Question About Spark Plug Wire Installation - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

10gxiong · 02-23-2010, 09:16 PM

Hi guys. I just ordered some NGK spark plug wires and got a new set of NGK spark plugs (OE replacement) for my car since I'm doing a full tune up on the car. The car was bought with 165,000 miles and I don't know how well the previous owner(s) took care of it. I was at Kragen purchasing spark plugs and the guy mentioned something about using some sort of grease for where the spark plug wires connect to spark plug terminal nut. He said its suppose to lock out moisture and stuff... I don't know if there's any truth behind this$1.29 packet of grease so I thought I'd ask you guys about it first before I potentially ruin my investment. I've used antiseize on all my sparkplug threads when I've replaced them on my cars, but I've never heard of using this grease stuff for the terminal nut and wire connection. Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks.

FLIP K1DD · 02-23-2010, 09:18 PM

dont they wires come with the grease packet? i remember putting some on mine when i changed em

10gxiong · 02-23-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLIP K1DD

dont they wires come with the grease packet? i remember putting some on mine when i changed em

I haven't received the wires yet. I just ordered them last night. I'm just wondering if it's a good idea to use that grease stuff or not? Does it really make much of a difference? Is there any benefit to using it?

Chris Crash · 02-23-2010, 09:53 PM

When I bought NGK, they didn't come with anything but the wires.

hill8570 · 02-23-2010, 10:48 PM

It's called dialectric grease. It's a good practice to put a light coating of it on any of the high-voltage metal connections. It helps seal out moisture (high voltage and moisture are a bad combo) and makes it a bit easier to get the connectors off in the future. It's non-conductive, so go easy on it -- just as with anti-seize, a little goes a long way. FWIW, the Toyota OEM wires come with some. OTOH, you can get by without it, so don't stress if you don't have any.

10gxiong · 02-24-2010, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill8570

It's called dialectric grease. It's a good practice to put a light coating of it on any of the high-voltage metal connections. It helps seal out moisture (high voltage and moisture are a bad combo) and makes it a bit easier to get the connectors off in the future. It's non-conductive, so go easy on it -- just as with anti-seize, a little goes a long way. FWIW, the Toyota OEM wires come with some. OTOH, you can get by without it, so don't stress if you don't have any.

Thanks for the info. How would you go about with the coating and where do you coat? A detailed description would be great.

uibalnme · 02-24-2010, 12:57 AM

I've always just applied that grease to the white ceramic insulator of the plug, not on the terminal.

I've actually used anti-seize when I didn't have the dielectric grease. It does the same thing, it prevents the wire boot from sticking to the plug, and seal out moisture.

hill8570 · 02-24-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10gxiong

Thanks for the info. How would you go about with the coating and where do you coat? A detailed description would be great.

You smear a light coating on the ceramic part of the plugs (where the boot would contact), and around the outside of the distributor sockets (if you have a dizzy). Try not to get any on the contacts themselves, but a little bit usually won't hurt.

hill8570 · 02-24-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uibalnme

I've actually used anti-seize when I didn't have the dielectric grease. It does the same thing, it prevents the wire boot from sticking to the plug, and seal out moisture.

I'm somewhat amazed that would work -- most anti-seize is at least somewhat conductive...I'd think that you'd be flirting with flashover down the insulator with that.

uibalnme · 02-24-2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill8570

I'm somewhat amazed that would work -- most anti-seize is at least somewhat conductive...I'd think that you'd be flirting with flashover down the insulator with that.

I only did that twice on two different cars. I didn't have any problems either time. Since then, I always pick up a little pack of dielectric grease when I buy plugs.

Kenny_McCormic · 02-24-2010, 02:34 PM

I always applied a good coat of Mystik JT-6 MP grease to the threads so the plugs come out easy later on.

10gxiong · 02-24-2010, 02:48 PM

Oh, so a thin layer is applied to the insulator. Okay, I understand now. I was confused because I thought that it was suppose to be applied to the terminal and I was wondering why because I thought it would mess up the electrical connection. Thanks for the clarification guys.

hill8570 · 02-24-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny_McCormic

I always applied a good coat of Mystik JT-6 MP grease to the threads so the plugs come out easy later on.

Playing fast and loose there, too. MP grease ain't conductive, so your ground contact for the plug (through the thread / head contact) is not going to be as good as it could be. That's why anti-seize is conductive.

***JohnGD*** · 02-24-2010, 10:21 PM

During the initial installation of spark plugs and boots, at least for good brands like NGK, there is supposedly no need to apply these. However, it's a good idea to use plug anti-seize and boot dielectric grease to aid in removal later.

I also use a torque wrench for the plugs. The metal case of the plug can stretch when overtorqued, cracking the ceramic insulator inside.

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_su...e.asp?mode=nml

I bought small tubes and they last forever:
http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...une-Up_Kit.htm

Often on sale <$15:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...Itemnumber=807

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10gxiong

Hi guys. I just ordered some NGK spark plug wires and got a new set of NGK spark plugs (OE replacement) for my car since I'm doing a full tune up on the car. The car was bought with 165,000 miles and I don't know how well the previous owner(s) took care of it. I was at Kragen purchasing spark plugs and the guy mentioned something about using some sort of grease for where the spark plug wires connect to spark plug terminal nut. He said its suppose to lock out moisture and stuff... I don't know if there's any truth behind this$1.29 packet of grease so I thought I'd ask you guys about it first before I potentially ruin my investment. I've used antiseize on all my sparkplug threads when I've replaced them on my cars, but I've never heard of using this grease stuff for the terminal nut and wire connection. Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks.

FishyMan · 06-27-2010, 03:27 PM

Anybody know of a good and cheap place to buy wire sets for my 97 cam?