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New spark plugs needed at 100K miles?

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25K views 30 replies 14 participants last post by  onecrazyfoo4u  
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#1 ·
I have a '14 SXT V6 that just hit 97K miles. Scheduled maintenance has been done according to the intervals in the back of the owner's manual, with oil changes done a bit more frequently every 6K miles.

Engine is running smooth and fuel consumption is normal. Any reason to change plugs at 100K miles? I understand the need to change fluids on schedule, but is there any issue waiting on spark plugs? I fully intend to keep this vehicle for 200-250K miles. I just don't want to fix something that isn't broke. I am tempted to wait until around 125K miles, hoping to only change plugs once during my ownership of this vehicle. Is that reasonable or am I inviting bigger problems?

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
Kevin:
It seems you have maintained your Durango in good fashion. The plugs in use these days (iridium, platinum, etc) are pretty resilient. Unless your application includes gobs of idle hours, I wager you will be fine to the 125K mark. Others who have Gen 3 D's with the V6 will chime in with their experience. I ran the Champion Coppers in my 04 Hemi to 50K without issue. Since they are a whopping $2 each, I figured 20K over spec was a good time to swap them.

Don
 
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#3 ·
You probably can stretch it...but note spark plugs are a wear item and should one start to fail you'll end up with a mis-fire. To me not worth it especially with factory plugs installed.
But really the reason to replace at 100K is to make sure they don't get frozen in the head which can happen seeing the heads are aluminum and spark plugs are steel.

What I'd do is remove one and check it. Or you could just have them replaced and ask that you get the old ones back, then check them. If they still look good, then run the next set longer.
Oh, I'd go with Iridium replacements for the stock "I believe" platinum plugs too.
 
G
#4 ·
Honestly for $100 that is cheap maintenance. Yes i would imagine and even assume you could go 20-30% more miles on those plugs without issue, but in the life of the car you are saving MAYBE $300. To me this is a definite preventative maintenance that is cheap and worth it. Plugs are easy to swap and a good set will cost around $100. I say just replace them and be done with it.
 
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#6 ·
I appreciate the comments. I could risk an occasional misfire until putting new spark plugs in, but having them frozen sounds like a much bigger concern. I found a "how-to" write-up online, the intake plenum does need to be removed and that is probably over my meager wrenching skills, so I will have my independent mechanic change the plugs at the next oil change.

Thanks again,

Kevin
 
#7 ·
At least with the 14 and newer Hemi's it's 100,000 miles, not 30,000. Dodge recommended changing the plugs every 30,000 miles on my 2013.
 
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#10 ·
With Pentastar V6, if you are going to all the trouble of removing the upper half of the intake manifold to replace the spark plugs (make sure to replace them with the stock long life Iridium plugs) you might as well look into changing the COP's (ignition coils) too, as well as the oil cooler (which tends to develop a crack/leak by about 100K miles). That way you only pay for the labor or spend your own time on this job once. Don't forget to replace those intake manifold gaskets/seals/O-rings when you put the intake manifold back together so you don't develop a vacuum leak later.
 
K
#12 ·
As somebody who purchased the Mopar Lifetime warranty, not sure that approach makes sense for me. The spark plugs are a scheduled maintenance item, but the coils and oil cooler would be covered by warranty. Are the Pentastar coils frequently replaced? It has been 15 years since one of my cars needed a new coil pack, that includes two vehicles that were north of 200K miles without ever replacing a coil.
 
#14 ·
I have the Mopar Unlimited mileage plan and I would not proactively replace non-maintenance item parts (unless they are close to what the deductible is). I think those oil coolers are actually fairly inexpensive so, yeah, if I was doing it myself I could see me doing that.
 
#15 · (Edited)


I know this isn't from a Durango, but these are #2 and #3 from wifey's Pilot at 100K... Note the missing porcelain? No doubt, the internals chewed on it for a while. My advice? Hell yea, change them whether they look ok, or not. It's cheap insurance this doesn't happen to your Durango.
 
#17 ·
NumberThree said:
View attachment 104012
View attachment 104014
I know this isn't from a Durango, but these are #4 and #6 from wifey's Pilot at 100K... Note the missing porcelain? No doubt, the internals chewed on it for a while. My advice? Hell yea, change them whether they look ok, or not. It's cheap insurance this doesn't happen to your Durango.
Click to expand...
Those plugs don’t look right. They look “wet” and the electrodes are all coked up probably from excessive oil. They should be much cleaner looking with a grayish brown color. The electrode should be clean with maybe the tip a little worn away.
 
M
#23 ·
Yep I had an 09 pilot I traded in in December. There was a class action lawsuit against honda for oil consumption issues in the vcm engine. Although my 18 drt cylinder mgmt system is different, I think Im scarred from the pilot and always leave it off on the D. But if I remember right hondas design allowed the cylinders to cool too much as the pistons wouldnt fire in eco mode. Supposedly its updated now for Honda but I dont think you can turn the system off or on now like the D - you couldnt in the 09-16 pilot.
 
D
#25 · (Edited)
Any overhead cam engine with direct action camshaft lobe on inverted bucket design (with shims) will need adjustment. This is not the case if the design uses a direct action hydraulic roller follower or a rocker roller. There are a lot of those engines out there, some of them are falsely noted as never needing adjustments or the procedure not being noted in the manuals. Some clearly calling out the required maintenance procedure with intervals noted as low as 30K or 60K miles in some cases. With the lower levels of ZDDP in the latest couple updates on motor oil (namely SM and SN) this has the potential to becoming a bigger issue due to increase wear on those camshaft lobes and direct contact bucket shims, same as with older push rod engines that use flat tappet valve lifters.
 
D
#28 ·
kevin512 said:
Update:

Changed the spark plugs on my '14 V6 Durango at 99,960 miles.

They still look pretty good to me.

View attachment 104526

Replaced with OEM plugs:

View attachment 104528
Click to expand...
Did you check the gap on those used spark plugs? The ones I just pulled out of mine @ 72.4K miles had a gap opened up to 0.049 to 0.050" from the factory setting of 0.043". The wider the gap, the harder the coil has to work.
 
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