Toyota Tacoma 3.5L V6 plug change

[Speedbird001]

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road (4x4) with 6 MT and 3.5L V-6. (Uses direct and port injection). 70,000 miles. The first ~60k racked up were ~25/75 city/highway. But since the RONA I have been driving 10 city/highway. I always use top-tier regular; The last year has been mostly Costco (10% ethanol) or Liberty (100% gas). Interesting; owners manual says change plugs at 100K,BUT the first change should be at 60k for emissions reasons (?). Definitely runs better now (TBH: Also serviced at the same time: air filter and throttle body / PVC cleaned).

I guess these look ok. They are a little more "Ashy" that I expected, but not loads of carbon, other than around the very edge. First time for me servicing an engine like this. I don't run it very hard, but probably lug the engine around town more than I should. What do you all think?

 

[The Critic]

Looks better than the Highlander 2GR-FKS that I recently did:

Toyota 2GR-FKS Spark Plug Replacement, 61K

2017 Highlander 3.5 DI V6, 61K. Toyota changed the intake plenum design on the DI version. The annoying hangers have been replaced with a small bracket that is near the throttle body area. Intake plenum can be removed in 15 min, entire job can easily be done in under an hour. They also updated...

bobistheoilguy.com

 

[Chris142]

Weird 3 grounds

 

[Lubener]

They could easily have gone another 25k-30k. Plugs #4 and #6 look like they have been exposed to a small amount of oil during their use. Nothing alarming.

 

[Tomioka]

I wonder what's with Toyota and their quirky spark plug designs? Reminds me of the Toyota 3VZ-E V6 truck engine on an engine sticker that dual ground spark plugs are required.

 

[nthach]

I wonder what's with Toyota and their quirky spark plug designs? Reminds me of the Toyota 3VZ-E V6 truck engine on an engine sticker that dual ground spark plugs are required.

The two side ground straps provide a way for the spark to still happen if the main electrode is fouled. It’s a “self-cleaning” design.