Dielectric Grease
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Dielectric Grease
I need someone to confirm or deny my assumptions regarding the use and qualities of Dielectric Grease (DG).
I understand that DG is used as a lubricant for the Rotor within a distributor. It has been suggested in some places that DG can be used for plug together type electrical connections.
My assumption is that DG is both a lubricant and an electrically conductive element unto its self. That is the grease will act to improve the electrical connection due to its conductive nature. If it did not have this conductive quality a thin film of it on a connection would have an electrically isolating quality.
What are the conductive vrs isolating qualities of Dielectric Grease?
Are there other cool uses you all have heard for DG
I am going to do an Ohm test on a sample
I am going to Post this question on the Garage Board - get some cool responses up there.
Rob
I understand that DG is used as a lubricant for the Rotor within a distributor. It has been suggested in some places that DG can be used for plug together type electrical connections.
My assumption is that DG is both a lubricant and an electrically conductive element unto its self. That is the grease will act to improve the electrical connection due to its conductive nature. If it did not have this conductive quality a thin film of it on a connection would have an electrically isolating quality.
What are the conductive vrs isolating qualities of Dielectric Grease?
Are there other cool uses you all have heard for DG
I am going to do an Ohm test on a sample
I am going to Post this question on the Garage Board - get some cool responses up there.
Rob
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
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From: Central Kali
Dielectric Grease
If the grease was conductive, you would be shorting out a bunch of stuff. 
I believe it's main use would be on spark plug boots to seal out moisture, keep the spark from anything but the plug, and make it easier to pull the boot off. 
I believe it's main use would be on spark plug boots to seal out moisture, keep the spark from anything but the plug, and make it easier to pull the boot off. 
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Langhorne, PA
Dielectric Grease
Touch one of your 12 volt lines to ground and watch it spark.Then you will notice damage to the metal contact points because the current melted the metal. Dielectric grease helps supress arcing and sparking when you have circuits that need moving terminals, such as the distributor. Connectors have the same problem, afterall they are attached to a moving , vibrating vehicle. The grease in the plugs helps seal out moisture and supresses carbonization of the contacts.Which would lead to higher resistance and trouble for those teeny-weeny electrons.
Posting Guru
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From: Greenwood In. USA
Dielectric Grease
When I went to Tech school (many moons ago) we were instructed to use Dielectric to seal moisture out of the old Dura-Spark dist. caps. Just put a little around the mating surfaces and volia no water in the cap.
My .02
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Posting Guru
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From: Southeast FLA
Dielectric Grease
I have to admit to thinking dielectric grease had good conductive properties for a numebr of years, but I think I've come to the conclusion that it is mainly for what 924x2150 claims it is for. I still use it on headlight connections, spark plugs wire connections, etc, but it isn't what I thought it was.
That being said, I do know that there is such a thing as a highly conductive grease (and I assume this would be great in a small amount to spark plug wires and the center rotor-to-cap connection), but I have yet to be able to find it since reading about it many years ago. I am not sure which companies make it, either.
Best,
That being said, I do know that there is such a thing as a highly conductive grease (and I assume this would be great in a small amount to spark plug wires and the center rotor-to-cap connection), but I have yet to be able to find it since reading about it many years ago. I am not sure which companies make it, either.
Best,
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Dielectric Grease
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 07-Oct-02 AT 11:54 PM (EST)]I think the conductive stuff of years ago had some copper filings in it. My dad had a tube laying around for YEARS that we used to use on certain applications. But I don't think the present die-electric grease conducts current for as was mentioned, we'd be shorting out alot of wires. UPDATE: After doing a little i-net searching, I found that the word dielectric means "not conducting electricity". I also found a product called kopr-shield from Eastwood that is a conductive grease that we remember. There are a few other conductiver grease's out there, but this seems that the Eastwood Kopr-shield is the most popular. It seems however that dielectric grease is the more common grease to apply to connections and especially new connnections.
Tony
Tony
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From: Southeast FLA
Dielectric Grease
Thanks for the clarification and the research! I knew the "die" meant something, but was too lazy to find out after initially reading this thread...
Hmm, I think a small tube of the conductive grease would still be a great thing to have around.
Best,
Hmm, I think a small tube of the conductive grease would still be a great thing to have around.
Best,
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Posting Guru
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Dielectric Grease
The Eastwood Co sells the Kopper-Shield. I bought a bottle several years ago. A little goes a long way. There is also a product found in electrical supply stores, that is used by electricians. I forget the name, but it is also conductive.
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From: Central Kali
Dielectric Grease
The conductive stuff is used in electrical equipment where a cable is attached to a lug. It is really important where aluminum wire is used. If any resistence builds up, the connection can start to heat up. The insulation can even melt, not good. If this grease was used inside a distributor cap, the spark would probably start arcing all over the inside of the cap. High voltage is funny stuff, it will come out at the point of least resistence. Check the cap for cracks and carbon tracks once in awhile.
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From: Allegan Michigan
Dielectric Grease
Noalox By Ideal industries is the compound used by electrications This is only good for aluminum conductors The purpose of this product is to break through the aluminum oxide on the wire when used in a pressure connection
Ingredients are,
<80 Polybutene
20 Zinc Dust
<5 Silicon Dioxide
The zink dust is conductive but that is not what the compound in intended for. It is intended to prevent oxidation of aluminum conductors and termanials (the grease part of it) and break the aluminum oxide on the wire (the zink dust part of it)
If used on copper wire it does nothing other than plain old grease would do.
If you are going to bolt a copper ended battery cable to an aluminum engine block, put it on the block. For Copper to cast or steel just use plain old grease.
Have a great day everyone :-)
Ingredients are,
<80 Polybutene
20 Zinc Dust
<5 Silicon Dioxide
The zink dust is conductive but that is not what the compound in intended for. It is intended to prevent oxidation of aluminum conductors and termanials (the grease part of it) and break the aluminum oxide on the wire (the zink dust part of it)
If used on copper wire it does nothing other than plain old grease would do.
If you are going to bolt a copper ended battery cable to an aluminum engine block, put it on the block. For Copper to cast or steel just use plain old grease.
Have a great day everyone :-)
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