I rebuilt my 3vze - and wanting it to run as good as possible - I purchased the latest greatest - and most expensive NGK - Iridium plugs at about 7 bucks a piece.

After 4 months work - I start the engine. Set the timing etc..

It had the smoothest idle - but missed miserably over 2k rpm.

I'm thinking it's the injectors - but I just had them cleaned by RC Engineering and they tested out. The engine is new, and I personally rebuilt it the exact Toyota specs.

I have all new OEM Wires, cap etc. etc.

On a hunch I replaced the NGK Iridiums with plain jane - NGK's and - presto, chango - it runs like a clock.

I'm confused and mad...:-) but glad my new motor is running properly.

I want my money back. I think I'll send these High Dollar plugs back to NGK. Maybe they'll give me my money back

 

If you search here for spark plugs in the older posts, you will see that most of these wham zamm expensive spark plugs are good for one thing, draining your wallet.

The best plugs for your 3.0 engine are plain jane stock NGK or Nippin Denso plugs that came with the engine.

Toyota does it right from the factory with the best plugs, wires, cap & rotor.
Aftermarket stuff is great for American rigs, but the Toyota thrives & drives better on factory tune up parts.

Been there done that

 

Ya I run NGK 5mm low resitance wires and NGK V-groove plugs I have no issues with those at all.
I guess some people have the same bad luck with bosch platiunium plugs as well at least on the 3VZE.

 

Actually I have the same issues with the Bosch platinum plugs in my BMW. They don't work nearly as well as the factory Bosch plugs. So now I stick to the factory parts. Oil filters also. The Toyota filters are nice and at $2.95 from the dealer, I can't beat them.

 

I hate to say it but I'm running the Bosch platinums in my rig and I haven't had any problems at all. But I'm thinking that at my next oil change here in about 400 miles I'm gonna go ahead and give it the works with some NGK plugs. The plugs were just done about 5-6k miles ago...but I guess it would probably run a little bit better with the NGK's in there. I wonder if thats why it makes a ticking noise at 3k RPMs...I doubt it, but its a good excuse to put those NGK's in there.

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