Dielectric Grease ??

[Kurt B.]

Please educate me.
What is Dielectric grease used for, when do I need it and for what purpose?
Thank you,
Kurt # 26406

[Dennis A.]

Re: Dielectric Grease ??

Kurt...

Dielectric grease is any grease that is non-conductive. silicone grease, lithum grease are non-conductive. Good for spark plug boots; however I do not recommend it for inside sealed connectors.

[Bob B.]

Re: Dielectric Grease ??

Dielectic grease is a non curing silicone compound utilzed for sealing and protecting of electrical components and connectors from condesation and corrosion. I use GE Dielectric Compound G624 at work and home and always have had excellant results.
Bob

[Kurt B.]

Thank You Gentlemen *NM*

[Duke W.]

Re: Dielectric Grease ??

A "dielectric" is an electical insulator. Dialectric grease is usually silicone based (and referred to as "silicone dielectric grease") and is highly hydrophobic (repells moisture).

I recommend it for use on ignition wire boots (a very thin film), which will keep out moisture and prevent the rubber boots from seizing to spark plug insulators and also on other "weatherproof" connector boots like the TI harness to TI amp. You should be able to buy small tubes (2-4 oz.) at any autoparts store and a small tube should last a long time since you should only use it sparingly.

I emphasize "thin film". Don't glob it on with a ladle.

On HEIs it should be liberally applied to the bottom of the module before it's screwed down to the baseplate with the excess wiped off after the module is secured. Most replacement modules contain capsule of silicone dielectric grease in the box - enough for one module installation.

I also use it to lubricate stem seals on home water valves for the sink, shower, etc.

For non weather proof automotive connectors I prefer a quick shot of WD-40, which won't make a mess.

Duke

[Joseph T.]

Re: Dielectric Grease ??

Duke

My trailer wiring connectors rust up every year..should I spray some WD40 or apply some lithium grease inside the female connector?

Joe

[John H.]

Re: Dielectric Grease ??

Also available at any Radio Shack - useful for protecting the terminals inside the multiple connectors on the engine side of the fuse block for the engine and forward lamp harnesses after cleaning them, to avoid future corrosion. Packard Electric filled the harness side connectors with it starting in 1969 on all Chevrolet harnesses in response to the chronic water entry corrosion issues on the non-bolted first-generation connector bodies.

[Terry F.]

Re: Dielectric Grease ??

Duke,
Should any particular type of grease be used on the horn contact within the steering colum? It seems that when I have taken a few of them apart there is a small amount of dried up grease on the contact surface of the cancelling cam. Any opinion would be appreciated. When it is assembled dry you can hear the contact surfaces sliding on one another faintly.
Terry

[Duke W.]

Re: Dielectric Grease ??

If it's a weatherproof connector (sealed rubber boot, etc,) I would use a thin film of silicone dielectric grease on the rubber seal and shoot some WD-40 on the terminals.

Don't use a petroleum based grease since it may attack rubber seals. Silicone grease won't harm rubber.

If it's a non-weather proof connector just shoot some WD-40 on it whenever you connect or unconnect it. Most trailer harness connectors I've seen are pretty chintzy and corrode rapidly without regular maintenance.

As an example there's fuel pump/gage connector on my Cosworth Vega at the extreme RR corner of the car, between the fuel tank and quarter panel, which puts it about in a direct line with splash coming off the RR tire. It's a weatherproof connector with a sealed rubber boot, similar to the TI amp connector on a Corvette, and I use silicone dielectric grease on the boot. Since my CV has only seen a wet road once in the last 25 years, it's never been a problem, but it's obvious from the design that it could be in a wet climate.

Back when I had a TI on my SWC, the second time it failed turned out to be moisture that corroded the terminals on the weatherproof amp connecter after it had been on the car for about five years. That was before I used silicone grease on weatherproof connectors.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Dielectric Grease ??

Check you AIM. There is a note regarding grease on the upper bearing, which is probably the remnant you are seeing.

Duke

[Terry F.]

Thanks, Terry *NM*

[Dennis A.]

Grease in connectors

Grease of any kind in sealed connectors is a bad thing. First of all it attracts dirt that ruins the silicone seals in the connector housing that make the connector water-proof. Second, most all electronics operate with low voltage circuits. The current flows thru the terminals on the outside(in the Plating, Any interference that prevents the socket(female)from mating with the pin,is a bad thing for during heat & vibration the resistance will increase.

Good places for grease are the spark plug boots, battery cables/posts, light bulb sockets and those 40 year old non sealed connectors.

[Terry F.]

Re: Grease in connectors

What about the moving connection between the cancelling cam and the horn contact on c2 and c3? I was trying to figure out if it had some type of special grease or if it just driped onto it from the upper bearing. Regards, Terry