Dielectric grease preferences?

[Thompson2]

The small tube I used to have has gone AWOL so I was browsing Amazon for a replacement. Apparently I haven’t needed to buy any in a very long time because I had forgotten there are multiple formats... my first inclination was just to buy another small tube, but then I reflected on the number of connections that will need protection and began pondering a couple of other possibilities.

First option is the small tube. Seems like it’d be easy to manuever / deal with when I’m contorted up under the dash. But, it’s only a small quantity and relatively expensive for its size. Also, it would take 2 hands to apply. One to dispense and one to smear.

Second option is a can with a brush. Brush seems like it’d get into the tighter spaces, but might hold way too much grease for the small connectors. Also looks like you can reload the brush one handed.

Third option is an aresol. Moderately priced, super easy to apply when you have straight line access to the connectors. Might encourage application only to the wire end of the connector instead of to the tab as well. Unknown how well it covers. Reviews say it’s very much a liquid and less like a gel.

Anyone have a strong opinion on any of these or maybe a fourth option I overlooked?

Cheers!
Michael Thompson
Portland, OR

[flemcadiddlehopper]

Go with the squeeze tube. The brush style leave most of it in the bottle, the spray type goes everywhere and is not very eco-friendly.
I squeeze a bit into a small magnetic tray and grab what I need with a small flathead screwdriver. That way the tray holds your screwdriver for you too, even when upside down under a dash.

Gordo.
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Everybody Dies....Some Never Live.

Retrograde Garage. Vintage Aircooled, and others.

[Thompson2]

[cdennisg]

So, this has brought up a question I have had for a long time.

Is this?...

The same as this...

The cost difference is significant, though for as often as this stuff gets used on a car, price really isn't a big deal. I have had two small tubes of dielectric grease for at least a decade and they still have plenty left. I'm just curious.
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nothing

[Thompson2]

The GB stuff is specifically for connecting aluminum wires. Might work, but it’s definitely different. The stuff I’ve used is grey and sticky, not clear and slick like the dielectric grease.

Definitely not worth it if it doesn’t work right. Nobody wants to have to go back through every single connection.

[flemcadiddlehopper]

????? I think I would use the stuff that's meant for cars. I've used the permatex brand and the Wurth stuff . No difference between them, and I can't help you with price differences as it's just supplied by the shops I've worked in.

I can mention when using on bulb connections, make sure you get it on the connection parts and off the glass. Even fingers shouldn't touch the glass bits. I know that's just for halogens, but it's good practice for all bulbs.

Gordo.
_________________
Everybody Dies....Some Never Live.

Retrograde Garage. Vintage Aircooled, and others.

[cdennisg]

[Thompson2]

[cdennisg]

[Thompson2]

[Major Woody]

They are not the same. The anti-oxidant is created as a coating but also functions as a sacrificial anode to protect the aluminum.

Buy real dialectric grease on ebay, it's cheap for a little tube.

[cdennisg]