YACT: Use anti-seize on spark plugs?

Fine, you guys are right, I am wrong, what ever you say

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Roger
I am a professional Tech and I never use it, I'll tell you why, Antisieze inhibits the heat transfer from the plug to the cylinder head, this causes the plug to run much hotter than normal.
If you change your plugs when required by your maintenance schedule, you will have no problem removing them.

There's a bout 10-15 instructors at the University of Northwestern-Ohio with 15-40 years experience in the field who disagree with you.

GEARHED FIGHT!!! GEARHEAD FIGHT!!!!!

My Helms manual for my Honda indicates the use of anti sieze if I am not mistaken.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Roger

It's recommended by all manufacturers that you use anti-seize compound when installing plugs in aluminum cylinder heads.

Not only inaccurate, but incorrect as well.

Not one vehicle manufacturer recommends Antisieze on spark plug threads, may I ask where you got this information from ?

Not that this site is by any means an authority on the subject, but... here

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Roger

what a fvcknut?!!?

Must you be so rude ?

Did something crawl up your a$$ and die ?

Scan the document and show me.

As you wish...but this all probably has to do a lot with as an A.S.E. Technician you have so much time to post during the day.

Anyways...you have posted wrong info in the past regardless of how many you've helped....sorry for the personal attack though.

page155_96SaturnVol1.jpg

(fixed the badly compressed image....I don't know why that happened)
Nothing really crawled into me other than A.S.E. Technicians in my past who thought they were God's gift to cars and why I do my own work and have my own tools.

I can scan Haynes and Chilton's also if ya like.

 

[Thoreau]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: CraigRT
I never use it.. I change my spark plugs every other oil change and I just use di-electric on the spark plugs (where they connect to the wire)

at that rate anti-seize should not be needed
also the boots on my plugs completely cover the hole so that nothing should be able to get into the spark plug area anyhow

Why do you replace them that frequently? Maybe you need platinums!

That's what I was thinking. I change mine every 60k at the earliest.

Platinum tipped plugs here. I've never kept a car for much over 30k miles, so I have yet to change any out... let alone as frequently as every other oil change (which in Arizona is approximately 3k miles.)

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: LAUST

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: LAUST
yes use it, with my setup I go through plugs every year due to the heat from the blower, they come out nice and easy every time

Ditto with my turbo motor, plugs come out like I just torqued them every time.

Can you imagine the poor sap who puts forced on one of the 5.7 HEMI's? they not only look PAINFUL to get to from lookin at the engine (shoehorn), but they got SIXTEEN of em :Q

Yeah, that twin spark setup sounds great and all, but 16 spark plugs? Changing them must be a chore I'm happy with the 4 that sit right in front of me everytime I pop the hood

 

[Jeff7181]

It is important to note though that you shouldn't use just any anti-seize compound... only the high temp stuff. Otherwise it'll act more like thread lock =)

This is the stuff I use

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Roger

what a fvcknut?!!?

Must you be so rude ?

Did something crawl up your a$$ and die ?

Scan the document and show me.

As you wish...but this all probably has to do a lot with as an A.S.E. Technician you have so much time to post during the day.

page155_96SaturnVol1.jpg

Nothing really crawled into me other than A.S.E. Technicians in my past who thought they were God's gift to cars and why I do my own work and have my own tools.

I can scan Haynes and Chilton's also if ya like.

You may be right. But thier is no need for personal attacks. You should apologize to Roger for the insult. Roger has helped a lot of people on this forum and he is generally dead on, some would say a Jedi master type with all things automotive.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Roger
I am a professional Tech and I never use it, I'll tell you why, Antisieze inhibits the heat transfer from the plug to the cylinder head, this causes the plug to run much hotter than normal.
If you change your plugs when required by your maintenance schedule, you will have no problem removing them.

There's a bout 10-15 instructors at the University of Northwestern-Ohio with 15-40 years experience in the field who disagree with you.

Well I can tell you from the engineers I worked with at two of the big three they do not recommend any coating on the spark plug threads because it can insulate the plugs causing it to run hotter than intended. I have seen several test engines showing failed spark plugs do to overheating. If you change your plugs every 30K you may never see this effect, but on longer intervals it does affect the plug.

Plus as Ford tech of sixteen years I never once saw a factory repair manual recommend anti-seize when replacing the spark plugs.

And I suppose these instructors also told you than mineral based oil loses it viscosity after 3000 miles.

 

[Jeff7181]

CraigRT... do you change your plugs every other oil change because you have nothing better to do, or because they need it? If they need it, you have some serious engine problems... I can only imagine how bad the tops of your pistons must look if that's the case.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Roger
I am a professional Tech and I never use it, I'll tell you why, Antisieze inhibits the heat transfer from the plug to the cylinder head, this causes the plug to run much hotter than normal.
If you change your plugs when required by your maintenance schedule, you will have no problem removing them.

There's a bout 10-15 instructors at the University of Northwestern-Ohio with 15-40 years experience in the field who disagree with you.

Well I can tell you from the engineers I work with at two of the big three they do not recommend any coating on the spark plug thread because it can insulate the plugs causing it to run hotter than intended. I have seen several test engines showing failed spark plugs do to overheating. If you change your plugs every 30K you may never see this effect, but on longer intervals it does affect the plug.

Plus as Ford tech of sixteen years I never once saw a factory repair manual recommend anti-seize when replacing the spark plugs.

And I suppose these instructors also told you than mineral based oil loses it viscosity after 3000 miles.

Do those engineers recommend you wash your spark plugs before installing them then? A lot of spark plug manufacturers already put an anti-seize compound on the threads... Champion being one of them.

This thread was about spark plugs... but since you're trying to be a smartass and brought up oil... no... it never loses it's viscosity... the additive package breaks down over time... that's why you change your oil... not because it "loses it's viscosity."

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Roger
I am a professional Tech and I never use it, I'll tell you why, Antisieze inhibits the heat transfer from the plug to the cylinder head, this causes the plug to run much hotter than normal.
If you change your plugs when required by your maintenance schedule, you will have no problem removing them.

There's a bout 10-15 instructors at the University of Northwestern-Ohio with 15-40 years experience in the field who disagree with you.

Well I can tell you from the engineers I worked with at two of the big three they do not recommend any coating on the spark plug threads because it can insulate the plugs causing it to run hotter than intended. I have seen several test engines showing failed spark plugs do to overheating. If you change your plugs every 30K you may never see this effect, but on longer intervals it does affect the plug.

Plus as Ford tech of sixteen years I never once saw a factory repair manual recommend anti-seize when replacing the spark plugs.

And I suppose these instructors also told you than mineral based oil loses it viscosity after 3000 miles.

Are they referring to ALUMINUM heads????

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Roger
I am a professional Tech and I never use it, I'll tell you why, Antisieze inhibits the heat transfer from the plug to the cylinder head, this causes the plug to run much hotter than normal.
If you change your plugs when required by your maintenance schedule, you will have no problem removing them.

There's a bout 10-15 instructors at the University of Northwestern-Ohio with 15-40 years experience in the field who disagree with you.

Well I can tell you from the engineers I work with at two of the big three they do not recommend any coating on the spark plug thread because it can insulate the plugs causing it to run hotter than intended. I have seen several test engines showing failed spark plugs do to overheating. If you change your plugs every 30K you may never see this effect, but on longer intervals it does affect the plug.

Plus as Ford tech of sixteen years I never once saw a factory repair manual recommend anti-seize when replacing the spark plugs.

And I suppose these instructors also told you than mineral based oil loses it viscosity after 3000 miles.

Do those engineers recommend you wash your spark plugs before installing them then? A lot of spark plug manufacturers already put an anti-seize compound on the threads... Champion being one of them.

No they do not, but champion is one of the worst plug on the market, except for a Chrysler vehicle, and I won't put it pass them to use it as a marketing ploy. I prefer AC Delco to Champion any day.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: tnitsuj



You may be right. But thier is no need for personal attacks. You should apologize to Roger for the insult. Roger has helped a lot of people on this forum and he is generally dead on, some would say a Jedi master type with all things automotive.

K apology made in original flaming type post....still Roger should have known better as an A.S.E tech to make a blanket statement like that.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Roger
I am a professional Tech and I never use it, I'll tell you why, Antisieze inhibits the heat transfer from the plug to the cylinder head, this causes the plug to run much hotter than normal.
If you change your plugs when required by your maintenance schedule, you will have no problem removing them.

There's a bout 10-15 instructors at the University of Northwestern-Ohio with 15-40 years experience in the field who disagree with you.

Well I can tell you from the engineers I worked with at two of the big three they do not recommend any coating on the spark plug threads because it can insulate the plugs causing it to run hotter than intended. I have seen several test engines showing failed spark plugs do to overheating. If you change your plugs every 30K you may never see this effect, but on longer intervals it does affect the plug.

Plus as Ford tech of sixteen years I never once saw a factory repair manual recommend anti-seize when replacing the spark plugs.

And I suppose these instructors also told you than mineral based oil loses it viscosity after 3000 miles.

Are they referring to ALUMINUM heads????

Yep, Ford started testing this after reports of the 4.6L & 5.4L V8s having spark plugs coming loose. Every cylinder head and spark plug return to testing had anti-seize on them, from a dealership repair.

 

[StageLeft]

man I really didn't think this thread would start a debate, but then anything on anandtech does I guess *shrug*

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
man I really didn't think this thread would start a debate, but then anything on anandtech does I guess *shrug*

Leave it to you to start a something like this.

 

[slag]

I always use antiseize on my engines. From jetskis, to minibikes, to lawnmowers, to cars/trucks, you name it, I use antiseize on it.

Never had a problem with it, but have seen the effects of someone not using it.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Are they referring to ALUMINUM heads????

Yep, Ford started testing this after reports of the 4.6L & 5.4L V8s having spark plugs coming loose. Every cylinder head and spark plug return to testing had anti-seize on them, from a dealership repair.[/quote]

To me this would be a torque issue.....

All I know is I have pulled probably 3 sparkplugs from cool aluminum heads and had the threads come with them.

I have never had a sparkplug come loose with antiseize or otherwise of the mostly aluminum headed cars I have owned and maintained the last 16 years.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Are they referring to ALUMINUM heads????

Yep, Ford started testing this after reports of the 4.6L & 5.4L V8s having spark plugs coming loose. Every cylinder head and spark plug return to testing had anti-seize on them, from a dealership repair.

To me this would be a torque issue.....

All I know is I have pulled probably 3 sparkplugs from cool aluminum heads and had the threads come with them.

I have never had a sparkplug come loose with antiseize or otherwise of the mostly aluminum headed cars I have owned and maintained the last 16 years.[/quote]I thought that too, unitl I saw the test results where engines without coating on the plugs had no problems, but the engine with coating on the plugs came loose after 100+ hours of use.

And these were engines set up to test just that theory.

 

As you wish...but this all probably has to do a lot with as an A.S.E. Technician you have so much time to post during the day.

It's a$$hats like you that make me stop and think why I bother to help people with thier vehicle problems here at anandtech.

You don't know squat about me, so keep your big mouth shut.

I have time to post here because I own a repair shop, In the past I have worked for the following automobile manufacturers as a master technician, I have been in the business since 1984 ;

Chevrolet
Oldsmobile
Pontiac
Buick
Saturn
GMC
Honda
Saab
Toyota
Nissan
Subaru
Roll Royce
Cadallac

Every single one has specified through thier TSB's (Technical Service Bullitens) not to use Antisieze on spark plug threads, I don't care if you have a PHD, this is DIRECTLY from the vehicle manufacturers.


It's just not worth my time and effort anymore to try to help members here with thier problems anymore, so I leave it up to the professional (alkemyst) to do this from now on.

Good Luck

 

[alkemyst]

right some may have put out a TSB, but I really doubt it was on their aluminum headed cars, regardless more than likely if they did it was to prevent free service calls more than keeping the head/engine protected.

We disagreed before and I didn't bring forth proof and I let it die.....this time the risk for engine damage was more serious.

I am not saying you are a good mechanic or bad one and owning your own shop or doing it for 20 years doesn't mean anything.

I have witnessed aluminum heads ruined because of no anti-seize compound, on a cast iron head probably not needed ever.

Your last post is a cry to get the AT'ers to rally against me....that's really nice, but whatever...if you read above I apologized, and again sorry for getting you so tweeked over a petty issue.