Replacing Spark plugs Question

[tigertom1965]

I know I have between 66500 and 67000 miles on my 07 and some of you will be questioning me doing this now but on a severe service life schedule the plugs, timing belt, and check of the water pump should be done at 60000 miles. I think I read that right.

On my last couple of GM vehicles I was told to use a tool that helped me remove the plug boots without damage as I kept breaking the plug wires right near the boots.

Is there such a tool for the Honda vehicles? Or is there any trick to getting the boots off without damage? Or should I just replace the wires now while I am in there? Do you use the anti sieze compounds on your plugs?

[07_rtx]

There are no plug wires, its coil packs. You take out a allen bolt and pull the coil pack with the spark plug attachment out in one pull up. If you look under the hood you can see 3 black boxes and the allen bolts i am talking about. There are 3 identical ones on the back side of the engine. Pull the engine cover off and replace the plugs. Its very simple, buy you will need a long extension on the socket since honda puts spark plugs deep in the heads. Because they are coil packs you have no need to replace them for a long long time. I dont use anti seeze, but some do. Good luck!

[07_rtx]

Here is a pic. Look just beside my oil cap and under the 3 turn tabs on the engine cover. You will see the front 3 coil pack boxes that i am talking about

[csimo]

FYI, even on the severe maintenance schedule the service schedule for the spark plugs and timing belt both remain at 105,000 miles. No change from the normal service schedule.

[CrowMagnumMan]

Joe,

It would not hurt anything to change them earlier, correct? I am nowhere near that but was thinking of changing around 75K. Thoughts?

[csimo]

Originally Posted by CrowMagnumMan

Joe,

It would not hurt anything to change them earlier, correct? I am nowhere near that but was thinking of changing around 75K. Thoughts?

I've only seen about a dozen sets of plugs out of Honda 3.5 liter engines changed at the 100k - 105k mile range. Virtually all of them were in excellent condition except for one bank on one engine that had an obvious mechanical problem. The factory plugs are iridium and if I hadn't seen them myself I would never have believed it.

In other words I don't think you'll hurt anything by changing them sooner than recommended, but I don't think you'll gain anything either.

I would change them at the same time the timing belt is changed out at 105k miles. Change the water pump, idler and tension pulleys, serpentine belt, thermostat and hoses. You'll be good to go for another 105k miles.

[CrowMagnumMan]

Thanks bub!

[tigertom1965]

MM Code 4

Replace spark plugs
Replace timing belt and inspect water pump
If you drive regularly in very high temperatures (over 110°F,
43°C), in very low temperatures (under-20°F, -29°C), or towing a
trailer, replace every 60,000 mile (U.S.)/100,000 km (Canada
Inspect valve clearance

According to my 2007 RTL owners manual page 242.

[kthi7]

there are some posting on which brand to use bosch fusion, ngk laser irridium, pulstar be1...least to most expensive, respectively.

i found a set (6 plugs sold in 3 packages) of pulstar for 75 at autozone. not sure why they are so inexpensive (comparatively)...perhaps they mistakenly label 24.99 for one plug, but each package comes with 2. every where else its 49.99 for 2 plugs.

i leaned toward using ngk laser irridium (13.99 each) until i found the pulstar deal.

they will be installed in my 06 rt with 100k on a new second set of tires. thanks for the clues on where the other 3 plugs are located.

[happyjoey]

My pul stars failed with only 13 k miles on them. not happy.