During spark plug change I used a thread lubricant. Does this reduce spark plug performance?

Question

I think the lubricant increases electrical resistance even though it was labelled specifically for spark plug use. Shall i remove the plugs and clean the threads? Is applying lube on plug threads a commonly followed practice or did i get carried away by a well placed product in an auto shop?

Answer 1

Don't worry about it. Electrical contact is also made where the round metal gasket seats, and where the tapered shoulder seats on those plugs without the metal gasket.

Even if lubricant was also on these surfaces, it wouldn't reduce current flow.

I use an anti seize compound on all my spark plugs.

Answer 2

Spark Plug Lubricant

Answer 3

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RE:
During spark plug change I used a thread lubricant. Does this reduce spark plug performance?
I think the lubricant increases electrical resistance even though it was labelled specifically for spark plug use. Shall i remove the plugs and clean the threads? Is applying lube on plug threads a commonly followed practice or did i get carried away by a well placed product in an auto shop?

Answer 4

The Lube you put on is an Anti-Seizing compound, Normally made of graphite. It is a good practice since sometimes those plugs can get stuck in there pretty tight and in the worst case snap off, or strip out the helicoils that hold them in place. As long as you only put the lube on the threads you should be good to go. If you get it on the tip then you might as well go get another one, since it can and will foul out a plug and close the gap in the plug. If you are too worried about electrical resistance then check it with an Ohm meter, the less the better but only on the outer case.

Applying anti-seize is a common practice in the general aviation world where piston driven prop planes are inspected and maintained. If people fly with it then I'm sure that driving with it isn't a problem

Answer 5

I use a copper-based anti-seize lubricant made by LockTite and have never had an electrical problem. Or a problem removing them, either.

Most modern ignition systems deliver 30-40,000 volts to the plugs, so I don't think the electrons would slow down, much if any, for a small bit of A/S lube.

Answer 6

You're fine, all you put on there was anit-seize lubricant. This just prevents the plug from seizing onto the cylinder head which is a bigger problem. As long as you didn't glob a whole bunch on the spark plug tip, you did the correct thing.

Answer 7

The lubricant may be conductive so there is no loss of current with the lube. If it was sold specifically for spark plugs then you shouldn't have a problem.

Answer 8

The lube usually keeps the plugs from sticking when they have to be replaced again. Unlike the old, the newer cars call for plug replacement every 50k miles . This can cause the plugs to seize & become very difficult to remove. As long as you didnt put lube on the electrode It should be Ok. & even if you did it would burn off.

Answer 9

if you got any on the electrode it will burn off the first few times the spark plug fires. better to have some anti-seize on the threads than to have a spark plug seized up in the head, if that happens youd have to rethread the hole.

Answer 10

no id leave it on there it makes the plugs not seize up in the engine,the stuff you used is probably name anti seize,and it works well,id leave it on there,it wont hurt anything at all,and it wont reduce the performance of them at all,good luck on it.