California/CARB state plug change interval?

have not heard this before. most everyone changes them around 120k, but they usually aren't too bad. so if you're running good and mpg's are okay, no harm in waiting a little longer.

it's a pretty cheap service. if they are high, think about diy, or shop it around.

 

It is true that the iridium spark plugs are the same in all Prius. It is also true that the recommended spark plug change interval is 150K miles in CA. However if I resided in CA I would change the plugs at 120K mile intervals. This is because my belief is that the extended change interval is more for regulatory reasons than for engineering reasons. Denso, as the original equipment manufacturer, has specified a 120K mile change interval on its website.

 

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms/07ToyMS_MS0003/pdf/07omsour/2007/07toysmt/71w1smt.pdf

 

Your missing the point. Most important part of the plug change is getting the plug out before it gets stuck. Its an aluminum head and pretty easy to damage the threads on one that just won't come out nice. Also very possible to get water down in the spark well and alot of corrosion forms. Lots of posts about that.

Real easy to f up the plug threads on one that won't come out nice after it sat in the engine for 10 years. The dealer would love that one.
He'd be real cagey hitting you with a $2000 bill.

Btw, the igniters (cops) are end of life at 120,000 miles anyway. Rare that they will come out nice without a rip, or once you unseal it from the plug it will never seal well again, much less the metal spring contact remaining strong. The rubber boot will be pretty dried up after 10 years.
Lots of posts about hairline cracks in the boot after pulling them. Car will throw lots of misfire codes and drive you nutty. Very common malady with a car that uses cops like most modern cars.


Plugs are cheap man. Its what happens chasing them that gets expensive especially the longer that you wait.

 

When the spark plugs are removed, the igniters should be inspected for cracking in the plastic body, rust stains, corrosion of the electrical contacts, etc. If there is a problem then replace the igniter. If there are no visible flaws and the engine ECU is not reporting any misfire codes then there is no reason to replace the igniters proactively.

The Classic Prius uses the same iridium spark plugs as G2. You are right that the published service interval is shorter at 60K miles. I think it would be OK to move to a 120K mile change interval with Classic unless P030x misfire DTC are logged.

 

Changing plugs are a simple DIY job, I wouldn't bring it to a dealer for that. The plugs run about $10 a piece and take about $20 minutes for a novice to change.

 

Yes, the spark igniters are AKA ignition coils.

 

At about 135k mine were pretty hard to get out...mostly caked grunge in the threads fought me the whole way out.

 

There most commonly known as COPS. Coil on plug.

And there's plenty of reasons to replace the cop proactively. Its rare to pull a cop after 130,000 miles and it looks good enough to replace.
Not to me. The boot will be dried up pretty good. You can't tell after you put it back on you've cracked the boot.

Your already paying to have the plugs replaced. Its no more labor to put a new cop back on and you've serviced the entire ignition system.
Same labor. Good in that whole area for another 100K miles.Can you tolerate the car starting to throw misfires far from home or worse yet leave you or worse yet extended down time.

I got no time for that. Its like not replacing the plug wires when replacing the spark plugs on a regular car. That's stupid.

OEM cops are $85 each. Car will run great after new plugs and cops. DUN.