I noticed yesterday that on the plastic covering the front of the engine their is a sticker saying to only use twin ground electrode spark plugs. Why would this be and would it be bad if I had single electrode plugs in now.

 

If you have the 3.4, it uses a waste spark ignition system. My understanding is that this causes the spark to fire twice as often as a regular ignition system. Thus the twin electrodes are used to increase the longevity of the plugs. Always use twin ground plugs.

 

I meant to say, always use twin ground plugs if Toyota says you should.

 

Most vehicles today with distributorless system use a waste spark ignition system, that doesn't mean that they all use twin ground plugs, it's just a suggestion from Toyota, you are not going to destroy anything by running normal plugs, it is just that is what Toyota has determined for one reason or another gives the best performance. If you start to missfire then I would take those out and get new twin ground plugs.

 

Lots of good info on this thread:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/e...h-bank-177019/

 

Ok. So it seems like its just for plug longevity and wont hurt performance. I brought this up because I'm hearing ticking from my motor, and I thought that maybe since I had single electrode plugs that it might be the cause. Sounds like the ticking is coming from inside the engine.

I guess thats just what happens when you have 200k miles under the hood.

 

also another reason behind it is because since two spark plugs are connected to one coil pack then when one of the plugs fire the other one receives a negative pulse

 

all the years i have worked on toyotas, they are really anal as to what plugs you use. alot may have gotten away with using non oem plugs but why waste your time and money doing it twice if you have problems. buy and use what toyota recommends and save yourself the headache of any misfires

 

The ticking you hear is because it's a yota. It's like a private radio station that only we get.

 

ticking is usually your injectors which is normal combine with valve train noise, which is also normal.

 

I think I just might go back to OEM plugs for the hell of it. Anyone have a remedy for the ticking? It's not extremely loud, but it's noticeable. I put seafoam in the gas and oil already.

 

pray to the yota gods maybe lol. i'd love to know also

 

Hahaha... Maybe a 4Runner voo doo doll

 

without really hearing the tick i dont wanna say do this and that if indeed the sound is normal. might just need a valve adjustment and if it still does it, im sure its just injectors plus valve train noise.

 

I wonder how the E3 plugs would work. There is a lot to wear down on those. They also claim better performance.

 

When was the last time the valves were adjusted?

 

Scuba- to be honest, I dont think they have ever been adjusted. I bought this Runner about 5 years ago with 150k on the clock from a family member, and I doubt it was done before I acquired it.

Love the Snooki avatar... Lol

ToyoTech- the ticking definitely changes and matches the RPM's.

Gerdo- I'll have to check those out. Maybe I can be the guinea pig

 

I was wondering the same thing awhile back. I used the ngk platinum and the E3 plugs. With both sets I did not notice any performance gain. However until I went to Toyota and got a set if stock plugs I did notice a dramatic increase in whining through my radio. Once I put factory plugs back in the whine went away.

 

if you dont hear ticking....then start to worry!!!hehe

 

yep ticking is good. no ticking means your valves are too tight.

should get your valves adjust if you never had it done. after all that, u will still have a ticking because valves makes noise. injectors also makes noise. the noise will change with rpm because both valves and injectors are affected by rpm