I need some help on how to properly use di-electric grease on electrical connections. It is my understanding that di-electric grease is not conductive, but seals out moisture. Since this stuff is like vaseline, how do you not get it on the electrical contacts. For example, I have been told to fill spark plug caps with di-electric grease and push over spark plugs. Then wipe off excess. I think that this would interupt electrical current. Also, I am installing a factory direct performance battery quick disconnect plug. I had a bad solenoid and could not shut off the engine, therefore, I want a quick disconnect. When I use the di-electric grease, should I pack the connector with grease and not worry about the grease on the contacts?

Any help would be appreciated. I just cannot understand the use of nonconductive grease on the contacts.

Just pack it in there, and all non-INDUCTIVE connections.

Basically it does NOT conduct. What it does do, is keep oxygen from reacting with you contacts, preventing an oxide layer from forming between the metal.

Believe me, you are NOT going to prevent the connection from using dielectric grease.

ps-my ski actually idles smoother when using dielectric grease.

Thanks Mark, I was having trouble verifying that the di-electric grease would not interupt the flow of electricity between contacts. I am going to fill all electrical connections with the stuff.

We never put di-electric grease in spark plug caps when building our race craft. Regular cleaning is the preferred option.

However, any other electrical contact that was fastened (battery terminals, ground wires, electrical box connections, etc) were always treated prior to assembly/installation and afterwards. Once the connection is made you can even use white lithium grease to cover the metal components.

Thanks for the advice. I have always sprayed Boeshield up inside the spark plug boots and will continue. I will use the Di-electric grease on everything else electrical. I check and replace the plugs often enough that it should not be a problem. Do you recommend routine cleaning in lieu of di-electric grease inside spark plug boots due to conductivity problems?

my dad told me to just use vaseline.....do you put in on only the black leads, or -/+, or what?

that boeshield is some good stuff..

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Do you recommend routine cleaning in lieu of di-electric grease inside spark plug boots due to conductivity problems?

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No. It's due to the potential of getting grease between the boot and the spark plug causing the spark plug cap to pop off.

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do you put in on only the black leads, or -/+, or what?

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Both! Definitely both.

I got ahold of the statement below off another forum (I sure obtain the most useful info from this forum). I still don't see why dielectric grease cannot be applied to the battery lugs and cable ends prior to connecting. I am going to try it and if problem, I will remove it. I want to avoid corrosion.


This is from another forum:
dielectric grease is non-conductive, I use it in my business (HV electrical work), it has insulating values between 1000 and 2000v/mil. (1/1000 inch)
Iwould NEVER use it between the conductors on hi-amperage connections like battery terminals.

I some times use a product called Cool-Amp or Conducto-lube http://www.cool-amp.com to decrease the resistance of electrical joints.

I think your best bet is to clean the (lead) terminals properly and connect them right away as lead forms an oxide film very fast.

Dielectric grease could then be applied over the entire terminal to prevent corrosion, the stuff that they sell in the auto stores to spray on to battery terminals is probably just as good and cheaper.

I agree with Riva. I used to use it in the plug boots, and also found it trap air and can cause the plug wire to pop off. That actually happend one time while riding. In addition, as often as plugs get replaced on my GP12r, the stuff is to messey.

so , what about the trailer lights? will it seal enough to avoid unpluging the harness ? or is that still recommended?

Unplugging the lights is the easiest and safest. Just don't forget to plug them back in!

If you are talking about the plug-in's to the lights themselves, yes, by all means use some there.

As RC stated, it still makes good sense to just unplug the connector up front while in/out water.

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Originally posted by scott_y:
my dad told me to just use vaseline.....do you put in on only the black leads, or -/+, or what?

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The reason for using a silicone dielectric grease is that silicones don't break down rubber like conventional greases. Vaseline will shorten the life of your spark plug boots. You'll end up getting missing as a result of the boots going bad. Just what you were trying to avoid by using the grease in the first place! Just buy a big tube of Sil-Glide and you've got a lifetime supply. Or to be cheap just get a $1 auto-parts counter pack. You don't need to pack those boots, just smear a thin layer on the spark plug insulator and take a toothpick or something and swirl a bit around the inside of the boot. Try to make sure that your spark plug insulators are clean before doing this too. Some dirty looking crud can mean a path for the spark energy to short out over.