Dielectric Grease COMMONLY MISUSED! - How to improve electrical contacts! The RIGHT way!

[@Mikefngarage]

If your having a connecting issue, It is best to fix the connection by cleaning the contacts with electrical contact cleaner Then to use that spray to increase electrical properties. Once you have fixed the connection issue and you are sure it has good connection. Then if you want you can use Dielectric grease to protect the connection from outside properties. Like salt water and the elements. from corrosion. However if it gets between the connection it may have issues. So sometimes I use Regular grease. not conductive grease Not dielectric. Because it can help conduct electricity. IF you have super tight connections that have had no issues Dielectric grease is good to protect them from the elements. But it is not a fix all and it does not conduct electricity so keep that in mind.

[@Mikefngarage]

Other things I Hear That I am not sure I agree with. Dielectric grease (silicone grease) does not hurt the plastics.....I am not so sure about that. My thoughts go back to Armor all on your dash.....when many people used Armor All the dashes were cracking like crazy. Does it really help? That I cannot answer. But having some insulator from outside elements like salt, water and corrosive properties can help future connection issues. Just remember it does not conduct electricity. so if somehow it gets between the connection it will not help connection. Corrosion though come at some point.

[@Mikefngarage]

I made a second video just to clarify how it can be used. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGOQhXWQjrdjp9U

[@kurtzxcvb3481]

Also helps the intrusion of water by acting as a barrier this is why I use it on low voltage to stop corrosion from happening so there's no moisture ingress

[@Mikefngarage]

yea you put it around the OUTSIDE of the plug...not on the contact areas. Where the plug connects together. On the actual contacts. contact cleaner and that lube. works amazing. I hope people dont misunderstand what I am saying on that....Not the actual outside of the plug after is is plugged in. but on the outside between where the plugs connect together. Plastic on plastic. This will like you say waterproof the connection and stop electricity from flowing out or water from flowing into the connector. and keeps water from corroding the connections.

[@davidpotter7484]

@@Mikefngarage nyk 77, dialectic grease with anti corrosion properties. Used on all light pigtails on class 8 trucks and trailers. On the pins. I've used it thick on the electrical pigtail connect the unit, for 30 years. And every ground and any connections whatsoever. If you dont, they dont last a year in salty winter. The lights from grote and trucklite come with on them new.

[@Mikefngarage]

@@davidpotter7484 why would anyone use Dielectric....Not just grease. Are you sure it is dielectric. and not just grease? Dielectric is to not allow electricity to enter or escape. grease would also protect and help the connection better than something that resists it.

[@davidpotter7484]

@@Mikefngarage you should do some research, dialectric grease is simply silicone grease, like super lube. Truckers and heavy equipment operators always used regular chassis grease for battery and light connections, but grease decomposes the plastic. As you know, electricity requires a solid mechanical connection, or it arcs and melts the contacts. Trucklite lights come with nyk 77, packed in the pins. its silicone grease, exactly like what you have, except with corrosion compounds. Weathpack connectors with stainless pins dont need it, because its sealed and stainless doesn't oxidize as bad, especially sealed.

[@Mikefngarage]

@@davidpotter7484 For sure I put a pinned comment.....I think people are not understanding the point of the video. Dielectric does not make things connect better. if you have corrosion on a contact it is not the product to use to stop or clean the corrosion. you need to clean the corrosion first and do something to improve the connection. After you do that you can put silicone grease or whatever kind of grease you need to make it stop corroding. Personally I use regular grease on a lot of stuff that can handle the petroleum. because if there is another connection issue it will help more than the other. Like you said you need a physical connection. if some of that gets between it you will have issues. Remove tighten clean spray with something to improve connection then use the dielectric if that is what you want.

[@JourneymanRandy]

Good info. I know about dielectric grease but I didn't know years ago. Thanks Mike

[@walterbrown8694]

65 years ago, we were using dielectric grease to enhance heat transfer between circuit components and at the same time it provided electrical insulation between the same components. Used a lot between the collectors of power transistors and their heat sinks.

[@n.mcneil4066]

Are you referring to heat sink compound. It's used to promote better heat transfer between the heat sink & the electronic component.

[@michelecrown2426]

I had a Honda Ridgeline a few years ago. I had to get into the wiring harness as I was adding fog lights. Every electrical connection was packed with dielectric grease.

[@michelecrown2426]

@@Mikefngarage Did not test, made an "assumption", which we all know how that can end up 😀

[@Mikefngarage]

what is on there is to isolate the connections and keep the water out. It may be dielectric but it does not improve the connections. it just keeps moisture from bridging the connections. corrosion one to another and making them connect together. from entering the connected areas. I am not sure if it even needs to be dielectric.

[@Texashog11]

The reason you have connectivity issues at contacts is corrosion. Use a cleaner to clean the corrosion. To help prevent the corrosion use dielectric grease to keep the corrosive environment off it. It also helps with any arcing that might occur. Grease does attract dirt and other. If that’s a problem tape over the connection with jacketing tape or insulating tape. Nothings perfect, there’s good and bad with everything. Pick your poison.

[@n.mcneil4066]

Over the years two very troublesome electrical connections have been the terminals & cable clamps on on the lead acid batteries in our cars. A good way to service them has been to clean & polish the contact surfaces then coat them & the entire terminals & battery posts with Vaseline or more recently dielectric grease before assembling them. This will reduce corrosion & resistance at the terminals.

[@chuckhoward3626]

Dielectric Grease (DG) is nonconductive and is safe for use on plastic parts used in electronic equipment and connectors. Other types of greases can kill the plastics used in electronics - some will do it almost immediately. Same goes with solvents; the contact cleaners are specially formulated and the only thing you want anything near electronic equipment - I can't stress that enough! As far as DG on connectors, or say the pins themselves, it won't hurt the connection if the connectors are good. Oxidation is what kills the metal of the actual pins and sockets, and dielectric grease will prevent oxidation quite well. The dielectric properties of DG is very small - unmeasurable small that many people don't give it a though; therefore, they see no need to understand it or use it properly. Your understanding of its use is 98% spot-on and better than most folks. I fixed radio gear in the military and we used it. Like all greases, it will attract dust and turn into hard grim. So we were trained to use it sparingly. The spray lubricant you showed up in the latter part of this video is probably just DG in a contact solvent - just my guess. And the Hipe on the can about conductivity is just that - Hipe. In the automotive world, parts are made to live in a oil/grease/fuel environment - that includes the wiring and electrical connections. My world and the average car guy world is not the same. My products won't hurt you, but may not give you the best long term protection in that environment. On the other hand, your products can kill me dead as a bullet. you earned a subscriber,

[@Mikefngarage]

all I know is what works for me. Once it is clean and connecting better then if you want to use some grease to keep the elements out that is fine. But people think if they just spread some of the magic grease on the bad connection this will cure it. Truth is you need to clean it first. Then use something to protect it. for electronics Yea I get that. so really the misuse that I am referring to is that it will help conduct electricity better. Not protecting it. you are right on in your assessment.

[@Gomer8759]

Now that you have addressed the dielectric grease controversy now tackle anti seize on spark plug threads!

[@Mikefngarage]

boy that one is a can of worms. We were required to put anti-seize on every spark plug in the vw shop.....Did it help....I dont really know on that one. I just did what I was told. At home NOPE....

[@Mikefngarage]

done ha ha.

[@johnherrmann6879]

@@Mikefngarage why not at home...? I use on all plugs myself....had a ford triton motor...need i say more ?

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

Hey Mike ! I told this before , my boss got a military green can of contack point cleaner for submarines and this stuff was amazing .

[@Mikefngarage]

If you are having connection issues.....The best method of fixing them is to first Clean the connection with electrical contact cleaner, Then spray the connector with the spray that increases connection properties. ( not conductive grease or dielectric) Then after you have fixed the connection issue. you can coat the area with Dielectric grease to stop corrosion from entering the connection. However introducing the dielectric grease can insulate the pins from connecting if you have a bad connection. Sometimes you can have better results with regular grease (not conductive or dielectric) because it can conduct electricity. This has been my experience. Just swabbing dielectric grease may not resolve the issue because it does not help electrical properties. It only insulates the area from moisture and future corrosion.

[@SterlingWheel]

Electrical connector lubricant, not electrical contactor lubricant. Thanks for showing a better solution to a very common and well-meaning mistake.

[@ntulsian]

For about 6-8 years I've been using it on the metal surfaces between the battery and connectors, to stop moisture damage to low voltage connections, like in 1.2v NiCad or similar batteries used in solar powered garden lights. The ones with the dielectric grease seem to all work better than the ones without, i.e. longer nightly light runtime and longer life of the garden light. Never had an issue with connection not being good due to the dielectric grease getting in the way. Probably gets pushed out of the connecting points during installation.

[@Mikefngarage]

stops the corrosion which is good. But does not help the connection kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGOQhXWQjrdjp9U

[@ruds2600]

CRC website reads Applications. Electrical connections, circuit breakers, contacts, spark plug boots, trailer connectors, HEI distributor, battery terminals, contacts, lubrication of plastic, rubber parts & o-rings. Improves electrical performance by reducing arcing, voltage drop

[@Mikefngarage]

Once you have a good connection you can use it to insulate the area. That is what they are referring to. DIelectric does not conduct electricity. It only insulates and isolates the area from outside conductors or electrons. The thing I dont like about it is it is silicone.....you get that on some stuff and you can never get it off. goes right through to the metal. Regular grease sometimes is better IMO. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGOQhXWQjrdjp9U

[@lanedexter6303]

People need to keep in mind the difference between dielectric (insulates) and conductive. Being retired from the electrical trade, I have terminal & contact pastes. Heck, I even have some semiconductor high voltage splicing tape, NOT to be confused with normal electrical tape.

[@Mikefngarage]

one conducts and one does not.....Silicone grease (dielectric) can be a PIA if put on the wrong things. If you do have a good solid connection it can insulate the area from outside electrons. Which can be good. but if the connection is bad....it is not a fix all. needs to be cleaned and connected better. then put the silicone grease on the connection.

[@schutzhund3933]

Half lap layers!!!

[@patrickday4206]

Di means two. Like roll the dice

[@davehaggerty3405]

Live & learn. This video was meant for me! Thanks.

[@Mikefngarage]

check out the pinned comment

[@craigtegeler4677]

If applied correctly, it can help keep moisture out and again, not on the electrical contacts!! Example: where two connector shells meet together, also where a trailer plug meets up with a hard fastened shell and so again, not on the electrical conductors, pins and socket.

[@Mikefngarage]

if they are perfectly clean and tight you can put it on them but if your having a connection issue best to clean them first. and use that contact spray it really helps.

[@craigtegeler4677]

@@Mikefngarage Yep! Agreed!

[@chrisretired5379]

In electrical world, conductive grease like ILSCO brand is the best. Comes in an 8 Oz. bottle. Rated up to 1000 volt, works great for 12 volt DC, like snowplow electrical mod plugs

[@czechmate6916]

First time I’ve seen your channel here. Great information 👍👍

[@Mikefngarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@FIGGY65]

Been using Dielectric grease in a harsh salt water ( industrial marine transportation) environment for over 15 years. Veteran CAT technicians have taught us ( as they use it religiously) to use DG on all of our diesel system orings, seals, and coolant system seals/orings. DG is inert and will not harm orings/rubber. DG is OUTSTANDING for coating the threads ( and washers) on your garden hose nozzles/bibs as it keeps them from getting seized. As everyone has mentioned, DG grease is fine for using on electrical connections once they are pre cleaned ( electrical contact cleaners, any necessary mechanical descaling, etc) - it keeps moisture, salt air corrosion, and VIBRATION at bay, especially for light bulbs in their sockets. Vibration is enemy #2 at my occupation, right after corrosion. Also as mentioned by others, it helps keep certain connections from being difficult to get apart later on; just a tiny dab will usually suffice. We use DG grease in large amounts ( along with the appropriate types of antiseize) on mechanical/electrical propulsion equipment/systems worth in excess of 30 million dollars, regularly, in the most demanding applications in our industry, with nothing but positive results. It’s equally valuable on our vehicles and around the home, farm, and office!

[@AodhMacRaynall-dr1sf]

Good info and presented in a great way. I'm subscribing.

[@Mikefngarage]

Awesome, thank you!

[@youcanringmymel]

Just a heads up when using NGK spark plugs, do NOT use anti-seize or lubricant: "NGK spark plugs feature trivalent plating. This silver or chrome-colored finish on the threads is designed to provide corrosion resistance against moisture and chemicals. The coating also acts as a release agent during spark plug removal. NGK spark plugs are installed at the factory dry, without lubrication or anti-seize. Anti-seize can act as a lubricant, altering torque values up to 20 percent, increasing the risk of spark plug thread breakage and/or metal shell stretch. Thread breakage can sometimes involve removing the cylinder head for repair. Metal shell stretch changes the heat rating of the spark plug and can result in serious engine damage caused by pre-ignition. Do not use anti-seize or lubricant on NGK spark plugs. It is completely unnecessary and can be detrimental."

[@neilmurphy4301]

Die and di…aren’t even close to the same thing 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Mikefngarage]

This stuff is not suppose to solve a connection issue. It is suppose to insulate from contaminates. If you have a connection issue you need to solve that before using it to insulate.

[@penguinista]

The 'Di' in dielectric is not about dying. It comes from 'dia' or "through".

[@archstanton_live]

It comes from Latin meaning "two." It signifies "two electrical (states)"; in other words, it is an insulator to prevent grounding/arcing.

[@single_cam9199]

Omfg so glad I found this, my problem is I have multiple points in my harnes that is a conjunction for ground,dash board like a Christmas tree! Ever light know to man. Just can’t be right! My car sits A LOT, so I cleaned g101 g151 ect.. used "dielectric grease" thinking it would keep corrosion away. everything mint for a year as I periodically ran it because it just sits well this past year it got put away yesterday had to play musical cars and the plaque is back. I read problem is dielectric grease properties doesn’t allow condensation from contact metal to pass threw causing corrosion , completely opposite of how oil would separate for water it breaths, my question what is better than oil as this car sits way more than it should, it’s just way to expensive to race right now

[@philliphall5198]

Yes it’s a fact it keeps boots from sticking, it’s all I use it for 😊

[@michaelroby8389]

Use your Ohm meter..... Stick both probe tips in the grease.....what does your meter tell you???

[@MrChick580]

How can I get a hold of you? I’ve been working on my 36 hp motor and I’ve done everything that I can think of and I still can’t get it to keep running.

[@Mikefngarage]

facebook page

[@MrChick580]

Is it at Mike’s fn garage?

[@stevensmith1911]

I used dielectric grease on my grill spark igniter. 5 years later (outside in Colorado elements) and still going strong. (Without, they would fail after one year).

[@Mikefngarage]

can be used to protect it from the elements just wont help get a better connection. check the pinned comment

[@henrymiecz8566]

Not true at all! Amazing how little people understand electricity and electrical contacts. You can put dielectric grease all over the contacts as much as you want. It won't interfere with the flow at all. In fact it will help. Amazing how people think they know what they are talking about just because they can use a dictionary. The dielectric grease protects from ARCING! Arcing comes from improper CONNECTIONS! As long as the metal touches you are fine. The grease will lubricate and help the metal to touch. It can't possibly stop electrical flow if the metal is touching. LOL. This has been proven time and time again. Misinformation.

[@Thomas-os6bu]

@@henrymiecz8566 You’re right, it prevents the arc to jump…

[@samuraijose817]

That's why I'm here cuz it's just a coincidence right? Nah I'm sure it's this damn grease.

[@DaddyC445]

@@Thomas-os6bu”…”???? Anything you’d like to add?

[@RichardStrong86]

di, from dia, origins in Ancient Greek (not grease) meaning “through, across, by, over”. Completely different etymology from the English word "die".

[@robcook6120]

Many if not most modern connectors will have seals in them. These seals will not like exposure to oil based products. I very much disagree with your suggestion to use regular oil or grease for this application. Silicone based grease is not harmful to these seals and is why dielectric grease is typically used.

[@Mikefngarage]

just remember it does not help the connection only the corrosion. If it gets between the connection it can do more harm than good. Clean the contacts FIRST.....if your going to use it. and use some of that spray to help the connections....then coat the dickens out of it if you want with Dielectric grease. Should be OK but it wont help the connection only keep the moisture out.

[@jamesblair9614]

Didn’t the use of Dielectric grease become commonplace when GM introduced their HEI ignitions, and I think there was a common problem with the spade terminals corroding? I think Mr Goodwrench used to sell little packets of what I presumed was dielectric grease. If it’s not the case, don’t jump on me, I’ve never touched a GM ignition, it’s just something that used to come up whenever the Chevy guys were trying to figure out why their cars ran so crappy. Now I just sit back and see who bites.

[@Mikefngarage]

was for the ignition wires when they get stuck on the spark plugs

[@theamaturepro]

What if instead of death, the prefix "di" was actually Greek for the number two? Maybe the evolution of Western languages adopted it as a prefix to signify two things that are bonded such as dioxide, or two things that are not the same such as different, divergent, dielectric. Hmm 🤔, naw I bet you're right, it means death. The Greek thing would be pretty cool though.

[@kishidabu]

Guilty as charged!

[@arthurcutaiar9994]

Next video should be for the momo's who think wd40 is a real lubricant or penetrating fluid. Instead of its real use, a decent air freshener or a fair cologne for g*y mechanics.

[@steevemachine118]

You are right about the fact that it is missused. But that's not exactly what is was made for. It was made to form a seal around the boot of the spark plug wires to keep water or dirty oil out of the boot!! Dirty oil is very conductive when it contains carbon or moisture, and it always does. People were complaining because of missfires and engines misbehaving in cold and/or humid weather, and would say "All I need to do is take a hairdryer and heat up the wires and connections for a bit, and everyting would sort out!" Then, you knew that it was a moisture related issue! Have been working in the field for 33 years...and dealt with so many of these issues that I stopped counting.

[@n.mcneil4066]

When gasoline engines get balky during cool damp weather i ts generally carburetor icing. Water in the incoming air condenses when it enters the carb & collects in the base of the carb on the throttle plates when it forms ice on the throttle plates . This partiallly blocks throttle butterfly as well as the idle port. This accounts to an engine which is very stally with a poor idle . To temporally cure this problem you would want t to apply heat to the base of the carb. You could also shut the engine off ror

[@Null-h6c]

Big rig battery finalised connection get a lot of dielectric grease . No open air like car

[@paulness8352]

I wonder what facts, science, or research Mike has done to prove his claim. Really, its sounds like an opinion.

[@howcroft22]

Not what it’s for. It’s for electrical connections that get exposed to water. All it does is provide a barrier to help keep water out.

[@Mikefngarage]

Yea it does not help the connection be improved. Only insulates. Some guys think if they put that on there it will improve the connection It only helps it insulate from outside corrosion and sometimes regular grease will do a better job.

[@rickpearce4653]

Might be nice if you had a clue what you’re talking about.

[@Mikefngarage]

Did you even read the pinned comment?

[@howarddittrich157]

@@MikefngarageI think what Rick was referring to is that the word “dielectric” actually means having the property of transmitting electric force without conduction. So, you are both right and both wrong. 😮

[@Mikefngarage]

@@IAmProfitMusik absolutely right. you need to have a good connection first.....then if your connection is good you can insulate it with dielectric grease. But it is not a fix all for a bad connection. Personally I like regular grease for some things and dielectric for others. I really dont like silicones they IMO can do damage. Look at the history of armor all.

[@electric8668]

Scotty Kilmer's video disagrees with your conclusion.

[@manandatractor]

Your interpretation of "Die - Electric" is laughable. Di means twice or two or double of something, in this context. You're done, I'm blacklisting you and it's the very first one of your videos I've ever watched. First impressions / lasting impressions.

[@porkypineacres3536]

Dude really. If you don’t have nothing to say please take less time doing so. Thanks

[@patrickday4206]

Dielectric grease is put on aluminum wire in electrical panels to prevent oxidation and last longer. It is put directly on the wire and contacts

[@moikechan]

Definitely not. That product is called Penetrox. Totally different product applied for a totally different reason.

[@PeterTrimboli]

No we use an oxide inhibitor called noalox or penatrox bunch of different names for it but it is definitely conductive just coats the wire to put a barrier on it from the aluminum to keep oxygen out of it cause over the years the aluminum will oxidize and turn to crap

[@PeterTrimboli]

If anyone read this comment do not use die electric grease on your 120 240 volt electrical connections you may burn your house down

[@wishmire33]

How many thousands of times are you going to say the exact same thing ...over and over again ? Boring...a waste of my time...I'm gone...won't be back !!!

[@vicpetrishak7705]

Online JB Tools , 8946 3M clear silicone paste 8 OZ. container $22.00 8/16/24