[dneast]

Has anyone changed the spark plugs in their Murano? Difficulty in getting to plugs under intake manifold? Time involved to complete. Use of iridium plugs? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[Eric L.]

I would imagine that with the Murano's engine so far back in the engine bay, it would be a tight squeeze on the rear bank of plugs - and what a hassle for Nissan to put them under the intake manifold (you'll need a new manifold gasket if the manifold needs to be removed).

I suggest changing the plugs every 60k. This is not to contradict the service life of the plugs which Nissan claims is 100k, but rather, by the time you accumulate 100k miles, those spark plugs, as Tom and Ray from Cartalk like to say, would have "become one" with the aluminum cylinder head and impossible to remove without stripping the threads. At the very least, remove and reinstall at 60k.

On Maxima.org, we determined there are no better plugs for the VQ than the stock NGK laser platinums. You may try a different heat range depending on your climate, but I would stick with the OEM plugs - they are of excellent quality.

 

[Stoker]

I would imagine that with the Murano's engine so far back in the engine bay, it would be a tight squeeze on the rear bank of plugs - and what a hassle for Nissan to put them under the intake manifold (you'll need a new manifold gasket if the manifold needs to be removed).

I suggest changing the plugs every 60k. This is not to contradict the service life of the plugs which Nissan claims is 100k, but rather, by the time you accumulate 100k miles, those spark plugs, as Tom and Ray from Cartalk like to say, would have "become one" with the aluminum cylinder head and impossible to remove without stripping the threads. At the very least, remove and reinstall at 60k.

On Maxima.org, we determined there are no better plugs for the VQ than the stock NGK laser platinums. You may try a different heat range depending on your climate, but I would stick with the OEM plugs - they are of excellent quality.

I have used platinum plated plugs for over 15 yrs and have had no difficulty in changing them out at 100K. I must stress that I do not push the envelope when I drive my cars as I challenge myself on engine fuel economy and long life for the engine.

I would agree with EricL that you may want to remove and replace the plugs at 60K. However I would suggest that you put some graphite on the plug threads before they are re-installed, this will ensure that the plugs will come out easily without jamming up on the cylinder threads. The graphite can be picked up at any auto store.:29: :29:

 

[Eric L.]

The graphite Stoker refers to is also commonly called "anti-seize" compound, if that helps. I would expect this to be installed at the factory when the engine is built!

 

[NYT]

On Maxima.org, we determined there are no better plugs for the VQ than the stock NGK laser platinums. You may try a different heat range depending on your climate, but I would stick with the OEM plugs - they are of excellent quality.

I've read a few of your posts indicating tests done on the Maxima.org site suggest the stock NGK double platinum plugs (not laser iridiums) are the best for the MO engine. Do you have a link?

From my understanding iridium is "better" than platinum and the copy from NGK's site (see below) backs this up too. Not sure why I wouldn't use iridium... they're even cheaper on NGK's site too!

"Iridium is a precious metal that is 6 times harder and 8 times stronger than platinum, it has a 1,200(=F) higher melting point than platinum and conducts electricity better. This makes it possible to create the finest wire center electrode ever. Prior till now, platinum had been favored for long life or performance spark plugs due to its high melting point, also the technology did not exist to machine and bond iridium on a spark plug electrode(at least in a cost effective manner). Iridium industrial spark plugs have been around for years, but still sells for over a hundred dollars per plug. Just now is the technology available to effectively use iridium in a spark plug for automotive applications. The strength, hardness and high melting point of iridium allows NGK to manufacture their iridium ultra-fine wire center electrode to 0.7mm. One of the finest firing points in the industry!"

 

[Eric L.]

Those posts were probably over 5 years old, and there were no NGK Iridiums at the time. As long as its an NGK plug that meets or exceeds the factory plug specs, I'd be ok with it. You don't need anymore than the stock NGKs though.

I've read a few of your posts indicating tests done on the Maxima.org site suggest the stock NGK double platinum plugs (not laser iridiums) are the best for the MO engine. Do you have a link?

From my understanding iridium is "better" than platinum and the copy from NGK's site (see below) backs this up too. Not sure why I wouldn't use iridium... they're even cheaper on NGK's site too!

"Iridium is a precious metal that is 6 times harder and 8 times stronger than platinum, it has a 1,200(=F) higher melting point than platinum and conducts electricity better. This makes it possible to create the finest wire center electrode ever. Prior till now, platinum had been favored for long life or performance spark plugs due to its high melting point, also the technology did not exist to machine and bond iridium on a spark plug electrode(at least in a cost effective manner). Iridium industrial spark plugs have been around for years, but still sells for over a hundred dollars per plug. Just now is the technology available to effectively use iridium in a spark plug for automotive applications. The strength, hardness and high melting point of iridium allows NGK to manufacture their iridium ultra-fine wire center electrode to 0.7mm. One of the finest firing points in the industry!"

 

[BikerJohn]

dneast; if you do a search for spark plug chage(something to that nature), there is a step-by-step that someone else has posted on how to do a spark plug change.

You will have to remove the intake manifold and the rear-shroud that forms the wiper-motor area.

Here's a link for the Maxima spark plug change instructions which is very similar to the MO's.

http://www.greghome.com/Greg's Garage/2002MaxSE/SparkPlugReplacement.htm