On the XA40 RAV4, the 2.5L 2AR-FE is one of the friendlier four-cylinders for plugs. The coils sit right on top of the valve cover under a plastic cover, each held by one 10 mm bolt, and the plugs go straight down into the head. There is no intake manifold to pull and no coil pack plumbing to fight, so most people are done inside an hour with a 5/8 in plug socket, a 10 mm socket and a couple of extensions.
Factory interval is 120,000 miles on the iridium plugs, though many owners change them at 90-100k if they see a rough idle or slight hesitation. The one thing people get wrong is torque: these thread into an aluminum head, and either cranking them down by feel or leaving them loose causes problems. Use a torque wrench at 18 ft-lb, thread the plugs in by hand first, and blow the wells out before you open them.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Socket set, 3/8 in drive 10 mm 6-point socket, 3/8 in drive Removes the four ignition coil retaining bolts and any engine cover fasteners. | Required | shop |
| Ratchet 3/8 in drive, standard length Drives the coil bolts and plug socket. | Required | shop |
| Spark plug socket 5/8 in (16 mm), 3/8 in drive, magnetic or rubber insert, thin wall Only socket that fits the deep plug wells and holds the plug so it does not drop. | Required | shop |
| Extensions 3/8 in drive, 3 in and 6 in Reaches the plugs down in the cylinder head wells and clears the cowl at the rear plugs. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-50 ft-lb range Sets plug torque in the aluminum head; iridium plugs are easy to over-tighten. | Required | shop |
| Compressed air or vacuum with nozzle Blow gun or shop vac crevice tool Clears dirt and grit out of the plug wells so nothing falls into the cylinder. | Required | shop |
| Trim removal tool set Plastic pry tools Pops the engine cover clips/caps and releases coil connector locks without breaking them. | Recommended | shop |
| Swivel/wobble extension 3/8 in drive wobble extension or universal joint Helps angle onto the firewall-side coil bolt if access is tight. | Recommended | shop |
| Spark plug gap gauge Wire-type or feeler gauge, 1.1 mm (0.043 in) Verify factory gap on new plugs without prying on the iridium tip. | Recommended | shop |
| Dielectric grease Silicone dielectric compound Light film inside the coil boots to prevent sticking and arcing. | Consumables | shop |
| Shop rags and brake/electrical cleaner Wipe oil and debris off the valve cover before opening the wells. | Consumables | shop |
| Spark plugs Denso SC20HR11 iridium (or NGK ILKAR7B11) x4, 14 mm thread, 16 mm hex OE-spec long-life iridium plugs for the 2AR-FE. | Parts | shop |
| Safety glasses Protects eyes when blowing debris out of the plug wells. | Safety | shop |
| Mechanic's gloves Engine bay edges and warm components. | Safety | shop |
North American XA40 RAV4s are 2.5L 2AR-FE only, so sizes are identical across trims. The 2016-2018 RAV4 Hybrid (2AR-FXE) uses the same 5/8 in plug socket, 10 mm coil bolts and the same iridium plug spec, just with the hybrid high-voltage warnings in mind. Overseas 2.0L 3ZR-FE/valvematic engines also use a 16 mm hex plug and 10 mm coil bolts, while the 2.0/2.2 D-4D diesels have no spark plugs at all (glow plugs instead).
| Spark plug (2AR-FE, aluminum head) | 18 ft-lb (25 Nm) |
| Ignition coil mounting bolt | 7 ft-lb (10 Nm) |
| Engine cover bolt/nut | Snug only, approx. 5 ft-lb (7 Nm) |
The 5/8 in (16 mm) plug socket, 10 mm coil bolts, 18 ft-lb plug torque and Denso SC20HR11 plug are correct for the US 2.5L 2AR-FE RAV4; confirm the exact plug part number against your VIN at the parts counter.
Denso SC20HR11 iridium (Toyota part 90919-01253) or the NGK equivalent ILKAR7B11, gapped at about 1.1 mm (0.043 in). All four are the same, and they come pre-gapped from the box.
Toyota's interval is 120,000 miles for the iridium plugs on the 2AR-FE. If you drive a lot of short trips or tow, changing them around 90,000-100,000 miles is reasonable.
No. On the 2AR-FE the plugs are vertical in the top of the head under the coils, so you only remove the plastic engine cover and the four coils. That's what makes this job much easier than on a V6.
A 5/8 in (16 mm) spark plug socket in 3/8 in drive, ideally thin-wall with a magnet or rubber retainer, plus a 3 in and 6 in extension. The ignition coil bolts are 10 mm.