Dielectric Grease

[Wild one]

I think some of you guys are using dielectric grease for the wrong purposes.
Here's something you need to read.
I never put any inside a spark plug boot,i always put a smear of it on the base of the porcellin on the plug,so i do sort of disagree with the way they use it inside a plug boot

Dielectric Grease on Spark Plugs

Dielectric grease is a simple compound of oil and silica filler that’s very hydrophobic and is excellent at sealing out moisture and preventing corrosion. The trick with using a dielectric grease is knowing where to apply it to seal the electrical contacts from moisture ingress and prevent...

mgchemicals.com

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/what-is-dielectric-grease/

 

[Grams]

That article is simply incorrect. Dielectric grease is Specifically for electrical connections and terminals, and on aircraft is used Directly on the metal contacts for the specific purpose of ensuring good electrical contact and to prevent oxidation (corrosion).

I ALWAYS use a Q-tip to smear it thoroughly inside the spark plug boot including the metal terminal. As an aircraft mechanic…I have done this for 40+ years on both aircraft and automotive and marine ignition systems with complete success. (not to mention that if a 55,000-volt electron cannot penetrate a thin “smear” of grease then there are Significantly Greater issues at hand.)

…and the grease ensures that next time you need to remove the boot it’s not vulcanized to the spark plug insulator. (A “dab” of it on spin on oil filter gaskets is also recommended instead of “oil or petroleum grease” which will “coke” and “cook” and make the filter/gasket difficult to remove next time. BTW…the REASON instructions ask you to use “oil” or “grease” is not to make it easy to remove next time… It’s to prevent the twisting action of installation from dislodging or twisting the gasket out of position during installation. Again, in aircraft spin on filters…we smear a bit of dielectric grease on the filter gasket…NEVER use oil or grease.
Hope this helps.

 

[Wild one]

That article is simply incorrect. Dielectric grease is Specifically for electrical connections and terminals, and on aircraft is used Directly on the metal contacts for the specific purpose of ensuring good electrical contact and to prevent oxidation (corrosion).

I ALWAYS use a Q-tip to smear it thoroughly inside the spark plug boot including the metal terminal. As an aircraft mechanic…I have done this for 40+ years on both aircraft and automotive and marine ignition systems with complete success. (not to mention that if a 55,000-volt electron cannot penetrate a thin “smear” of grease then there are Significantly Greater issues at hand.)

…and the grease ensures that next time you need to remove the boot it’s not vulcanized to the spark plug insulator. (A “dab” of it on spin on oil filter gaskets is also recommended instead of “oil or petroleum grease” which will “coke” and “cook” and make the filter/gasket difficult to remove next time. BTW…the REASON instructions ask you to use “oil” or “grease” is not to make it easy to remove next time… It’s to prevent the twisting action of installation from dislodging or twisting the gasket out of position during installation. Again, in aircraft spin on filters…we smear a bit of dielectric grease on the filter gasket…NEVER use oil or grease.
Hope this helps.

There are electrically conductive electric greases available,which you guys would of probably been using,but the average dielectric grease you buy at your local brick and mortar auto store is not usually a conductive dielectric grease.


"The primary difference between dielectric greases and "conductive" greases is that "conductive" greases and anti-seize greases include some amount of finely-powdered metal. "

 

[04fxdwgi]

In the highly corrosive marine environment, I use the same conductive contact grease on electrical / battery connections that the telecom industry uses on all the DC buss connections. They use that with a hundred years of history / track record. Good old bellcor stds..

For non electrical connections, I use the std old non conductive dielectric grease (insulating silicon) to to keep moisture out of connectors and plug boots. Never have a problem.

 

[Grams]

There are electrically conductive electric greases available,which you guys would of probably been using,but the average dielectric grease you buy at your local brick and mortar auto store is not usually a conductive dielectric grease.


"The primary difference between dielectric greases and "conductive" greases is that "conductive" greases and anti-seize greases include some amount of finely-powdered metal. "

We specifially used Dow-Corning DC4 , Electrical Insulating Compoud which, despite that title is described thusly:
“

• Typical Use: Used for making a moisture-proof seal for aircraft, automotive and marine ignition systems and spark plug connections, electrical assemblies and terminals, assembly lubricant for various metal-on-plastic and metal-on-rubber combinations.”