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To use or not to use anti-seize on spark plugs. That is the question

10K views 55 replies 14 participants last post by  Jeepman  
Are we overthinking this just a bit? Use or don't use, your choice.
I use it on plugs and believe I'm reducing the risk of a seized plug or one that rips the threads right out of the head, which is exactly what happened to my brand new, 10 hr in-service Loncin pressure washer motor when I pulled the plug to vacate the hydro-locked piece of junk. The dealer who took it back didn't even seem surprised!!
FWIW, the last coil I replaced was way back when, on my '69 Fargo van.
 
Sure, the manual doesn't spec an anti-seize but then they don't care about engines outside of the warranty period and expect owners to change plugs regularly. I don't change mine very often, on the current '05 3.3 I went something like 230,000km(+/-) before they were changed from the plugs installed at the factory. Never a misfire that wasn't caused by oil on the plug boot of one cylinder (cleaned up, no more misfire) and zero change in fuel economy with the new plugs. The gap was about 1.8 x spec, if I recall correctly. There are a heck of a lot of perfectly serviceable plugs clogging our land fills.
I use a very small amt of never seize whenever I change plugs....basically put a little on, then try and remove the majority, leaving just the lightest trace amt. Few things scare me more than removing very old plugs from awkward locations. I recently changed out a set on a Ford 460 iron head, plugs that hadn't seen the light of day in 34 years and it would have meant scrapping the motorhome if one had broken off, believe me!