Changing spark plugs quick question.

thedoc46

thedoc46

thedoc46

Soldato
Joined
18 Jan 2003
Posts
5,995
Location
Expat in the USA
Hi I'm going to change my plugs on an Audi 1.8T engine. Should I use some form of high temp anti-sieze lubrication on the threads of the new plugs. Or just go-ahead and screw them right in?

If so what type of grease do i get?

Thanks in advance
 
Won't hurt to and it won't hurt not to.

if you have some laying around a smidgin would be good, don't buy any.

Plug siezed on my Alfa, we had to get a scaffold tube on it, the garage phoned me and got me to come down and oversee / try it before it snapped off in the head. Luckily it come out but dissapointing as these were the factory plugs
 
I've never used anything on them either, and never had any issue with them siezing. I think that stems from people who overtighten them, or simply don't change them for years on end.

Don't forget that if you're using a ratchet, you've usually got a fair old lever and can apply quite a bit of torque without much effort, so you really don't need to go to town on them, just do them up so they're tight and leave it at that.
 
maccapacca said:
Won't hurt to and it won't hurt not to.

if you have some laying around a smidgin would be good, don't buy any.

Plug siezed on my Alfa, we had to get a scaffold tube on it, the garage phoned me and got me to come down and oversee / try it before it snapped off in the head. Luckily it come out but dissapointing as these were the factory plugs
Click to expand...

Wow.. must have been a nail biting time watching them try and take it out... What is it a new head if it goes wrong?
 
thedoc46 said:
Wow.. must have been a nail biting time watching them try and take it out... What is it a new head if it goes wrong?
Click to expand...

Easyouts and the possibilty of taking the head off to clean all the swarf out. At worst drilling out and helicoiling, but this was at 60,000 miles.

Turns out that when I had the cambelt changed under warranty as they said 60k but actually changed it to 36k then recalled them all for a belt and tensioner change, it was this plug they use to get TDC so Alfa had taken it out and put it back in already.
 
A bit of copper grease wont do any harm. I had a plug seize on me which took a huge amount of effort to unscrew. When I finally got it out it had took some of the ally threads from the head with it! (was caused by an exhaust valve cracking and that cylinder overheating)

Managed to put a thread chaser through it and salvage it but always use copper slip now.
 
When I replaced the plugs in my 1.25 Fiesta, on the NGK plugs box it said something on the lines of "tighten the plugs to the required torque that is compatiable for your vehicle" what do they mean by this?? I just screwed the new plugs in and tightened them slightly and they seemed to work fine.

Liam
 
Pretty much every nut/bolt on your car will have a reccomended torque setting, some more important than others. The settings are usually in the owners manual or a Haynes manual. You should be fine though. Doesn't sound like you've over/undertightened them.
 
I've always just pinched them tight, and the only time I've had one stick was when one got battered by bits of fire ring as the HG failed.
 
I've always done them hand tight then a quarter turn with the ratchet. I use a bit of copper slip on the threads just to help with removal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom