Dielectic Grease?

Yea or Nay on buttering up ring terminal connections like Ignition switch and Light terminal switch with dielectic grease before or after tightening down connection nut?
Lots of conflicting views on this.

Also, solder filled waterproof connection rings from Dorman are awesome but over $1 each. Not much on ebay or Amazon.
Anyone have a better source?

 

I've been told that since dielectric grease isn't actually a conductor, it shouldn't be used where the connectors actually come in contact (like, lubing up the ring terminal before putting the nut on), but if you smear it on after the connection is made (after the nut is tight), that will keep moisture from getting to the connector.

That said, I hardly ever use the stuff except on spark plug boots.

 

Yes...I have read that it can lower voltage slightly.

 

I've always wondered about that. Seems like a fine line to tread.

 

If you read the description of the product noted by Howard, it states:

• Conductive Grease and Electrical Contact Lubricant.
• NO-OX-ID electrical contact lubricant (electrical contact grease) is an electrically conductive grease that keeps metals free from rust and corrosion.

 

oh! I guess that's different than the usual dielectric crease that I have used.

 

Then it's not di-electric. Per Webster's di-electric is "a nonconductor of direct electric current."

For instance, I always believed dielectric grease was used on spark-plugs and such to prevent high voltage electrical 'leakage.'

The original question remains.

 

Could always squirt a line out on something non-conductive and stick a multimeter set to ohm at each end.

 

I thought it was to keep the boots from sticking for easier removal.

 

Used it on the switches of my motorcycle after cleaning them up. Not directly applied to the contacts though. No problems with the switches.
Also used light bulb grease on on plugs and seemed to prevent some of the corrosion. A little success with doing that.

 

Pete, you are correct. The product does not say it is a dielectric grease.

 

Possibly, but that was not a problem in my day. No one ever used the grease when our Jeeps were built. The recommendation seemed to come in along with more modern higher intensity ignition systems.

Not that it wouldn't be a good idea for insulation on older vehicles. My father taught me to wipe each sparkplug dry before trying to start on wet mornings. Also the distributor cap.

 

The boots are a different composition. Pulled more than one apart. Now they sell boot pullers though I have never used one.

 

My experience is exposed grease attracts dust and creates other problems. It is fine inside connections and all but I wouldn't gob it over a exposed terminal on an open air jeep that sees gravel or dirt.

 

This question is about a controversial as what oil to use.

For cleaning a connector, Deoxit or similar.
For protecting ring connectors and spades I use a precision electrical spray lube (one that dries as much as possible). I spray on after connection is made.
For anything with a jacket, I use dialectric and wipe the excess from the housing (including spark plug boots).

A recent example, replacing a TFI unit on a ford truck. Dialectric on the connectors, Thermal grease on mounting surface, anti seize on steel screws holding unit in place. These go out like clockwork and I won't have siezed connectors, screws next time I have to replace.

Dialectric grease is non-conductive. Thermal grease is heat conductive and probably electrically conductive. Use thermal grease between components that need to shed heat to the surrounding metal surface. Dialectric grease has poor heat transfer so don't use on heat sinks.

The dialectric grease displaces on each connector (or spark plug nipple). The grease will not cause short out to nearby connectors yet the individual connector is not insulated by the grease because it's been displaced. The grease displaces into all the cavities and seals out moisture very well.

There is probably a modern and better equivalent but I have a monster tube lifetime supply and I've never had a problem.