phlfly

Original one, that was removed from there car were NGK Platinum, but ones I bought from Toyota dealer were Denso Platinum for 2004 RX330.

Nad1370

Original plugs for this vehicle are Iridiums not Platinum.
So the ones you just bought from the dealer are wrong.

phlfly

yes you are right I meant Iridiums

dco5000

my 04 RX330 has 113k miles and I took a peak at one of the front plugs last week. Those babies show signs of work. That iridium tip is tiny, very different from plugs I've seen in the past.

Ditto others comments, to ensure you use Iridium. My research has shown your OEM could be Denso or NGK. My local Toyota has the Denso's in stock. Local Toyota charges $250 to replace, Lexus about the same. I plan to hunt for a local Toyota coupon for a $150 for the next few months as I approach 120k mi.

Changing yourself looks like a lot of VERY COMPLEX work, where some bad stuff could go wrong. My .02 too!

Kudos to the fella who did it himself!

LBCDan

DENSO is OE on Lexus. Get the Iridium Power plugs, they will give you additional horsepower and improved gas mileage. I put them in mine and could tell the difference in acceleration right away.

lexus114

what does the part # 17320 it`s a valve looking thing,what does it do ?

Sandhopper

Well, Halfway through a plug change and have started off by attempting to remove the intake... Not sure if this was the right route... broke everything I could see free but the intake will not lift off the studs. Decided to take a break until tomorrow. Will undoubtedly have to rethink things when I am not tired. Will also look closer at taking the cowling apart to see if I can fit my hands down through there. Hope I am not bitting off more than I can chew here...

Sandhopper

Ok, took the wiper cowl completely off, broke everything apart on the intake and still could not get it to free up. There must be something attached to the intake from the rear that I can't see. There is no way I was going to start fishing extensions and universals down between the fire wall and the intake. I figure I will bite the bullet a have my local Toyo dealer finish the Job... Erg, I hate when I can't finish something... They quoted me about $225 Labor for the rear three plug replacements. After experiencing the PITA that this job is, it is money well spent!

RX330inFL

Could have sworn the local Toyota shops only charge $189+ for parts and labor on that job on a Highlander V6.

Sandhopper

What I was told was that they had to up the Labor because the job is such a PITA... Guess I should have had it done earlier... If it was truely $189... Then they would have had me doing cartwheels and I would have taken the Plugs I bought straight back to the parts store... I think that $189 was the labor... The Plugs are $10 a piece and the intake gasket is $20. $109 is only an hours worth of Labor and that is impossible with this Job.

diverchris

Just curious what people's feedback are using TorqueMaster plugs as I'm coming closer to spark plug change and looking at all of my options.
Thanks in advance,
Chirs

Sandhopper

I went with the NGK replacements - three of them seem to be doing real well... Even with just half of them currently replaced, my idle has been smoother. Guess I was really due after 120K.

RX330inFL

+1 for NGK in a Japanese vehicle. Only way to go, IMHO.

Sandhopper

Finally got around to having the back three plugs changed but now they are done and I don't have to worry about them for another 125K. Money well spent!

Lexmex

Unless you are going to do some major performance modification, I'd stick with stock plugs.