Hi,
how often shall I change the spark plugs for LS430?

 

I would do 85k, but it's specced for 100k with Denso iridium as the OE. Basically if you do a belt do plugs

 

Age and especially the climate that they are in is starting to affect these cars.

My LS430 has been garage kept in a mild climate and its engine bay rubber and plastic items, along with wire looms, etc. all are still in very good condition - still pliable and not oxidized or brittle. I had an SC430 that looked great but it had not been garaged for some portion of its life and the same engine bay items on that car were in much worse condition.

 

The recommended plug change is 120,000 miles. I am planing to do it soon as I am about to hit 120K in few months.

People have not been changing plugs for a lot longer without any concerns. See here.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...s-mileage.html

Some people believe in over maintenance and some don't. Sometimes trying to fix things that are not broken break something. Haha!

 

Exactly. I've never seen any benefit whatsoever to changing plugs, but I follow the interval. On my BMW it's short, 45k. On this LS430 I did them at 118k, 2k early.

I completely understand many here have ways and means, so if changing early is desired, it can certainly be done, but imho will have zero benefit. And yes, I threw away my front pads with 40% life left, because I had the wheels off. So I understand, not trying to be funny. (but I must say changing a car battery every 2 proactively doesn't make a lot of sense when a simple load test will show the battery's state/condition)

Again here's where I truly appreciate indies--they will resist customers' desire to replace things left and right--that's integrity. A car dealer? lol we know how that goes

 

Less stress on each of your $60 coils if you don't let any gap erosion at all occur, rather change them a bit early then stress the coils

 

I had mine done around 130,000 miles. They looked fine after inspecting them. Just for anyone that's interested.....the car performed the same after replacement, and the mileage did not change. However, I would still have it done. Make sure you get all of the original 8 plugs back as one of them is difficult to pull and some shops don't bother replacing it..(Imagine that!) PS. It is important to mention to the shop (even if you think it's overkill) to be extra careful when removing the coil packs as not to damage the brittle wires. Too many stories about sloppy jobs by techs that just don't care about their work.

 

Not me. 1998 Maxima original coil packs well into 300k and coming up on 22 years on the road in 5 days (holy **** I was a different person when I bought that car, full of hope and many dreams. At least I still have my good looks). I heard the 1999 did have coil pack issues. And interestingly, VQ motor--1998 had 60k plug intervals, 2000, they upped it to 100k. same motor.

 

Isn't that terrible a person can pay a dealer full retail and find 1/8 plugs not changed? Isn't it the one by the dipstick, I forget. Now that I think of it, what if my dipstick started leaking after I did my plugs, dag. The extensions at least for me were harder to get at that one. Ever since the BMW, I use a locking extension, they're great. Swivels don't have infinite range. Didn't even own them prior, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how they work lol (I know the socket won't fall off until released, just can't figure out how the mechanism actually works. Kind of like I don't know how a toilet fill valve fills--other than the tube that shoots water past the flapper, because I've only dealt with them as an entire unit, although I get there is a seal at the top that can be accessed by twisting).

 

Well you are very lucky since I've done over 100 coils on nissans and they are a known failure on all their engines. The 2.5 4 cyl is laughably bad how easily they burn out

 

something something darkside giggity

 

I remember the 1999 had issues with coil packs and the transponder key (1998 doesnt have it). But I also specifically remember the VQ30DE had a 60k interval with 1995-1999, then suddenly 2000 they went 100k lol Kinda like BMW doubling the oil change interval to 2 years/15k, from 1 yr/15k, since they are paying for the changes.

Not sure if anyone has noticed the market plunging 5 days in a row. When I had that Maxima an old timer told me always accumulate stock over time. At the time I was making bank on Lucent Technologies this is how long ago. I sold it thank goodness, but overall, that guy was right. And he's still on the Nissan forum hahahahahahahaha 20+ years. dag

edit p.s. talking about 1998 cars makes me want to get a 1998 GS400. That was "unimaginable" for me in 1998. Sweet wing in back and the headlights looked blueish.....amazing. Why not? Today I can afford a 1998 GS400.

 

That would be a very cool ride, perhaps get the 2JZ-GTE version and turn it up? They are easy 11 sec cars with only small changes

 

Even stock--I wonder how much they are. I mean they are so old but obviously many of us here don't care about the age. Me? I'd just close my eyes behind the wheel of the GS400 and pretend it's 1998! My 6 y.o. would snap me right out of reality, though....that was a bad a** car back then. It won car of the year with Motor Trend. I think the cool factor exceeded a 1998 528i which back then still had deep dish rims.