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To change or not, spark plugs at 10 years but 10k miles

12K views 12 replies 10 participants last post by  MAC RT 1  
#1 ·
My 2012 SRT has 10k miles. Plugs are $15 each, or over $250 in plugs (NGK LZTR6AP11EG). I have no sluggish performance or bad MPGs. IIRC, the manual states to change plugs every 8 years or 90,000 miles. What would cause low mile plugs to need changing at 8 years? Is it because they can be prone to seizing in the threads?

I'm on a very tight budget as a home owner, with 7 vehicles to service (all owned outright), and a lot of expenses. So I have to prioritize and be frugal, but not cheap. If it were your car would you change them or leave them in? Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I'd pull one or two and look at them. If they come out OK and look good I'd wait.
 
#3 ·
Plugs are generally more sensitive to miles than time. I run into this with all my vehicles, because we work from home and never get close to the mileage for certain services. That said, I just changed the plugs in a couple at 12k and 15k just to have good service records. Yours may be just fine.
 
#4 ·
I'd change them. Usually plug replacement is triggered on miles for obvious reasons.

But the plugs over time will get combustion byproducts forced up between the plug and head threads. This is corrosive and over time can cause problems when removing the plugs.

If you leave the plugs in until 90K miles that's like what 100 years from now? Ok, ok. I exaggerate. More like 80 years...

While you probably won't be around to deal with getting the plugs out of the head one of your heirs will curse your memory.

Included a pic of a new plug and an old plug from another brand of car/engine. Think the old plug had 60K miles on it.

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I am not a fan of taking plugs out to look at them. If you take any plugs out take them all out and have new factory plugs handy to install

Be sure you blow any trash out of the plug well so nothing falls into the plug hole. Check the plug gap. Use a torque wrench. Do not use anti seize. New plugs, at least new factory plugs, the threads come with some metal plating (you can see signs of it on the new plug's threads) which helps to ensure the torque necessary to tighten the plugs is correct and to help ensure good heat transfer from the plug to the head.
 
#5 ·
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I'm coming up with the same situation.

Ordered my '16SP in the Fall of '15. Took delivery Oct '15.

Just hit 35k miles. Wanted to double check plug service schedule as I couldn't remember. But it will be 7 years pretty soon.

Not in the mood for any BS pitches by dealers or shops on cost. I know it's not a cheap service, I just want it done right, with OEM plugs.

Checked the manual and never noticed the ** footnote.

Interesting, and it's in writing. I should change them by the mileage and not the time schedule.

Kind of against what I've always done, but a plug change isn't cheap, and..........

I've got the Chrysler Lifetime Maxcare Warranty. $100 deductible.

If the Hemi is running as good as ever until the 96k mile change schedule, they ain't getting changed, per the manual.

I'm thinking the same on my A8 service schedule. No service required, Lifetime fluid and sealed.

Crazy way to think maybe, but I'm following the factory service schedule, and have the factory Lifetime warranty to cover problems.

Just following the "Rules."
 
#6 ·
If it was me, I think the plugs should be fine, remove them and reinstall if your worried about them getting stuck. My dad used to clean his spark plugs periodically back in the day. Only changing them out if they were worn or it was time to.
 
#7 ·
Not to put too fine a point on it but the manual calls for plugs to be replaced after 8 years. The plugs are past due to be changed on time already. I recall back in the day a stuck plug in a head was rather common. But heads were cheap and relatively easy to replace if a head was damaged when taking out a plug, stuck or just the plug threads damaging the head threads.
 
#8 ·
Another reason why Dodge states that plugs should be changed on an SRT every 8 years (or 96,000 miles) is that it is assumed a low mileage car will have a lot of stop and go driving miles. This tends to build deposits on the plugs. That being said, I have very low mileage on my 2009 SRT and it is running great with the factory-installed plugs. I, however, do mostly highway driving. (Note- My 6.1 calls for a change every 10 years or 100,000 miles).
 
#10 ·
change them as @Rockster in post #4 - the plating on the threads corrode. with aluminum heads that's an issue

my 'Benz calls out for every 5 years and I've never hit the 100k mark - they squeak when the 5 year old plugs are removed.

you don't want to deal with galled threads or a plug seizing in the threads when a simple spark plug change would prevent that
 
#11 ·
They squeak the same at 15 years and still don’t have galled threads, if you are worried at 15 years crack them 1/4 turn and spray with JB 80 let sit overnight and change them in the morning.

There is no point in changing a plug with lo miles, unless you have nothing better to spend your time and money on. Do you change the brake pads at 8 years too? I’d be more apt to change the tires every 8 years for safety and I don’t even do that
 
#13 ·
I bought my Challenger with 385 miles on it. It was 10 years old. During my 50 mile "test drive" CEL came on. Code said it was a bad plug. Dealer replaced plugs and 9500 miles later, all is good.

This is a plug with <200 miles on it out of My Monte Carlo. Put her down the quarter and she just didn't have it. New plug cracked the insulator.

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