Grease for spark plugs and coils

Lubricant for spark plugs can be of two types, the first dielectric, designed to increase protection against possible electrical breakdown of insulation during operation. It is applied to the inner rim of their protective cap or to the insulator in close proximity to the nut on the body (however, it cannot be applied to the contact head because it is dielectric). also, grease is often used to apply high-voltage wire insulation, cap tips and ignition coils. Here it serves to increase the value of its resistance (especially true if the wires are old and / or the car is operated in a humid climate). In the instructions for replacing spark plugs, the use of such a protective lubricant is suggested at any time and depending on conditions.

And the second, the so-called "Anti-Seize", from sticking threaded connection. Can be used for spark plug threads, but is often used for glow plugs or diesel injectors. Such a lubricant is not a dielectric, but a conductive one. usually it is a ceramic grease, less often with a metal filling. These two types of lubricants are fundamentally different, so you should not confuse them. Many car owners in this context are interested in the question of how to choose the right dielectric grease for candles? What to pay attention to in this case? Previously, technical petroleum jelly was used for such purposes, but at present there are quite a lot of different similar samples on the market, which are widely used by domestic drivers. We will tell you what requirements a dielectric lubricant must meet to protect against breakdown, and we will also compile a list of the most popular and effective ones according to reviews. And also mention the "non-stick lubricant".

Name of funds	Description and features	Packing volume and price*
Molykote 111	One of the best compounds for candles and tips. Compatible with plastics and polymers. Provides excellent dielectric and moisture protection. Has a very long shelf life. Recommended by automakers such as BMW, Honda, Jeep and other companies - manufacturers of various equipment. Great choice, the only drawback is the high price.	100 grams - 1400 rubles.
Dow Corning 4 Silicone Compound	The compound is a thermo-, chemically and frost-resistant composition. It is used for hydro- and electrical insulation of elements of the car ignition system. Currently marketed under the Dowsil 4 brand. Can be used in food processing systems.	100 grams - 1300 rubles.
PERMATEX Dielectric Tune-Up Grease	Professional grade lubricant. Can be used not only in candles, but also in the battery, distributor, headlights, candles and so on. Excellent protection against moisture and electrical breakdowns. this product is not recommended for use in machines or systems using pure oxygen and/or oxygen in impurities, or other strong oxidizers.	85 grams - 2300 rubles, 9,4 grams - 250 rubles.
MS 1650	This grease is an anti-corrosion and non-stick compound (not insulating), and is designed to protect candles from sticking. It has an extremely wide temperature range of application — -50°С…1200°С.	5 grams - 60 rubles.
I TAKE ZKF 01	It is applied inside the tip or on the spark plug insulator (not on the electrical contact). Absolutely safe for rubber and elastomers, which are made of some machined parts in the engine ignition system or fuel injector seals.	10 grams - 750 rubles.
FLUORINE GREASE	A fluorine-based lubricant that has gained its popularity due to the fact that it is recommended by the well-known automaker Renault. There is a special lubricant for domestic VAZs in this line. Lubrication is distinguished by a very high price.	100 grams - 5300 rubles.
Mercedes Benz Lubricating Grease	Special grease produced for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Very high quality, but rare and expensive product. Its use is only for premium cars (not only Mercedes, but others as well). A significant drawback is the very high price and delivery on order from Germany.	10 grams - 800 rubles. (about 10 euros)
Molykote G-5008	Silicone dielectric plastic heat-resistant grease. Can be used to protect spark plug caps in cars. Excellent performance, can be used in polluted (dusty) environments. A feature is the possibility of its use only with professional equipment, that is, in car services (the weighed mass is critical). Therefore, it cannot be used in garage conditions. But the service station is highly recommended.	18,1 kg, price — n/a

*The cost is indicated as of autumn 2018 in rubles.

Lubricant requirements for spark plugs

Grease for plugs and coils should never contain metals, be dense, elastic (consistency according to NLGI: 2), withstand both low and fairly high temperatures. During operation, it is exposed to various temperatures, high voltage, as well as mechanical vibrations, the influence of water and other oxidizing agents. So, firstly, the lubricant composition is applied to the elements of the ignition system, operating at a temperature of approximately from -30°C to +100°C and above. Secondly, a very high voltage current (namely, about 40 kV) flows in the ignition system. Thirdly, constant mechanical vibrations caused by the natural movement of the car. Fourthly, a certain amount of moisture, debris, which, among other things, can become a current conductor, gets into the engine compartment to varying degrees, that is, the task of lubrication is to exclude such a phenomenon.

Therefore, ideally, such a sealant for electrical contacts should not only withstand the listed external causes, but also have the following performance characteristics:

• high dielectric properties (high value of the insulation resistance of the frozen composition);
• full compatibility with elastomers used for the insulation of high-voltage wires, as well as ceramics, from which the insulators of spark plugs / glow plugs are made;
• withstand exposure to high voltage (up to 40 kV in most cases);
• transmission of electrical impulses with minimal losses;
• not affect the operation of the radio-electronic equipment of the car;
• ensuring a high level of tightness;
• as long as possible the service life of the frozen composition (preservation of its operational characteristics);
• a wide range of operating temperatures (both not cracking during significant frosts, and not “blurring” at high operating temperatures of the internal combustion engine, even in the warm season).

At present, silicone dielectric grease is widely used as a lubricant for candles, candle tips, ignition coils, high-voltage wires and other elements of the car ignition system. The choice of silicone as the basis of the mentioned composition is due to the fact that it does not lose its performance characteristics in a wide temperature range, repels water well, is flexible and has a high value of insulation resistance.

In addition, protective caps are used in the ignition system of modern cars. They are made of rubber, plastic, ebonite, silicone. Silicone caps are considered the most modern. And just silicone grease can be used to protect them from harmful external factors and from the breakdown of an accidental spark due to their contamination.

Rating of popular lubricants

The range of domestic car dealerships offers a fairly wide selection of different breakdown lubricants for spark plugs. However, before you buy this or that remedy, you need to carefully familiarize yourself not only with its composition, but also with the effectiveness and features of the application. On the Internet, there are many reviews and tests conducted by car enthusiasts. Our team has collected information that allows you to figure out whether to buy this or that lubricant for spark plug caps.

the following is a rating of the most popular products among domestic motorists used to lubricate candles, caps, high-voltage wires and other elements of the car's ignition system. The rating does not claim to be completely objective, however, we hope that it will help you choose such a tool. If you have your own opinion on this matter or have used other lubricants, share it in the comments.

Molykote 111

The first place is occupied by the well-known universal silicone frost-, heat- and chemical-resistant compound Molykote 111, designed for lubrication, sealing and electrical insulation of various parts and not only. The scope of this lubricant is extremely wide, and is also used for high-voltage equipment. The compound is not washed off with water, resistant to chemically aggressive compounds, has high anticorrosion and dielectric properties. Compatible with most plastics and polymers. can also be used in equipment related to gas, food water supply, food production. Temperature range of use - from -40°С to +204°С.

Real tests have shown very good performance properties of the lubricant. It reliably protects candles from breakdown for a long time. By the way, the lubricant is recommended for use by such famous automakers as BMW, Honda, Jeep, as well as other companies. Perhaps the only drawback of Molikote 111 spark plug grease is its high price.

It is sold on the market in packages of various volumes - 100 grams, 400 grams, 1 kg, 5 kg, 25 kg, 200 kg. The most popular package of 100 grams in the fall of 2018 costs approximately 1400 rubles.

1

Dow Corning 4 Silicone Compound

It is a silicone frost-, heat- and chemical-resistant translucent compound (according to the definition, it is a mixture of non-chemical compounds, the definition is used mainly by foreign manufacturers), which can be used for both electrical insulation and waterproofing elements of the car ignition system. Dow Corning 4 Resin can be used to process spark plug caps. It can also be applied in other areas. For example, using this composition, it is possible to process accumulators of jet skis, oven doors in the food industry, pneumatic valves, applied to plugs in underwater communications, and so on.

Please note that the name Dow Corning 4 is obsolete, although it can also be found ubiquitously on the Internet. The manufacturer is currently producing a similar composition, but under the name Dowsil 4.

The advantages of the compound include: a wide operating temperature range, from -40°C to +200°C (frost resistance and heat resistance), resistance to chemically aggressive media, water, compatible with most plastics and elastomers, has high dielectric properties. In addition, the lubricant does not have a drop point, which means that the material does not melt or flow when heated. Based on an inorganic thickener. NLGI Consistency Grade 2. Has NSF/ANSI 51 (may be used in food processing equipment) and NSF/ANSI 61 (may be used in potable water) approvals. Real tests have shown the high effectiveness of the composition, so it is definitely recommended for purchase.

It is sold in various package sizes - 100 grams, 5 kg, 25 kg, 199,5 kg. However, the most popular packaging, for obvious reasons, is a 100-gram tube. With all the effectiveness of the composition, its basic drawback is the high price, which in the fall of 2018 is about 1300 rubles.

2

PERMATEX Dielectric Tune-Up Grease

also one very effective professional grade dielectric grease that is designed to handle a variety of electrical contacts and connectors is Permatex. Car owners use it to insulate wiring, spark plugs, lamp bases, battery connectors, contacts in car headlights and lamps, on distributor cover connectors, and so on. It can also be used for similar purposes in the home. Has a temperature range from -54°С to +204°С. Note! this product is not recommended for use in machines or systems using pure oxygen and/or oxygen in impurities, or other strong oxidizers. The packaging should be stored within the temperature range from +8°С to +28°С.

On the Internet you can find a lot of positive reviews about PERMATEX Dielectric Grease. It well protects the surface treated by it, both from water and from the breakdown of electrical insulation. Therefore, it is recommended for use both in garage conditions and in car service conditions.

It is sold in a variety of packages - 5 grams, 9,4 grams, 85 grams (tube) and 85 grams (aerosol can). The articles of the last two packages are 22058 and 81153, respectively. Their price for the specified period is about 2300 rubles. Well, a small tube of lubrication of candles and ignition system connections, which has a catalog number 81150, will cost 250 rubles.

3

MS 1650

Good domestic anti-corrosion and non-stick ceramic grease for mounting injectors, spark plugs and glow plugs from the company VMPAUTO. Its uniqueness lies in its very high temperature resistance, namely, the maximum temperature is +1200°C, and the minimum is -50°C. Please note that she does not have insulating properties, but only facilitates the installation and dismantling of injectors, spark plugs and glow plugs. That is, it simply prevents threaded connections from seizing, welding and sticking of parts surfaces to each other, prevents corrosion and moisture penetration into the space between parts (especially important for threaded connections). In addition to machine technology, this tool can be used in other places and equipment.

Testing of the paste showed that it has good performance characteristics. In fact, the declared temperature of +1200°C is very rare, so we could not find such tests. However, reports show that the grease withstands temperatures of +400°С ... +500°С easily and in the long term, which is already enough with a large margin.

Sold in a small package of 5 grams. Its article is 1920. Its price is 60 rubles, respectively.

4

I TAKE ZKF 01

This is a high temperature white spark plug grease. It has excellent electrical insulating properties. Operating temperature range is from -40°С to +290°С. It is applied inside the tip or on the spark plug insulator (not on the electrical contact). Absolutely safe for rubber and elastomers, which are made of some machined parts in the engine ignition system or fuel injector seals.

Numerous positive reviews about the Beru candle lubricant suggest that although it is expensive, it is highly effective. Therefore, if possible, you can safely buy and use it. also, the Renault automaker itself, when replacing candles or candle tips, in addition to its proprietary dielectric lubricant FLUORINE GREASE, suggests using its analogue, and this is Beru ZKF 01 (do not confuse it with the lubricant threads of glow plugs and injectors GKF 01). The composition is sold in a small tube weighing 10 grams. The article of the ZKF01 package in the manufacturer's catalog is 0890300029. The price of such a package is about 750 rubles.

5

FLUORINE GREASE

It is a high-density fluorine-containing (perfluoropolyether, PFPE) spark plug lubricant that has gained popularity among Western car owners due to being recommended by the famous French automaker Renault. Therefore, it was originally intended for cars manufactured under this brand. It is also used in domestic VAZs. This grease is better known as Fluostar 2L.

The instructions are to apply a 2 mm diameter bead of grease around the inner circumference of the high voltage wire cap or separate ignition coil. The temperature range of FLUORINE GREASE is rather weak for domestic latitudes, namely, it ranges from -20°С to +260°С, that is, the composition may freeze in winter.

a little bit of feedback suggests that the lubricant has quite good, but not outstanding characteristics. Therefore, given its shortcomings, namely a very high price and an unsuitable temperature range for the Russian Federation, its use remains in question.

The volume of packaging with lubricant-sealant is a tube weighing 100 grams. The article of the product is 8200168855. The average price of a package is about 5300 rubles.

6

Mercedes Benz Lubricating Grease

This spark plug lubricant, sold under the Mercedes Benz brand name for cars of this automaker (although it can be used in others, but this is worth specifying further). It is a premium lubricant because it provides excellent protection and performance. Can be used in most models of Mercedes Benz cars.

In the vastness of the CIS countries, grease is poorly distributed due to its high cost and high price, so there are practically no real reviews on it. In addition, before the end of the rating, the lubricant was due to the high price. In fact, you can find cheaper analogues of it. However, if you are the owner of a premium Mercedes car, then it is still worth servicing it with original consumables, including with this lubricant.

It is sold in a small tube weighing 10 grams. The packaging reference is A0029898051. A significant drawback of this composition is its high price, namely about 800 rubles (10 euros). The second drawback is that the product is quite rare, so you often have to wait for an order until it is brought from Europe. By the way, many car manufacturers have their own analogue of such a protective silicone grease, which is processed by BB wires and spark plug caps, for example, General Motors has 12345579, while Ford uses Electrical Grease F8AZ-19G208-AA.

7

Molykote G-5008

Often on the Internet you can see an advertisement for Molykote G-5008 grease, which is positioned as a silicone dielectric plastic heat-resistant grease that can work with metals, rubber, elastomers (designed primarily for use in rubber/ceramics and rubber/rubber pairs). Designed to lubricate electrical contacts, namely, to protect the caps of spark plugs in machinery.

It has a yellow-green color, the base filler is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It has sufficiently high performance characteristics - the temperature of use is from -30°С to +200°С, it can be used in a dusty environment, has high dielectric properties, and is resistant to vibration. It is able to solve the problems of electrical breakdowns, prevents the destruction of rubber, as well as the penetration of dust and moisture.

However, the problem is that the lubricant belongs to a number of industrial ones and is intended for use in special dosing automated equipment, since accurate measurement of volume and mass is very important. Accordingly, this composition is unlikely to be useful for use in garage conditions. In addition, it is packaged in fairly large packages - 18,1 kilograms each, and its price is very high. However, if you have the opportunity to use the mentioned equipment in a car service, then the lubricant is fully recommended for use.

8

Tips for Using Spark Lubricant

The use of any grease for candles implies the presence of some features that depend on its composition and functions. You will find the exact application algorithm point by point in the instruction manual, which is usually applied to the lubricant package or comes in addition to the kit. However, in most cases, these rules are approximately the same and represent the following actions:

• Cleaning of work surfaces. This applies to threaded connections and/or insulation elements. Do not apply lubricant to dirty or dusty surfaces, otherwise it will “fall off” along with the dirt. In addition, the efficiency of its work will be much lower. Depending on the degree of contamination, this can be done either simply with a rag or already using additional detergents (cleaners).
• Checking the status of the contact in the cap. Over time, it begins to oxidize (it's only a matter of time), so you definitely need to clean it. it is also desirable to clean the body of the handpiece itself. This is also done depending on the state of the contact. However, be that as it may, an electrical contact cleaner is needed in an aerosol package, but with a spout tube (there are a lot of brands of such cleaners now). After using such a cleaner, dirt can be removed with a rag and/or brush.
• Lubrication and Assembly. After the elements of the ignition system and its contacts have been checked and cleaned, it is necessary to apply lubricant to the contacts, followed by a complete assembly of the system. The new compound will further prevent oxidation of the contact in the tip, which was previously removed.

For clarity, we will briefly describe the algorithm for applying insulating grease to candles and candle caps. The first step is to remove the cap from the candle. It has a contact inside. The purpose of the action is to seal the cavity at the entrance to the cap. To do this, there are two methods for applying a sealant composition.

• First. Apply lubricant carefully along the outer edge of the cap. this must be done in such a way that when putting on the spark plug, the lubricant is evenly distributed over the surface of the cap and the spark plug. If in the process of putting on the cap, excess compound was squeezed out of it onto the candle, then they can be removed with a rag. Just do it quickly, until the composition is frozen.
• Second. Apply grease precisely to the spark plug body in the annular groove. In this case, when putting on the cap, it is naturally evenly distributed in the cavity between the candle and the cap. Usually in this case, it is not squeezed out. Interestingly, with the subsequent detachment of the cap, the remnants of the lubricant remain on the working surfaces, and therefore there is no need to re-apply the composition.

It is especially important to use an insulating lubricant (compound) for candles on those machines (or other vehicles) that often operated in difficult (extreme) conditions. For example, when driving off-road (dust, dirt), in regions with a humid climate, when ICE is immersed in water, and so on. Although the use of such a lubricant will not be superfluous for any automotive equipment, as they say, “you can’t spoil the porridge with oil.”