Can anyone tell me the correct plug gap for a Townace 2:0L EFI petrol ?? hope that you can help thanks John - (#1487) John Yeoman, 24 Nov 01

John
Use NGKs. Correct gap is 0.8mm (0.031 in.)for conventional plugs. Platinum tipped type is 1.1mm (0.043 in.)
Ian - (#1488) Ian Dunse, 24 Nov 01

can anyone tell me what type of spark plugs i need for town ace super extra 2 litre petrol. had quotes of £48.the spark plugs i have now are NGK R BPR5EP||||| JAPAN any help welcome

- (#3109) gordon, 25 May 02

Which engine have you got, I assume it is going to be a 3Y, plugs for this are BPR5ES, this is exactly the same looking plug, with the same heat range etc as the ones you have in the vehicle, the only difference is that the BPR5ES is a standard copper cored, iron electrode type, used in a million & one normal road going vehicles. The BPR5EP type 'R' plugs you have in there are in fact 'racing' plugs, the 'P' on the end of the number means that it has a fine wire GOLD PALLADIUM electrode that transmits the power a little better. One has to ask why this type of plug was in the car, it is possible that the previous owner had some running problems with the car & resorted to putting the 'R' plugs in to try to stop something like plug fouling, do the plugs you took out look oily on the end, if so this is probably why they put them in, if they look clean then fit the standard NGK BPR5ES plugs for around £10 the set from a local factor, you should be alright, unless you intend to start racing your Townie of course. HTH Regards Rob.

- (#3111) Rob Drinkwater, 25 May 02

Thanks for this info. Having bought a 1984 (!) Town Ace last week, I went into our local parts place to get a service kit. Their parts database showed an expensive P plug (which he thought stood for Platinum). So I guess somewhere along the line Toyota made that the offical plug. It's a 3Y engine. Will be fitting the BPR5ES. (nope, I'm not racing this old lady! ;o) )

Regards
Bill

- (#3836) Bill Dashfield, 16 Jul 02

If you cannot find NGK's (or don't like them) Champion do an alternative, also at a decent price. I have them in my 3Y cruiser. No problems encountered.

- (#3847) Phil Pearce, 16 Jul 02

I've had it on good authority from various sources, one being a specialist tuning outfit and Bosch Agent, that you should only fit NGK in Jap engines. In my experience that is absolutely right. I've tried Champions in a Suzuki and a Honda and they ran rough. Changed to NGK and they were fine. Go the extra mile and source NGK plugs.

- (#3853) Ian Dunse, 17 Jul 02

Fully agree with Ian. I ran Champions in my Cruiser a couple of times (on special offer with oil I think) and both times they started to run rough in a very short while. One was at about 1000 miles then went in for a tune. The tune could not continue with them as they were so bad, so refitted the old NGK ones and all was well.

- (#3855) clive, 17 Jul 02

Well I take it all back then! Champions have been fine for 7000 miles but a service is due and I shall try NGK's. I'll post the results.

- (#3863) Phil Pearce, 17 Jul 02

Just looked in my owners manual to see what the 'P' plugs are for. They are for petrol engines with catalytic converter. They are either Nippondenso P16R or NGK BPR5EP11. It goes on to say that the platinum- tipped plugs in your engine do not require replacement as frequently as the conventional type. Replacement interval is 100,000 km (60,000 miles) Do not reuse them by cleaning or regapping. The platinum tipped spark plugs can be identified by blue rings on the ceramic.

- (#3879) Phil Pearce, 18 Jul 02

hello,

have a townace 1988 with 3-y, could someone please post the spark plug gap? thanks!

- (#3881) glen, 18 Jul 02

0.8mm (0.31 in)

- (#3882) Ian Dunse, 19 Jul 02