I'm going thru and making sure all the maitenance items are current on the 2001 Tracker ZR2 V-6 I just bought. The vehicle has 70K miles on it and the seller told me it was his mother's and "she kept the oil changed and not much else". I've done the trans filter and fluid, an oil change, the rear differential and now I came to the spark plugs. The book says change at 60k and the book mentions Denso as an OE replacement, so after checking here and reading a few reviews, I ordered Denso SK16R11 plugs. When I pulled the plugs in the vehicle (original? don't know) they are NGK IFR5J11 plugs. They have a whitish/greyish deposit on them that when compared to a plug diagnosis chart says "incorrect heat range, too hot". I'm contemplating going to a colder plug, but I think I'll run these for about 5K miles and pull and check them.
Are the NGKs original? I am wondering if the the high mileage on them has caused this to happen?
Has anyone found a similar issue on their Tracker / Vitara 2.5 V-6? Should I just step down a heat range now? Thanks for any help!
I'm going thru and making sure all the maitenance items are current on the 2001 Tracker ZR2 V-6 I just bought. The vehicle has 70K miles on it and the seller told me it was his mother's and "she kept the oil changed and not much else". I've done the trans filter and fluid, an oil change, the rear differential and now I came to the spark plugs. The book says change at 60k and the book mentions Denso as an OE replacement, so after checking here and reading a few reviews, I ordered Denso SK16R11 plugs. When I pulled the plugs in the vehicle (original? don't know) they are NGK IFR5J11 plugs. They have a whitish/greyish deposit on them that when compared to a plug diagnosis chart says "incorrect heat range, too hot". I'm contemplating going to a colder plug, but I think I'll run these for about 5K miles and pull and check them.
Are the NGKs original? I am wondering if the the high mileage on them has caused this to happen?
Has anyone found a similar issue on their Tracker / Vitara 2.5 V-6? Should I just step down a heat range now? Thanks for any help!
As far as I know the factory fitted plugs (on the GV) are Denso K20PR-U11 - and the FSM calls out Denso SK16PR11 and the NGK IFR5J11 as acceptable substitutes.
11's are pretty cold to begin with, assuming that the last NGK digits are the heat range.
But, heat ranges are not the same between brands
I'd stick w/the recommended plug. Who knows, the previous owner's type of driving or fuel choice may have affected the plug condition, as you observed them.
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99' Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2.5 V-6, 4WD, 5 spd std
72' Chevy Nova. One owner, SB, A/C, power disk/drum & steering.
53' Chevy 3100 Pick-up w/327, TH400 trans w/78' Nova rear end.
03' Honda Odyssey (Momma's ride) Click for pics
I bought this subject up recently in a different post. The Aussie manual for my 2004 XL-7 recommends only the NGK IFR6J11 plugs, but all online guides recommend IFR5J11 which is a hotter plug.
Given the climate I live in I decided to stick with the IFR6J11.
Out of interest mine came with el cheapo nickel (?) Denso plugs- not the (hideously expensive) recommended NGK platinum IFR5J11.
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Do I Need a Colder Spark Plug??
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