Anti-seize lubricant is an essential element in automotive assembly.
What Is Anti-Seize?
Anti-seizes are grease-based compounds mixed with metal fillers that are used to protect automotive fasteners and other mechanical parts.
What Is the Difference Between Grease and Anti-Seize?
While anti-seize is made using a lubricant base, it is different from grease and they both have different applications.
Grease
Greases have low solid content or have no solids at all. Normally they’re made from oil and thickener. It is used in low pressure and lower temperature applications where parts need to move faster or without friction.
Anti-Seizes
There are several types of anti-seize available, that are formulated to perform under specific conditions or to protect certain metals. Normally they contain a high amount of solids.
They are meant to be applied to most automotive fasteners, such as flanges, nuts and bolts, pumps, studs, and at any metal-to-metal connection. They are good under high pressure on still or slow-moving parts and are meant to prevent friction, galling, seizing, and corrosion, even under harsh conditions or when exposed to prolonged use or wear.
Anti-seizes also keep connections tight and prevent the infiltration of contaminants or water.
Since they protect from corrosion like rust, they make repairs and disassembly easy down the road.
What Type of Anti-Seize Is Best for Automotive Work?
The best anti-seize products for automotive work depend on their application. Some of the most common ones are aluminum and copper based. There are several things to consider when choosing which lubricant to use.
Copper Based
When it comes to durability, copper is one of the better choices in automotive anti-seizes. It lasts longer, and dries faster. It is also great for carbon steels, magnesium, titanium, aluminum, and most other metals. It doesn’t work with brass, stainless steel or bronze.
Copper is conductive, making it apt for fasteners that require electrical contact and preventing galvanic corrosion. The average temperature that copper anti-seizes can withstand are -30 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. It is perfect for parts exposed to cold weather, like sensors and the oil drain valve.
Aluminum Based
For stainless steel, aluminum anti-seize is a better choice. Other options may cause cracks or intercrystalline corrosion. It is also more affordable than other options. It’s not good for carbon steels, spark plugs, and cannot be used where extreme temperatures come into play.
How Is Anti-Seize Used?
The most important thing to know about anti-seize applications is that they shouldn’t be over-applied. A thin layer on contact surfaces is enough. Also, it’s essential to ensure all parts are free of grease, dirt and dust or other contaminants that may affect performance.
When using brushes, dedicate a separate brush to each type of anti-seize that will be used. Even after washing the brush out, fillers or grease can still cross-contaminate the lubricant and interfere with the effectiveness of the anti-seize.
Where Are the Best Anti-Seize Products?
The best place to find quality anti-seize, automotive fasteners and other car parts at affordable prices is online at Rogo Fastener, a family-owned company serving the automobile industry since 1992.
