Car owners and enthusiasts are divided on whether it is okay to lubricate lug nuts. Some boldly claim that lugs can be lubricated without any problems, while some cannot simply fathom the idea of applying any sort of anti-seize to the tires. To them, it’s an abomination to lubricate lugs. Which one of them is right? We’ll settle this never-ending argument in this article.
You shouldn’t use grease or any type of lubricant on lug nuts as it will lead to over-torquing the nuts, which will cause damage in the future.
Our opinion about using grease and lubricants on lug nuts is more nuanced. Grease should only be applied to lug nuts as the last resort. Even then, a mechanic should inspect the nuts for tightness after two weeks. Continue reading to learn how lubricants affect lug nuts.
What Are Lug Nuts?
A lug nut is a type of fastener used on the wheels to hold them in place. It’s a small but mighty component of a car that’s often overlooked and underrated. But a car can’t function without lug nuts because there is nothing to hold the wheels in place.
Lug nuts are usually plated with chromium, titanium, or aluminum, as these metals are resistant to corrosion. A car’s lug nuts are screwed onto the wheel studs, which are then fixed to the axles. Most modern automobiles come with five studs and, therefore, five lug nuts, although there are models that have four. Heavy-duty vehicles may have as many as eight lug nuts per wheel or even more.
Why Would Anyone Want To Use Lubricant On Lug Nuts?
The reason for this is simple. Lubricants will make it easier to loosen difficult lug nuts. Sometimes, it may be difficult to loosen a lug nut either due to corrosion or someone over-torquing it. This may be super frustrating if you have a flat tire and need to remove the compromised tire to install a new one. You may even be in your driveway carrying out basic tire maintenance practices like rotating the tires. Then, you find the lug nuts are unyielding and become tempted to use lubricants on the stubborn nuts.
Lubricants are designed to reduce friction between two surfaces in contact. And applying some sort of lubricant on stubborn lug nuts is bound to make it easy to remove them. But is it the best thing for your lug nuts?
Is It Okay To Use Lubricants On Lug Nuts?
As mentioned earlier, car owners and enthusiasts are divided on the usage of lubricants on lug nuts. Car manufacturers, engineers, and industry experts all recommend that car owners should avoid lubricating the lugs. However, some DIYers and car hobbyists claim that there’s nothing wrong with lubricating lug nuts. Some claim they’ve been using lubrication since time immemorial without any problem.
To understand whether it is okay to use lubricants on lug nuts or not, one needs to understand the impact of lubrication on the components. Lug nuts are able to securely hold the wheel in place due to the contact between the nuts and the thread.
Every vehicle has a torque rating which is the amount of rotational force that’s required to tighten the lug nuts onto the threads properly. When you apply lubricants to the lug nuts, you reduce friction between the nuts and the threads, which will increase the torque value. So, if you are supposed to tighten the lug nut to a 60 ft.-lb, you may end up tightening it to 85 ft.-lb after applying a lubricant.
The increased torque comes with some unintended consequences, as the studs will be stretched more than normal. This increased stretching will change thread geometry and ultimately damage the studs. The studs become more susceptible to damage and may break during normal service.
This is why car manufacturers, industry experts, and mechanics/engineers generally advise against using lubricants on lug nuts. While lubricants may make it easy to remove stubborn lug nuts now, they have unintended effects on the working and durability of the lug nuts.
Using Lubricant On Lug Nuts As A Last Resort
In an ideal scenario, you should never lubricate lug nuts. They are just not good for them. But sometimes, a lug nut may have rusted or corroded so much that it just won’t come loose. If every attempt to lose a lug nut fails, you may then consider spraying a lubricant on it.
Apply only high-temperature lubricants to your lug nuts as a last resort, and apply the lubricant as a thin coating on the hub that goes through the center of the wheel. After applying a lubricant on your lugs, you should have them checked by a mechanic after two weeks for tightness, as there is the risk of over-torquing the lugs.
How Tight Should Lug Nuts Be?
The amount of force (torque) needed to properly tighten your lug nuts will depend on your car. For most automobiles, a torque between 75 to 95 ft/lbs is enough, while larger vehicles may require up to 140 to 150 ft/lbs. You can find information about your car’s torque in the owner’s manual.
It’s worth mentioning that proper torque is key to lug nut installation. Most car owners get it wrong when it comes to torquing a lug nut, as they are concerned about using an impact wrench to spin the lug until it can no longer spin.
Calibrated hand torque wrenches are important tools that can help you apply the required amount of torque to your lug nuts. They are usually color-coded and fit onto the end of a torque wrench. Many people claim that torque wrenches are inaccurate. This isn’t exactly true, as they have a + or – 3% margin of error which is totally acceptable.
Before ever using a wrench on a lug nut, you should give it at least ten turns by hand. Doing this will ensure that cross-threading doesn’t occur. It’s also advisable to tighten the lug nut by hand all the way down until it’s snug. Then, you can use a properly calibrated hand torque wrench to apply the required amount of force without over-tightening the lug nut.
How To Remove Rust On Lug Nuts
Lug nuts are generally designed to be resistant to corrosion. However, some are more prone to corrosion than others. If you want to prevent lug nuts from seizing up, it’s important to inspect them occasionally for rusting. If you find any sign of corrosion, you’ll have to remove it.
To remove rust on lug nuts, remove the lugs and wash them in warm, soapy water. Then, use a metal brush to remove all dirt and debris. With all the debris removed, use a dry, clean cloth to wipe the lug nuts.
Coarse sandpaper can also be used to remove rust. Be careful when sanding lug nuts, and scrape away only the rust. Stop if you hit metal. After the sanding operation, rinse the lugs in warm, soapy water, after which you with emit with a clean, dry cloth.
