Installed New Spark Plugs at 138,000 miles

Hi Patrick. You can get adaptors to go from 1/4" to 3/8" fairly easily. Of course the most readily available is the other way around (3/8" female to 1/4" male), but both types can be had.

CyberPrius, if you have any trouble finding a 1/4" female to 3/8" male adaptor, you can alternatively use a 1/4" square to 1/4" hex (female) adaptor, followed by a 1/4" hex to 3/8" sq (male) adaptor. Both of these are very commonly available.

The latter is what I use here if ever I need to run a 3/8" socket on a 1/4" drive. Though obviously I only do this when it's something that I don't want to use too much torque on.

 

^ You could probably get a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter.

I did pick up a 3/8" drive, with range 5 thru 80 foot pounds. It was a made-in-China special, nicely made, hard plastic case (which I'll likely never use), and a cursory manual. Regular $32, on sale for $16 at KMS Tools, locally. Too good to pass up, LOL.

I tested it and my 1/2" drive, by putting on a 13/16" socket, putting them on on a wheel lug nut, and pulling with a scale I have, set as close to 1 foot from center as I could manage. It's a digital scale that "hunts" until the weight stablilizes, then locks and beeps. Both torque wrenches were suprisingly accurate, at various values.

The scale:


Chestnut Tools® Portable Electronic Scale - Lee Valley Tools

 

So, now I have to buy yet ANOTHER torque wrench for $14.

I'll have to open a bike repair business or something...

Anyway, did not mean to hijack any part of this thread. I guess the lesson is a 3/8" would be suitable...

 

Opps, been watching too much basketball....poor Oregon Ducks....

Missed the exchange with Mendel and Uart....more to think about....

 

Yeah it's pretty simple. Basically you just need a $2 adaptor (1/4 to 3/8 drive) instead of buying another torque wrench.

 

I think there is a reasonable chance that the 1/4" wrench will break when used to turn large torque loads implied by the need for the larger sockets. However at $14 that is not the end of the world, unless the wrench suddenly snapping causes you to hurt yourself as your knuckles smash against some unyielding engine part.

Perhaps the quality of "cheap" hand tools has improved recently. Back in the mid-70's, when I first started working on automobiles, I bought a few inexpensive sockets. One deep socket that fit lug nuts split lengthwise as I used it to tighten a nut. That helped me to decide to 1) avoid the purchase of really cheap tools and 2) use the correct tool for a given job.

 

But Patrick, this recommendation was specifically in relation to the use of a 3/8" drive spark-plug socket to tighten to a whole 13 ft-lbs. Actually her 1/4" wench probably only has settings up to about 15 ft-lbs (180 inch-lbs) anyway. So any fastener that's compatible with the torque wrench settings range should be fine, with or without adaptor.

 

My 2005 Prius has 170,000 miles. I replaced the plugs at 100,000 miles. Any suggestions the next time the plugs should be replaced?

 

200k miles as I did a couple of years ago (I also replaced the PCV and did the two coolant loops at that time).

JeffD

 

I probably should leave them alone until 200,000 mi. I don't have any miss fire problems.

 

That is what the Owner's manual suggests (as long as you stay with iridium plugs).

JeffD

 

What's the official recommended interval for the spark plugs? I thought it was 120k miles?

 

Yes, but it's easier to remember to do it every other coolant change especially at my age.

JeffD