Dealer just installed plugs in my '98 GLE without anti-seize (I asked the mechanic). Should I take it back to the dealer and have them apply the anti-seize?
Service manager says it should be okay as long as I don't leave the plugs in for a long time (2+ years).

 

Well, if you feel its that important go ahead. I say get the anti seize and do it yourself. I installed my new plugs on my car for the first time it was abish. I have an 88 keep in mind. Yours shouldnt be too hard. There are many guides that people on the org have posted to help with changing the plugs on the 4th gens. Plus youll be that much more inclined to do the plugs yourself next time and feel good about it. I know I did

 

As long as the plugs are torqued correctly they should be fine.

 

I always use it since a mishap many years ago with a VW engine. I had the heads worked on and they glass bead blasted the whole heads.
After I installed the heads I screwed in new plugs with no anti seize. One took a little more torque to thread all the way in but was not excessive. I then decided to take out the offending plug to lube the threads. Oops, too late. Winding out the plug took a lot of torque and stripped out all the threads in the head. There was a nice piece of aluminum welded to the last thread on the plug that acted as a nice cutting tool on the head. I had to have Heli-coils installed. Good thing the engine was out of the car. Anyway, once bitten, twice shy.
Even if you don't use anti seize on anything else, use it on the plugs.

 

they're gonna be in your car for the next 60K miles, you might as well take the extra pre-cautions

 

The best thing to do is to use a little engine oil. Because your plugs ground through the block, you don't want to use anti-seize there. Plus, it's easy to contaminate. Also, it's difficult to get an accurate torquing with it.

 

I never use anti-seize on my plugs.

I do remove and retorque them every 20,000 miles to insure that they
don't seize up.

I torque the plugs with an inch/lb torque wrench.

White96MaxSE