Absolutely the most comprehensive video on RU-vid about replacing the spark plugs on the Toyota 3.5L V6. How this video has less than 1000 views is beyond me. Well done! I'm adding my comment to hopefully tweak the algorithm and get this viewed by more people. Thanks for your upload, and keep up the great work!
I followed everything as shown here on the video and had no issues. The only difference is that for the two bolts in the back, I used a small type of breaker bar and a 12 mm long socket. Worked well for me since I couldn't get it with the wrench. Great video.
Terrific video of step by step. It took me 6.5 hours, but I got it done following all your instructions. And I have peace of mind knowing the job was completely done right.
I've been searching for good spark plug replacement videos...many out there, but this one is really great!!! Good job!!! Will have this on as I do the job.
Great video! I used it just now to change out the plugs on my wife’s car. One note of CAUTION…do NOT use an impact driver on the spark plugs! The vibration can crack the ceramic insulator and you can end up with ceramic bits going down into the combustion chamber. I had this happen, but luckily found the cracked bits before the plug was removed so I was able to clear them out.
Hello TrackPalmer, Just want to say you saved me a lot of extra time performing this task. Excellent helpful video. Best success as you create more for us backyard DIY Toyota self taught wrenches. Dave
Huge thumbs on this video. Extremely helpful in combating this Toyota engineering issue. I was shocked to learn my dealership wanted several hundred for a "simple" spark plug change, so I looked into it and did it myself using this video as a guide. Not only did the video make it look straightforward, but I did this in 2 hours vs. the dealerships 4-hour quote (that did not include the gasket change). Only thing I'd add is that I wish I'd gone ahead and purchased new coils for the back 3 cylinders since I had it all apart at 120K miles.
Thank you for this very informative video! This is the most detailed video of this job that I've seen. I have a 2008 Toyota Highlander that is throwing an ignition coil code on the 4th cylinder. It has 190,000 miles on it and as far as I know, the plugs have never been changed. I'm going to go ahead and change all 6 of the ignition coils and plugs. This is the video I've been needing. Thanks again!
@@trackpalmer It definitely helped! I did change all 6 plugs and ignition coils easily with what I learned from your video. The engine runs like new now with over 206,000 miles. It saved me a lot of money. You are making a difference! Thanks!
Well done, you do a good job with the little detail descriptions and explanations. Thank you for your patience in making this video. It helped me a lot.
The PCV valve for this car and Lexus models costs only $10 at the dealer, and it takes 10 minutes to replace it. It's a very easy DIY. This video is EXCELLENT! Suggestions: 1) Replace the 3 inner/rear ignition coils as well. Save the old ones as backup for the front ones. 2) Clean the throttle body as well with cleaner made for throttle body. 3) Clean the MAF sensor with the MAF sensor cleaner as well.
Hands down the best spark plug replacement tutorial for the Highlander. Thank you. This is not a job to rush through. The minute you have to remove an upper intake manifold to do a repair on any car you need take the job seriously and be detailed oriented. The job is completely doable but with patience. Aside from that, I don't like how Toyota implemented this design. I changed my plugs at 70k at they were oily and looked quite worn. 120k seems like a stretch to wait but as we all know, car manufacturers are trying push limits for selling points but if something goes wrong you're holding the bag, not them. Since the job is relatively cumbersome, it makes since to change both intake and throttle gaskets. I also changed PCV and as described in the video since I had oily intake gaskets. I used Loctite 271 which I read was equivalent to Toyota's Three Bond 1324. PCV looked worn as well, so glad I replaced it. I should be good for the next 7 to 10 years.
You are the most amazing video tutorials for doing this tune up. It’s complete package of everything that will happen and all needed to the process. It may take few days for me maybe because of my skills but I learned many things from you. Amazing video, you’re like a mechanic teacher here. Thanks so much for educating ❤
Terrific succinct video with great flow and logical organization. You should reshoot all the best RU-vid how to videos with your unique style and format.
@@trackpalmer The job is done. Couldn't have done it with out your video. I also found some oily residue and will be changing the PCV valve. This whole job would be easy if it weren't for those 12mm bolts. I dropped one on reassembly and had a few minutes of despair before I found it. Before reassembly, STUDY the location of the 12mm bolts before you put the intake back on. Get the 12mm's started before you start on the front fasteners. My original plugs had almost 140k miles on them. Those OEM Densos are super high quality and they probably could have gone much longer.
Awesome work....i have to replace them on mine. UPDATE.....I CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS, COILS, AND HAD TO REPLACE THE CONECTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE FRIED...I DID REMOVED THE COWL FIRST, BECAUSE I WANTED TO TRY IF I CAN GET THEM WITHOUT REMOVING THE MANIFOLD....BUT IT WAS KIND OF HARD, SO I REMOVED THE MANIFOLD, AND WENT FROM THERE, REPLACE THE GASKETS TOO....TOOK ME 4 1/2 HRS.. BUT EVERY THING CAME OUT GOOD THAK GOD, AND THANK TO YOUR VIDEO MY FRIEND...THANK YOU SO MUCH.. IM NOT A MECANIC, BUT I WANTED TO TRY TO DO IT MYSELF.....IS A LOT OF WORK, BUT TAKE YOUR TIME, AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OK.. AND YOU WILL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THANK YOU ALL..
Ok Track, went ahead and did the plugs as per your procedure. New Denso Irridium OEM Toyota plugs. All in all a couple challenges but one can expect that first time around the block.
Great job brother, very easy to understand and straight to the point. Appreciated the tips also. You got a new sub here. I do own a 2015 highlander w/86k miles, I believe it's due for some new spark plugs...thank you again and have a great week.
Thank you for sharing this how-to in-depth video. This doesn't look too bad compared to my recent experience with thermostat replacement. Yup, I was in a hurry and forgot to tighten bunch of nuts & bolts. Lucky thermostat was defective, so I had to do it over again and took my time to making sure everything was done right second time. :)
Well done! I'll be tackling this job soon. Since the service interval for this job is 120K miles, I've decided to spend a bit more and go ahead and replace all three coil packs on the rear cylinder bank. I've already had a coil pack go bad on cylinder 4 a few months ago so I'd rather not have to go through this much effort so soon after replacing the spark plugs.
Another great video, I am going to attempt this diy myself so I like to ask will a 5/8 1/2 inch socket and 1/2 inch non swivel extension bar fit the bore? Many thanks
Great video! I have watched and re-watched as I do this job.. Though your highlander must be older than mine, I have a wiring harness along the left (passenger) side of the intake manifold that makes it impossible to work around without completely removing the wiper motors and tray, making this an easy 6+hr job, though I wonder I play your "speed up" music if that would work for me as well? 😆 Thanks for your efforts... Certainly the most difficult plug job I've done.. and I thought my SAAB 2.8 V6 was difficult... easy-peasy compared to this!
Great how to video, but I am only replacing front 3 in bank a cylinders 2,4,and 6 started getting misfires constantly on 2 and occasionally 4 if floor the accelerator but might as well replace coils on both and plugs look well used but not causing the misfires and super easy to do on front back is harder so I will wait until have misfires on 1,3 or 5. Looks like avalon has less space to work with for rear bank just have to be careful not to damage windshield if working in rear of engine
Hi, there, great video. I wanted to point one one thing when you started the engine at 20:11. I heard the VVTI Timing gears making a short rattling noise. This is an issue. If its under warranty, get it replaced because they can explode and goodbye engine!
I just watched the video. I am a little more advanced than an intermediate person with cars. Total time...48 minutes and the car was back started with the hood closed. Denso iridiums were $46 for me at Autozone. Charged $250 parts and labor. My guess is alldata would say this is 2hrs booktime 😅😅😅.
I only needed to replace one plug, thanks to this video I only paid about $15 since I returned all the tools after I was done😂 Thanks for the details in the caption! And included the weight for the tool you were using, it helped a bunch.
Track Palmer, would like to know how many miles you feel the 2GRFE Toyota engine is capable of . We purchased a 2015 Highlander with 150K miles, one owner. Would like to drive it to 300K. 300,00 or more as cars are crazy expensive nowadays. Thanks for your ideas, your video tips outstanding.
Change your oil every 5k miles or one year whichever comes sooner. Regular maintenance and you should be good. I'm almost 400k miles but I replaced the transmission. I think the transmission service guy did something wrong so I now do it myself every 40k miles. If yours transmission oil has never been changed you would leave it alone.
Track I am going to drop the pan and inspect pan, clean thoroughly, clean magnets and install new factory trans filter, dealer part. Drain and fill 3.6 qts. of Toyota WS oem fluid. Slowly introduce new clean fluid over time. Lots of info and misinfo on the web. Appreciate your video tips. Dave
This is supposed to be done every 60,000 miles on the newer 2GR-FKS V6 engine. The 120,000 mile interval is for the older 2GR-FE engine. Check your maintenance guide.
After watching this, I want to change the spark plugs in my wife's 2018 Highlander. Only problem is, it only has 22,000 miles on it. At this rate, I may never get to change them!
engine type. 2gr-fe should be replaced every 120k miles or 10 years while engine 2gr-fks should be replaced every 60k or 10 years. You still have a long way to go 🫡
Hi Track Palmer, I'm in Melbourne, Australia. My 2015 Highlander (called Kluger in Australia market, made in US) service manual says to change the spark plug every 100,000KM, and I checked the part at Toyota service center, which is exactly the same one as you listed, FK20HR11. I'm wondering that is 120,000Miles service interval recommended by your service manual (for the US region)?
My car has 140,000 Km but never changed spark plug as I did the service myself after the 3-year warranty period. I just took one plug out to check the tips, looking still clean, neither burnt mark nor oily on the threads and tips.
I just bought a 2011 highlander with 190000 miles how much more I can get out of it. So my story is it was in South Carolina 4 years with the first owner and every service was recorded up to 34000 miles then the second owner from south Carolina took it over and from 2014 to 2021 they own it but miles was not recorder however it went to a auction and from the auction it show millage is 190000 don't know if auction listed is accurate, so I'm consern how much more it can go. It's a clean car drive good what's your though on it
If you won't be doing a lot of stop-and-go miles it should last a long time was you change the oil on time and perform routine services. it's on Highlander which is built to last but it needs to be maintained to last a long time.
@@trackpalmer I live in pa it's so a fwd so kind af share with that in the snow and the millage from it but if u see it it super clean no rust or sigh of it no leaks shift good too
@@trackpalmer maybe between 8 to 10k no more that just want your opinion how much more I can get without major problems or transmission I already change transmission fluid n filter did see and metal shaving and did oil change n air fter need the spark plug change soon
@@AR-uj3js I'm afraid to say but those metal shavings are signs that it was way too late to change the oil.. the breakdown started which actually provides friction for the plates. Just hope it wasn't bad. But if you develop transmission problems soon just know that would be the issue. Did you change it yourself? An experience mechanic would know it should have been left alone
I enjoyed the video, but kept wandering what is "sparks" plug. Then I realized you mean "Spark (no S) plug. Perhaps where you live, that is how it is pronounced. No worries. All the Best.
I just asked Toyota dealer in Melbourne who sells the plug for AU$45 each, so 6 plugs would be $270, the price for intake gaskets is $15 each, so +$45, and throttle body gasket is $11. However, I found an online shop in NSW which sells the same spark plug, ~$15 each., however run out of stock at the moment. I bought filters from the shop a few times before, looking genuine parts.
