Should You Use Anti-Seize on Lug Nuts?

Your vehicle’s lug nuts are metal fasteners that attach the wheels to the vehicle. They’re an important part of your vehicle’s wheels, and taking care of them prevents those wheels from flying off in the middle of a drive. One thing some people use to keep the lug nuts in good shape is lubricating anti-seize. That being said, there’s a big debate in the automotive world whether using anti-seize on lug nuts is even a good idea. In this article, we’ll be looking at the arguments for and against the practice.

What Is Anti-Seize?

Let’s start with finding out what anti-seize is used for in the first place. Anti-seize compounds are lubricants that mechanics and DIYers place on bolts, fasteners, flanges, and other metals to prevent corrosion, seizing, and galling.

There are different anti-seize formulas on the market made up of various engineered solids, and they come in different forms like coatings, pastes, and greases. Copper-based anti-seize suits more general applications, while nickel-based anti-seize works well in extreme conditions.

Typically anti-seize is best utilized where extreme heat or intense rust are a problem, such as in areas where salt is used on the roads to melt ice in winter and on exhaust system fasteners near the manifold.

Typically anti-seize is best utilized where extreme heat or intense rust are a problem, such as in areas where salt is used on the roads to melt ice in winter and on exhaust system fasteners near the manifold.

– Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Is Using Anti-Seize on Wheel Lug Nuts Bad?

Now, if anti-seize is meant to go on bolts and fasteners, why the debate on whether anti-seize can be used on lug nuts? Experts have weighed in on both sides. Here are some of the arguments for and against using anti-seize on lug nuts:

Arguments For Using Anti-Seize on Lug Nuts

Placing a thin smear of anti-seize on your vehicle’s lug nut contact points helps prevent corrosion. Anti-seize protects the lug nut from the elements and from the friction of keeping the wheel in place. It also prevents the parts from rusting together over time, which makes accurately adjusting torque easier. Some claim that to avoid any negative effects of using anti-seize, you need to make up for its lubrication properties by reducing the assembly torque by 30%. Actually though, less torque is required if you’re using slippery anti-seize than if you’re not.

Arguments Against Using Anti-Seize on Lug Nuts

In the argument against using anti-seize on lug nuts, you have many experts, like those from Tire Rack, who claim that torque specifications are meant for dry threads alone. This means that lug nuts need to be free from dirt, corrosion, and, yes, lubricants, during installation. But why is this the case?

If you want the lug nuts to hold the wheels properly, installing them with the correct amount of torque is important. Lug nut threads use friction to hold the wheels to the vehicle, and this friction affects torque readings. Lubricants like anti-seize affect friction, which is why lubricated hardware gives inaccurate torque readings. You’re at risk of over-torquing your lug nuts unknowingly if you aren’t careful, which can stretch the studs and damage the lug nuts to the point that they stop working properly.

Ultimately, using anti-seize lubricant on lug nuts might offer a few protective benefits, but the risks outweigh the rewards. In a word, grease works better than anti-seize on lug nuts. It’s as simple as that.

It’s best to keep an eye on your lug nuts and have a set maintenance schedule for your wheels, so you can change out the lug nuts long before corrosion becomes a problem. And some lug nuts will fail in ways that have nothing to do with corrosion.

How About Plain Old Grease? Can It Work on Lug Nuts?

Plain old grease, when used on lug nuts, will usually work very well to protect the threads and accentuate torque. Lubricating threads reduces the friction in the threads and under the bolt head or nut, allowing more of the applied torque to be converted into clamping force.

Adding a lubricant can reduce the required torque by up to 40% and yet still achieve the same clamping force. Thus, when you apply the same torque to a lubricated bolt as you would to a dry bolt, the clamping force will always be much higher with lubrication on the threads and under the fastener. But let’s talk about Anti-Seize, which is different than grease.