can the rear spark plugs on a 3.5 be replaced without taking the intake manifold off?

can the rear spark plugs on a 3.5 be replaced without taking the intake manifold off?

Not really unless you are a contortionist i think!?

Not really unless you are a contortionist i think!?


lol yeah thought so. just thought id check before pulling anything apart lol

lol yeah thought so. just thought id check before pulling anything apart lol

You only have to unblot the intake from the engine. You dont have to undo any hoseclamps etc, it should bend up enough to let you under there.

in my old TH i just put iridiums front and rear when i got the car.. knowing that i'd prolly never have to touch it again for at least 100 000km's.. that, a new fuel filter, and a tank of 98+ nulon injector cleaner helped it idle nice and smooth, plus helped a bit in the flat spot just off idle!

If you have NGK BKR5EIX-11 they are good for 60,000 km. Platinum ones are that last 100 K.

don't you also have to replace the gasket if you take the intake off?

don't you also have to replace the gasket if you take the intake off?
Only if you damage it, or if it is already in poor condition.

Only if you damage it, or if it is already in poor condition.

Ah - whenever you break a seal by taking say, an intake manifold off - its a wise idea to replace the gasket.

Regardless of if its condition.

It costs bugger all, and not replacing a gasket can lead to a lot of other problems. Simply, the gasket will not seal properly.

Yeah once a gasket has been used it can never be used again.

The metal sets to the gasket, if the metal moves even slightly, it wont match up.

there a pressed steel gasket.. mine sealed perfect the time i did it.. and when i've done this on other cars also..

if your that worried about it put a very small amount of RTV silcone or similar on each side.. just like wipe your finger over it and thats it not much at all..

but hey.. for the sake of a few $$.. if you want just put a new gasket in :)

I believe that Barry's gaskets can be reused

there a pressed steel gasket.. mine sealed perfect the time i did it.. and when i've done this on other cars also..

if your that worried about it put a very small amount of RTV silcone or similar on each side.. just like wipe your finger over it and thats it not much at all..

but hey.. for the sake of a few $$.. if you want just put a new gasket in :)

Gasket Goo?

gasket goo is junk.. rtv silicone is where it's at.. depending on application.. blue, red, copper, silver etc etc..

This is probably the one major blunder of the 6G engines - you need to take out the intake manifold to explore the other 3 spark plugs. I don't know if it's a wrong design or deliberately made that way so you have to ask a pro to do it for you and pay heaps.

This is probably the one major blunder of the 6G engines - you need to take out the intake manifold to explore the other 3 spark plugs. I don't know if it's a wrong design or deliberately made that way so you have to ask a pro to do it for you and pay heaps.


its not that hard to take the intake manifold off i did my rear plugs in around 20 minutes (i took it slow)

**EDIT** i wouldnt pay someone to do it

Agree just use some RTV over the old gasket.
Ive done it a few times on the inlet gasket and its fine, still seals....
Only design flaw was having it FWD

what do you guys do to prevent stuff from falling into the cylinders when you change your spark plugs? I notice when I shine a torch into the front bank of spark plugs, around the sides there are some dust or something, how do you guys make sure nothing drops into the cylinders, and if it does go in there, how do you ensure it doesn't stuff the rings up? what's the proper way to do it if you know there's a bit of oil leaking into the spark plug chamber?

A new gasket for the inlet is less than $10 genuine from mitsu. I replace mine everytime i do a plug change for peace of mind. When i do the plug change on the rear bank it takes less than half an hour to do.

what do you guys do to prevent stuff from falling into the cylinders when you change your spark plugs? I notice when I shine a torch into the front bank of spark plugs, around the sides there are some dust or something, how do you guys make sure nothing drops into the cylinders, and if it does go in there, how do you ensure it doesn't stuff the rings up? what's the proper way to do it if you know there's a bit of oil leaking into the spark plug chamber?

Whenever I take an intake manifold off a car (never done a magna, give me 4000km and I will). I stuff a few rags down there (clean one's) this stops bolts/bits going down an intake, or into the plenum. If it does fall, you carefully take out the rag, with the bolt in the middle.....perfect :D

Also good for when you clean off gaskets, its impossible to do this without the old bits falling in sometimes......

Whenever I take an intake manifold off a car (never done a magna, give me 4000km and I will). I stuff a few rags down there (clean one's) this stops bolts/bits going down an intake, or into the plenum. If it does fall, you carefully take out the rag, with the bolt in the middle.....perfect :D

Also good for when you clean off gaskets, its impossible to do this without the old bits falling in sometimes......

i'm not talking about the holes that the runners connect to, i'm talking about the actual spark plug chamber dirt.