How easy is DIY for the spark plugs?

[jadmt]

I just took about 45 minutes and changed my plugs...they looked really good at 39,000 miles...I could have probably left them in for another 10,000 or longer but once I pulled them I just went ahead and changed them. I ordered my plugs from Mazda swag so it ended up costing me $108 and 45 minutes...super easy to do and no rubber hose needed . just a 14mm spark plug socket and an extension....

 

[Mazdiod2]

I think one of the reasons plugs need to be changed is that the metal electrodes erode to the point that the gap is too large to make the electrons jump it, so no spark. Can you tell any difference in the size of the gap between the two plugs?

 

[jadmt]

I think one of the reasons plugs need to be changed is that the metal electrodes erode to the point that the gap is too large to make the electrons jump it, so no spark. Can you tell any difference in the size of the gap between the two plugs?

no difference..both would pass a .028 wire feeler gauge and neither would pass a .030 wire feeler gauge..I am guessing both would pass a .029 but don't have one of those.

 

[TheMAN]

I think it really depends on how you drive the car... mazda conservatively tells you to change at 40k because some people get boost addicted and run the engine hard lol

on a turbo engine, the more boost/harder you run the engine, the faster the spark plugs wear compared to a non-turbo as the cylinder pressures and heat are far greater

if you don't drive your car like you stole it, putt around off boost most of the time, then your spark plugs probably will last as much as the 75k miles the non-turbo recommended change interval is

 

[jadmt]

I think it really depends on how you drive the car... mazda conservatively tells you to change at 40k because some people get boost addicted and run the engine hard lol

on a turbo engine, the more boost/harder you run the engine, the faster the spark plugs wear compared to a non-turbo as the cylinder pressures and heat are far greater

if you don't drive your car like you stole it, putt around off boost most of the time, then your spark plugs probably will last as much as the 75k miles the non-turbo recommended change interval is

I run mine in sport mode much of the time......I am sure there are some that run harder but much of my miles are enjoying the upper regions of the tach....it would be rare that I will keep this car another 50,000 miles but if I do I will be going at least 50,000 miles before I change plugs again..the nice thing tho is they are really simple to change.