billybronco1

After owning my 2005 350Z for seven years I was wondering if I should change the spark plugs. Of course as you know there nowhere to be seen under the hood. So I watched a video on how to do it, and it looks a bit complicated. I wonder if I should tackle the job? The car has 46,000 mi on it and the plugs probably have never been changed.

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

The irridiium NGK or ND plugs are not slated to be replaced until 100K. They're pretty durable and the new NGKs are even more durable, but won't give you more mileage, performance or anything else. Just the usual reliable spark and I wouldn't replace those OEM plugs unless there was a reason to.

bre240z

Yea your good for now. I mean it wouldnt hurt to change them but if they are the oem plugs I would just leave them alone. When the time comes replacing them is not that complicated. You should definitely tackle that job yourself that way you learn a bit about your car.

billybronco1

Okay thanks, something else I do not need to do now. I'm 72 and I won't be alive long enough to put 100K miles on the car. I'm lucky if we put 2K a year on it. I do try to fix anything needed, last year struggled with the top not going down, ended up replacing the 5th bow motor, tight to get at but fixed.

bre240z

You got a low mileage car there. Enjoy it.

icer5160

iTrader: (4)

Hi Billy,

The plug job isn't all that bad. I think you only need to remove the strut tower brace and intake tube. This should give you enough access to pull the coil packs and plugs, no need to remove the intake manifold. As others have stated, there's no need to replace the plugs at this time. If you're really obsessed with keeping things in top condition, I would replace them at 75-80k mi, but these iridium plugs are perfectly capable of last 100k+ mi.

Enjoy your Z! Sounds like you have a clean survivor. Is it an Anniversary edition?
Cheers!
-Icer

billybronco1

Yeah we don't drive it too much but enjoy it when we do. It's pretty much completely stock except for the radio. I bought it 7 years ago with 36,000 mi on it. It's a 2005 I'm not sure if that's an anniversary year or what but it's clean and runs great. I'm 6'2 and can stretch my left leg out all the way which is nice it's hard to find a small sports car that I fit in and can be comfortable this works out good. I do make a few grunts getting out of it though hahaha

bre240z

Billy at the age of 44 soon to hit 45 in september I also make a few grunts getting in and out of the car. Driving it though feels pretty comfortable for me. Im a short guy so that works for me.
Is your Z auto or manual?

billybronco1

As much as I like shifting I decided to go with an automatic. To me especially at this age it's much more pleasurable to drive and relaxing, plus I think the automatic is faster. I had two Miata's and a BMW Z4 before this car that were all standards. Not to mention the 20 plus years of driving Volkswagen bugs, I have had enough shifting. But I still do have one car that I shift, a 1938 Buick.

bre240z

Those Buicks are nice. Its always cool to see the older guys driving Z's out on the road.