Anti-seize and those who have no idea on when to use it....

[Jim Goose]

Rattle guns on plugs? or on wheel nuts????

[Bobman]

I've always put a smidge of it on new spark plug threads. Never had a problem and I've owned many cars & done 1000s of services over the years.

You're lucky the spark plug didn't break in two. That's not fun at all and yes, people who don't put it on or over-tighten spark plugs are fools.

[Matt47569]

she'll be right mate.. *sets rattle gun to 70000 newton metres and fuses the spark plugs into the head*

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Rattle guns on plugs? or on wheel nuts????

Wheel nuts.

Torque those suckers up to 800 ft/lbs.

No but seriously, they're supposed to be put on, then tightened up to 110nm with a torque wrench, people just do them up with the impact gun, then go over them again, they get tightened to WELL PAST 110nm this way.

[Matt47569]

it's a pain in the *** i always loosen them back off and re tighten by hand.. so if i ever get a flat tyre on the side of the road i dont need a damn 6ft breaker bar to change my wheel i can do it right then and there by myself

[Spanrz]

I use a copper based anti seize all the time.
The only problem that you have to worry about the application it gets used on, is the torque spec of the bolt is changed. If it's a head bolt, you can possibly torque it down, but go past it's yield strength (without knowing it).

Spark plugs "do not" need anti seize. They are designed for a specific torque value (to squash a washer seal or the tapered seat).
If you do use anti seize, chances for a stripped thread are highly likely.

Mainly used for exhaust studs/manifolds. Even then, sometimes it doesn't work.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by Matt47569

it's a pain in the *** i always loosen them back off and re tighten by hand.. so if i ever get a flat tyre on the side of the road i dont need a damn 6ft breaker bar to change my wheel i can do it right then and there by myself

As I stated earlier, you have to think before you act. Use the jack to loosen tight nuts. Brains does sometimes overcome brawn.

[[Tonko]]

I had 3 of 6 spark plugs snap off on the EB when i did them, and all 8 on the XC.

The guy that fitted the 2 rims on the EB (admittedly the cheapest in town) let his 1st day apprentice use the rattle gun. 4 snapped threads.
And it was my fault apparently because they check the torque setting every 30 mins :/

[Jim Goose]

If you do use anti seize, chances for a stripped thread are highly likely.

Er please do explain....

[holland_ford]

when i was in tafe they always told me to use some sort of compound on sparkplugs everytime

[Peter B - CV8]

I've never used anti seize - but I do remove, inspect & clean my plugs every 20,000k's (even though the manufacturer says they have a service life of 90,000).
I think a lot of these so called "overtightened plug" problems aren't in fact from an overtightened plug. It is in fact from a build up of carbon & other material on the electrode end of the plug (ie on the end threads) that cause the plug to bind - somtimes quite severly.
There are a few causes for "plug binding" ie: using poor quality fuel - leading to increased fouling in the combustion chamber, using the wrong heat range plug, incorrect mixture (pretty rare in todays modern cars) & leaving plugs in for too long.

[ebxr8240]

Why are plugs being so over tightened ?? Esp with tapper plugs ??
I use some sort of A/S on my alloy heads but not every time I fit them...
I tend to use the TTY method and some common sense .. Which I is NOT very common these days!!!!!

[rex351]

I always use anti sieze on plugs but only a below the 2nd thread, and then only a small smear so it doesn't end up on electrodes. In my old job as LAME on piston engined aircraft it was mandatory. Lycoming and Continental specify it in their maintenance data. We never had a problem with binding plugs unless somebody (ie pilot) changed a plug and never used anything on the threads.