Jontay

I have to replace spark plugs in my 2010 GS350 AWD. Stealer wants WAY too much $ to do it ($530). I know plugs are $15-$20/ea. Figure I can do it myself if a non-dealer service shop (former certified Lexus mechanics) says they need roughly an hour to do it.

I have marginal mechanical skills and have a friend who is a great mechanic and has a nice shop...figure we can do the job. Should we?

Also want to put in the correct (high quality) spark plugs. Anyone know specifically which ones to order? I typically use RockAuto.

Feel free to offer any thoughts or advice. Thanks again!!

tghw

Rock Auto or Advance Auto are the cheapest places to buy the plugs, should be less than $100 for a set. Yes, any decent mechanic can do the job in 1-2 hrs. tops. Dealer prices are completely ridiculous for such a simple basic job.

P/N for the correct Denso plugs is:
3473 -FK20HBR11

All the info that you need to know can be found it the DIY sticky thread at the top of this forum.


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Jontay

Thank you for your help. Much appreciated and will tackle this one on my own.

tghw

There are also a couple of nicely detailed YouTube videos that walk you through the entire job, showing what needs to be disconnected/moved out of the way to get better access to the plugs. Just search for GS 350 Sparkplug and they will come up. They were very helpful for me before I did the job myself. It's really nice to know what to expect before you even start the job.

energie8

I've been using NGK6858 laser iridium and it's been awesome.

Jontay

Ended up ordering the following from RockAuto:
3473 -FK20HBR11 Denso plugs @ $12.34/ea.

It literally was the easiest spark plug changeout that I have ever done. So, if anyone is wondering whether they should do it on their own or not.....YES, DO IT ON YOUR OWN! Very easy!

Just make sure you have the rubber piece in the spark plug socket so that the spark plug does not fall out of the socket (when installing) and damage the electrodes on the bottom of plug.

Using the firing order (front-to-back) of passenger side 1, 3, 5 and driver side 2, 4, 6:

plugs #3 and #5 both had a significant amount of carbon buildup where it almost had formed a "bridge" between the electrodes. Also, on both plugs, both of the small "needle-like" pins were almost entirely corroded away. And on one of the plugs (#5?) the ceramic around the center electrode was cracked/broken so that the ceramic was actually 2 different halves and at 2 different heights. It's hard to believe the car ran as good as it did as this was 1/3 of my cylinders. The other 4 plugs looked really good. Keep in mind that this is after 152k miles (Stealer said they were original).

Wondering if these 2 cylinders (#3 and 5) with the malfunctioning plugs is what was causing the bit of blue smoke I would sometimes see on random starts and random acceleration? Thinking maybe the little bit of oil that leaks by by the rings and valve seals was not getting burned since the plugs would definitely be malfunctioning? Have not noticed any more smoke since changing plugs but it has only been a week and it was random occurrences (but happening more often lately).
Anyone have thoughts ?

Anyway, replaced the plugs, cleared the codes..... and the thing runs GREAT. Waiting for current tank of gas to empty so I can check mpg.

MX73

You can still get blue smokes even if the spark plugs are in good shape. The oil is getting burn up in the spark cycle and getting expelled through the exhaust system. It's pretty much the nature of a Direct Injection system.