW.

 

I had my car smogged with both when I was getting my V6 swap legalized in CA.

(15 mph / 25 mph)
NGK Iridiums - HCs 102ppm / 37ppm
Denso K20TR11 - HCs 108ppm / 37ppm
Denso K16TR11 - HCs 54ppm / 32 ppm (1 step hotter)

Max allowable : 54ppm / 37ppm

The high HCs (unburnt fuel) were caused by a small vacuum leak, but also from my cat losing temperature since it's rear mounted (after the y-merge). The difference between them is negligible, however. I have to keep the end of my exhaust system wrapped because of that.

Also, in a wasted spark 2000 5SFE, the IK20s lasted 120k miles, versus their given life of 60k. The ground electrode was eroded quite badly, but the center iridium electrode looked brand new. At 100k miles, I had to regap the iridiums by moving the ground inward and not touching the center electrode. The spark is so strong it wears the grounds down by a considerable amount. I found that fascinating.

 

Hello,
SInce this is a related discussion, I neen to replace the spark plug wires in my 1999 Camry LE V6. Three spark plug wires are visible on top of the engine easy to change. The others 3 spark plugs are hidden below the manifold, but I was told this kind of engine has those spark plugs directly connected to the coil packs.

If that is the case, then I only need to replace the 3 wires on top. Can anyone confirm if that is the case? Also, I am looking for recommendation of the brand name of spark plug wires. Any suggestion?

Thanks....

 

Yeah, the 1MZ has 3 coils and 3 wires. The coils directly fire the spark plug, which is why they're called coil-on-plugs (COPs), while the wires deliver that same spark to a cylinder in the exhaust stroke (opposing pairs). This is the premise of wasted spark.

The OEM wires are probably your best bet as you're not likely to misconnect them. COP wire on cylinder 2 does not go to cylinder 1, for example.

Here are the opposing pairs:
Cylinders 1 and 4
Cylinders 2 and 5
Cylinders 3 and 6

When cylinder 1 is in the compression stroke, cylinder 4 is in the exhaust stroke, and vice-versa.

The 5SFE also uses this system, but uses coils with integrated igniters and high tension cords for all cylinders.
Opposing pairs are:
1-4
2-3

 

i am using denso, but would prefer ngk (since it is more expensive)
often price governs quality...

whether you selecdt denso or ngk, you should go for iridium plugs.

 

For something like spark plugs, supply/demand determine price; for iridiums, it's material cost as iridium is not a natural Earth metal; 100% of the iridium on Earth was delivered by asteroid impacts long ago (asteroids are high in iridium content). Denso is Toyota's #1 supplier and Toyota also has a 20% stake in the company. Most Toyota components from the ECU to alternator are Denso.

 

Your mechanic is right. I drive a 99 Toyota Camry and work at AutoZone. The twin tip denso double platinum is the right spark plug..

 

A budget buy is NGK BKR6EGP. They work fine in mine. Though I don't thrash the engine or do large mileages. I would prefer to use twin tip iridiums but they are crazy expensive here in NZ. And to be honest I haven't noticed a difference.