'96 Maxima plug change (40K in use / 319K engine)

[92saturnsl2]

'96 Maxima VQ30DE w/ 4 speed auto @ 319K. I've been using "copper" plugs, one heat range colder than OEM since I got the car at 200K. I chose the heat range because this car rarely sees short trips, nearly always my normal 35 mile commute each way.

This most recent set are 4 Bosch FR6DCX, and 2 Splitfire (which carry the brand but oddly enough, not the split tip) of comparable specs and heat range. I must have gotten the Splitfires on a RA closeout. Used them for about 40K, replaced with 6 Denso K20PR-U, another standard plug which I've used before. Coils are original.

I use basic "copper" plugs because they are super easy to change on this engine, a 30 minute job due to good engineers. I'm sure it came with platinum or something more exotic as OE. I'm impressed at the condition of the plugs and if nothing is broke, I'm not going to fix it and keep doing what I've been doing. Car maintains 24-27mpg (depending on summer/winter) and oil dipstick always shows full at the end of a 5K OCI.

Worth mentioning, I'm going to stop using anti-seize on threads. It just gums up making removal difficult (and dirtier than it has to be), and a couple I took out felt a bit loose. What went back was without anti-seize and tightened just fine.

Rear Bank, very accessible:

 

[Nessism1]

The VQ engine family is awesome. No oil burning after all those miles is amazing. Keep going...

 

[TomYoung]

The business end of the plugs look fine, but four of them look like they have gotten a little too hot!

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I used to have a 4th gen Maxima, and I agree, one of the better transverse V6 designs. The front and rear coils are shaped differently to make the job easier. To bad more transverse V engines don't have cutouts in the intake. Even Nissan stopped doing that with the 5th gen Maxima and other later versions of the VQ

The OE plugs were probably NGK Laser Platinum. If you don't want to spend the money on them, use NGK G-Power (single platinum). They are better than copper for not a lot more money. NGK says never use anti-seize.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Look very good for the short 40m run. I’d be tempted to replace these with Iridium’s and check back in 100k.

 

[Ctopher]

Great engine. I miss my 98 SE.

I agree, I would run the factor platinum plug in it. And always run super unleaded like it calls for.

My car got hit a year after I bought mine and I ended getting a base model Max as a rental for a month or so while mine got repaired. Because it was a rental after the first tank I started putting 87 in it. That thing would never start on the first crank and idled rough. Even after the 2nd or 3rd tank of 87 until it clicked……next time I put 93 and wouldn’t you know it, starts first time, never needed an 2nd crank and ran so smooth. That engine only liked 93 octane and deserved it…..it was so buttery smooth!


CTopher

 

[The Critic]

Worth mentioning, I'm going to stop using anti-seize on threads. It just gums up making removal difficult (and dirtier than it has to be), and a couple I took out felt a bit loose. What went back was without anti-seize and tightened just fine.

Don't tell @Trav