Got my plugs in and havent reset my EFI yet. So far no change. I don't know what people were tlking about when they said they were seeing dynos off +15-20 hp and increased response. So far nothing too much for me to say.

 

As usual, I'll add to this discussion.

There's no telling if those dyno's previously posted about OEM vs. the TM plugs were off a bit due to weather conditions, OEM spark plug condition etc. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't recall seeing that info. I've heard that most aftermarket performance plugs work well for a very short period, maybe a couple dyno runs, then resume to a power level of an OEM plug.

My experience with the TM plugs was not so great. I had no obvious power increase and really bad mis-fires. Taking the car down to the TM shop headqurters and having them diagnose it didn't help either. They weren't sure what the problem was.

TM's were designed with big american V8's in mind. The owner said that he designed them with high durability and mileage capabilities. Alot of the theme in the shop was along the lines of 1970's and 80's drag racing.

PM - ChuH. He had the same problem with his TM plugs.

 

First of all, let's not exaggerate. The horsepower gain was ~6-7 but gave more than 10 pounds of torque, this all at the wheels.
The plugs were new. I seriously doubt that the performance of the TM will go down with age. Most people have noticed via buttometer the difference and the dyno bore that out. Just my opinion.

 

6-7hp? 10hp?
Thats a lot and I certainly didn't feel it
Maybe its just me?
Get Teins dude
If you got a Lex, might as well do it right
IMO

 

I could tell a 'little" bit of difference on mine with the TM plugs, but the HP and TQ change is still a minimal change (not a lot). But IMO every little bit helps. Definitely recommend you reset your ECU.

Question - What does your Tein comment have to do with the TM's?


Lvangundy - no offense, but you've got a 1990 LS400 with different engine and much lower HP. I think the vast majority of folks who have added the plugs have had favorable things to say about them, with a couple of exceptions (yourself included).

 

Fever is looking for springs/shocks (signature)
So gave my 2 cents

 

Aha, how I see - thanks! I was thinking the stiffness might have something to do with the butt-o-meter - lol

 

DaveGS - No offense taken :-)

I don't see the connection you're referencing between my low HP, the year of my car and the problems with the TM plugs. The only argument I have to this is that ChuH with a GS400 also had the same problems. Maybe the VVT-i helps with reducing the effects through it's engine management. I also *thought* someone with an older SC had similar reportings.

Who knows? Maybe there were a few bad set of TM plugs that got distributed, but having the TM offices test my plugs then putting toyota OEM plugs back in showed me that something wasn't right.

 

ChuH has a GS430, if I am not mistaken.

 

Thanks - the only point I was trying to make is that the engine in your model year LS is very different than the one being discussed here.... trying to keep apples to apples. Wish the plugs worked out for you and the couple of folks that didn't like 'em, but I still stand on the statement that the vast majority of <second gen GS owners> that have them could tell a bit of difference and didn't have any problems.

 

Yes I have a 2001 GS430 and not a GS400.

The TM plugs are in for about 4000 miles. I was going to remove them and put the Iridium plugs back in awhile ago but up till now I am still debating. Because there is a noticible difference in performance with the TM plugs. I can tell that it revs faster (better response) and pulls harder (increase torque). Also there is less hesitation in my opinion.

The problem I have is the minute engine shakes and rough exhaust tones when the engine is cold (most noticible especially early morning). I also notice that the car shake a little when I arrive home at night when air gets cooler. During the day the engine runs fine and barely can tell the shakes. Guam's temperature is between low 70s to low 90s with very high humidity may have something to do with it. The other problem is if I am in park (no load) and rev steadily at 2000 rpm the engine would shake and simultaneously a low popping exhaust sound can be heard (misfiring). If I reset the ECU the shake and sound is even worse therefore I stop resetting the ECU since installing the TM Plugs. Don't need to let the ECU relearn again.

If I were to get the SRT intake & ECU I think the TM plugs would work even better. But right now I sticking with stock intake due to mostly city driving.

Chu...

 

I’ll add my 2 cents worth just to confuse the issue a little more.

I’ve had the TQ plugs in for about 5 months now and I haven’t had any rough idle issues. There did SEEM to be an performance improvement based on the buttometer but I ran some G-Tech tests after installation and found only a .01 improvement in 0-60 times - and - I don't think that any of our educated buttometers can truly identify a .01 sec difference.

The runs were as close as possible to the previous runs I used as a baseline (before TQ). So, I think that we tend to feel what we want to feel – maybe I’ve become more skeptical over the years, but I don’t think I got claimed horsepower out of my exhaust, the SRT intake, or the TQ plugs mods.

 

-Seems like it's either hit or miss with the TMs. I have had no problem with mine and the car seems to run thru the revs faster. And 6-7 hp in a 300 hp motor isn't significant...2%. I would definitely feel a 15 hp gain!

 

My TM plugs are still running strong!! And you can tell a difference between the two plugs weel worth the 100.00 bucks!

 

I jus wanna add my exp. w/ TM's too. I had no problems at all w/ Torquemaster Plugs. I installed them in my previous GS4 Y2K way back when Percy & mean gene put out the dyno's & gave em the thumbs up(before group buy). I definitely exp. the small hp they added. I had 10,000 miles before w.OEM plugs & put down about 55,000 miles w/TM's.I agree w/what Dave said any little bit helps IMO. They are spark plugs not SC,turbos,or miracle induction system. Just spark plugs. From my exp. w/them I would defininately get em again & have ordered them for my new GS.
I just haven't had the time to get em put in.

Paul