3.3TT Spark Plugs - How much should I expect to pay?

[DaBears4Lyfe]

Hey All,

Just watched a video on how to change out my spark plugs... I have to say it was pretty discouraging. I dont want to take apart that much of my engine just to replace my spark plugs.

I did just get the JB4 so prior to installing it I want to change out the plugs (or regap them). Any ideas on what I should expect to pay to get this done in a shop.

Thanks!

 

[Sales@Tork]

I would go with about 2-2.5 hours from a shop. We have it down to a lot faster now but a shop doing it for their first time will get their moneys worth. So I would say expect to pay upwards of $300 depending on hourly rate and taxes.

 

[DaBears4Lyfe]

Wow... YA that's going to make rethink it.... Do you have any videos up on how to change them

 

[Kamauxx]

Wow... YA that's going to make rethink it.... Do you have any videos up on how to change them

He has THE video on how to change em. It's the one we all used.

 

[DaBears4Lyfe]

He has THE video on how to change em. It's the one we all used.

Whoops.... Welp... guess ill be getting dirty this weekend.

 

[Kamauxx]

Whoops.... Welp... guess ill be getting dirty this weekend.

It'll be fun.

 

[DaBears4Lyfe]

It'll be fun.

Fun you say.... Well if you want to have some fun come out to the Midwest and help a stinger out

 

[Kamauxx]

Fun you say.... Well if you want to have some fun come out to the Midwest and help a stinger out

Ha! Nah I've already gone down that fun road.

 

[PA_RN]

I remember seeing a lot about replacing or adjusting the gap on stock plugs for tuned cars. Was there ever any consensus to adjusting the gap for cars left stock?

 

[Sabz]

I remember seeing a lot about replacing or adjusting the gap on stock plugs for tuned cars. Was there ever any consensus to adjusting the gap for cars left stock?

Shouldn’t need to

 

[St1nger Guy]

It's not as bad of a job as you might think. Take a photo of each bolt next to the hole it came out of as you take things apart and it will aid you in assembly so you aren't left with any "bonus" hardware. Also there are several cables with clips that are attached to metal mounts. It's far easier to take the screws out of the mounts and move everything out of the way together vs trying to remove cable clips. If you don't have catch can's installed, might be a good idea to do that while your in there

 

[BudLight!]

Hey All,

Just watched a video on how to change out my spark plugs... I have to say it was pretty discouraging. I dont want to take apart that much of my engine just to replace my spark plugs.

I did just get the JB4 so prior to installing it I want to change out the plugs (or regap them). Any ideas on what I should expect to pay to get this done in a shop.

Thanks!

If you arent sure, take them to a reputable shop. Alot of times people do not know how to properly install sparks correctly, they do not crush the crush washers on the spark plugs. Use high end spark plugs as well pregapped, which will eliminate some error. Ive worked on cars and sometimes peoples sparkplugs easily slide out with 1-2 turns because they werent tightened. Its simple though use the video if youre confident. make sure you just torque them in or use the 1/4 turn method to insure washers have been crushed

 

[eflyguy]

Shouldn’t need to

Shouldn't, but many are not correct. I'd put money on Kia not actually checking and setting plug gap width.

In short, they should be checked, and set to an appropriate gap.

Not in short (TLDR):

The plug manufacturer sets up the equipment to produce a product that falls within acceptable tolerances, but there is no post-manufacture QA process for the OEM plugs that checks the gap to the tolerances a high performance engine requires, and those plugs are not unique to a single vehicle. Not saying they're crap, but they aren't necessarily set to where they need to be for optimal performance and longevity. And it's not usually a problem, because most Kia customers aren't going to push them to failure.

Most members of THIS forum, however, probably will!

Companies like HKS tightly define the parameters that matter in high performance applications, but they don't manufacture the plugs. So either they, or the manufacturer, have to set up a process (and equipment) to validate those parameters, and as it only comprises a small percentage of the total number of near-identical plugs produced, the cost for each "special" product increases pretty significantly.

Sometimes a manufacturer can work a deal where most or all product will go thru that QA check, and share the costs. This benefits themselves, they can now sell a more expensive product branded differently - typically for higher performance vehicles.