Spark Plugs - Anti Seize or No?

"Jcarr" (jcarr) 02/16/2016 at 11:15 • Filed to: Plark Spugs

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Time to put new plugs in the Jetta (Mk V, BGP 2.5). Anti seize doesn’t appear to be mandatory in this case and I’ve read opinions that lean both ways. I’ve got a torque wrench so I’m not concerned about over tightening. What do you think Oppo?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:23

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I always do. I haven’t seen/heard of moly or copper breaking down, really. It’s the crush washer that seals, anyway, so the threads should be six of one, half dozen of the other other than torque modification.

64Mali > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:23

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I’ve always done a tiny amount and then proper torque in the midrange of the torque spec.

McMike > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:23

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I do, but only on newer cars with 100K+ mile plug intervals.

Urambo Tauro > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:23

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I always use a little dab of it, but only on the threads, not on the chamfer or washer.

crowmolly > McMike 02/16/2016 at 11:28

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nvm

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:30

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Use the anti-seize paste. it might not be required, but it’s still a good idea. But only put a bit of it on the threads and nowhere else.

Party-vi > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:31

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The point of anti-seize is to prevent the galvanic action from steel threads on aluminum heads making your plugs one with your engine head. I always use anti-seize unless a manufacturer specifically recommends against it.

AM3R shamefully returns > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:34

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I don't, but BMW specifically recommends not to. Check for your specific vehicle.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:40

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I think it depends on the engine. Use it if there’s a sufficient amount of threads to keep the plug in place. If there’s only two or three turns of threads (Ford 4.6l V8), I’d avoid it.

crowmolly > Party-vi 02/16/2016 at 11:43

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Side note, I use it with steel threads even with iron heads.

BigBlock440 > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 11:50

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I’ve never used it. Never had any problems with a spark plug seizing either. Well, one plug on my friends CJ5 that was just used as a run-around at the hunting cabin. But that plug was probably in there 30 years, and the other 5 came out ok.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 12:14

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Yes, unless your manufacturer specifically says no. You’ve either got steel plus aluminium = galvanic corrosion and your plugs become one with the heads or you’ve got steel plus steel = iron oxide and your plugs become one with your heads.

iSureWilll > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 13:08

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Just one small dab on the threads only. Then torque to spec.

Meatcoma > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 15:08

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Yup.

Needmoargarage > Jcarr 02/16/2016 at 16:39

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I would be very careful about using too much. Anti-seize can change your torque readings. As you can imagine, this can either result in cracked heads (over-torquing) or plugs shooting out (under-torquing.)

On most of my cars I use a minuscule amount of high-temp anti-seize unless a quick google search scares me.

BorkBorkBjork > crowmolly 02/16/2016 at 18:07

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That was awfully poetic.