<VV> anti seize on plugs

[Ron]

Well, I have always used a good nuclear grade of anti-seize but I also never 
tighten to the book torque values.  I've had one plug thread failure in 35 
years.
RonH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Sethracer at aol.com>
To: <djtcz at comcast.net>; <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 5:05 PM
Subject: <VV> anti seize on plugs


> _djtcz at comcast.net_ (mailto:djtcz at comcast.net)   writes:
>
> Hi  Clark,
>
> I 'd bet a dollar menu cheeseburger the heat transfer is as  good or maybe
> little better with antiseize or grease. I anticipate No problem  with the
> electrical contact needed as a ground connection either.
> Because Clark wrote:
> I have just done an internet search on this topic and nowhere did I find
> any
> info that you shouldn't use it on spark plugs. So, apparently I am 
> wrong!!!
> This is heart breaking as I have never been wrong before!  GRIN
> Clark Hartzel
>
> Good News Clark - You were right - Maybe.
>
> Well - You pay your money and you take your choice.
>
> Here is my take:
> 1- Clean dry threads both on plug and head
> 2- Published Torque value used only when dry.
> 3- If you add anti-seize, watch/read plug temp/heat range. May insulate 
> and
> plug will run hot. Adjust torque values during installation.(downward)
> 4- I use thread inserts on all my spark plug holes, so all bets are off
> anyway! - Seth
>
> But in case anybody cares:
>
> - Advice from the plug guys
>
>
> Autolite
> We do not recommend the use of any anti  seize products for installing
> spark  plugs. Anti-seize compounds are typically composed of metallic,
> electrically conductive ingredients. If anti seize compounds come in 
> contact  with
> the core nose of the plugs, it can lead to a misfire condition. Anti seize
> compounds can also have a torque multiplying effect when installing plugs.
> This  can lead to thread distortion and thread galling resulting in 
> cylinder
> head  damage. Autolite spark plugs are  nickel plated to resist the 
> effects
> of corrosion and seizing. However, plug  seizure is aggravated further 
> when
> steel plugs are installed into aluminum  cylinder heads for a long period 
> of
> time.
>
> AC/Delco
> Do not use any type of anti-seize compound on  spark plug threads. Doing
> this will  decrease the amount of friction between the threads. The result 
> of
> the lowered  friction is that when the spark plug is  torqued to the 
> proper
> specification, the spark  plug is turned too far into the cylinder  head.
> This increases the likelihood of pulling or stripping the threads  in the
> cylinder head. Over-tightening of  a spark plug can cause stretching of 
> the
> spark plug shell and could allow blowby  to pass through the gasket seal
> between the shell and insulator. Over-tightening  also results in 
> extremely
> difficult removal.
>
> Champion
> The  following material is excerpted from the Champion Spark Plug 
> Handbook.
> Champion spark plug  shells (the threaded part) use an extruded steel to
> maintain exact tolerances.  The extruded shell goes through a cold rolling
> process to form the threads. This  prevents sharp edges which could cut 
> new
> threads into aluminum cylinder heads. Once  the shell is formed and 
> threaded,
> it is zinc-plated to extend its life and  reduce the chances of seizure in
> aluminum cylinder heads. Our  latest technology combines Tin Tac" and
> ULTRASEAL'M coatings over the plating to  further reduce corrosion and 
> seizure.
> Champion recommends that you do not use an  anti-seize compound, since one 
> has
> already been applied to the plugs at the  factory.
>
> Intrigued, I went a-googling for any information I could  find from NGK on
> this topic. I found this excellent Canadian  website that lists the 
> complete
> set of NGK Technical Bulletins. According to the  Bulletin, NGK states 
> that
> all their plugs are manufactured with a special metal  shell (trivalent)
> plating to prevent damage to the cylinder head. For  plugs with this 
> special
> metal plating, anti-seize is not recommended during  installation. 
> Applying
> anti-seize to these plugs will cause the installer to  mistakenly 
> over-torque
> the plug in the cylinder  head stretching the metal between the last 
> thread
> and the seal between  the cylinder head and plug. This  increases the
> probability that the spark plug will  either break during installation or 
> upon
> removal.
>
> For plugs without a  special metal shell plating, NGK advises the use of
> anti-seize and provides  photos of unplated plugs installed without 
> anti-seize
> where the steel threads  have bonded with the aluminum in the cylinder 
> head
> requiring replacement or repair of the head.
>
> Denso also  warns against the use of anti-seize in their Spark Plug
> Installation instructions:
> "If a  thread lubricant such as grease is coated on the thread, tightening
> to the  recommended torque is tightening too much; this has been linked to
> seal leakage.  Do not use a thread lubricant."
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