Should I use Dielectric Compound

[accentphoto]

Getting ready to install a bunch of new ignition parts and I was curious if there was any reason to or not to use the Dielectric Silicone Compound.

I was hoping that this stuff would keep if not help make better the electrical connection of each part to the terminal mounts on the rectifier, switch boxes and coils. I was told many years back that it never hurt on a car but I am in a different boat now (bad pun intended).

Suggestions? Is it possible that this will impede the metal to metal contact process if I put it on top, sides and bottom of the terminals, threaded posts and nuts? I am trying to cut down on the oxidation process from the environment I will be running the motor in.

 

[jeffersondodson561]

Re: Should I use Dielectric Compound

Dielectric grease is non conductive, in every advisory I have read and class I have had, has suggested not to put it on the circuitry but to put it on the sealing surfaces like orings, and connector housings.

 

[accentphoto]

Re: Should I use Dielectric Compound

Thanks for the reply. It seems another group had a BIG discussion about this with different quotes from different manufacturers. Its kinda good reading and entertaining as most forums are. Here is the link if anyone is interested: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/002410.html

They make a great point of most metal terminals that slide together create their own metal to metal contact and the dielectric further protects the exterior terminal parts from water and corrosion. Maybe I will use it on top of the connection points as a protector. I put this stuff all around a new solenoid I installed and maybe by the pressure of tightening the terminal nuts I squeezed out the grease to make a decent contact. Who knows ... but I definitely know that I will use this on the spark plug boots to keep them from getting stuck with the spark plugs.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Should I use Dielectric Compound

It protects electrical connections and wiring from salt, dirt and corrosion. Extends the life of bulb sockets. Prevents voltage leakage around any electrical connection. Also prevents spark plugs from fusing to boots. Good stuff!!

 

[accentphoto]

Re: Should I use Dielectric Compound

I started redoing my electrical mounting plate from the starboard side of the motor today. I had to bead blast it to remove some deep pitted corrosion that was under one of the coils. I ended up blasting it, lightly sanding it smooth and spraying the front and back with silicon spray for a little corrosion resistance. Then I mounted the newer coils, new CDI Switch Boxes and CDI Rectifier. I put CRC Dielectric Compound on every mounting thread, terminal, nut, connector thread and even on the back side of the rectifier. I took readings with a continuity tone on my meter from each point and everything that needed ground was reading perfect. I am surprised at how tacky the dielectric "grease" really is.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Should I use Dielectric Compound

Trying to think what the grease is but it transfers heat too. Use it on ECR's to keep them from burning out. Might be a better choice when mounting electronics on your engine. Will post type when think of it,

 

[accentphoto]

Re: Should I use Dielectric Compound

Just finished slathering each nut and post with dielectric and here is the final before and after with a redone wire harness from the switch boxes to the coils. Note the switch boxes are not one up and one down as before but both are in the up position. I had to be real careful here on wiring the newly inverted from OEM positioned switch box. Also, I figured out what fried most of the electronics ... the PO had the rectifier wired wrong. (Warning this sounds a little confusing) He had a yellow going to the + or what should have been the red wire to the battery and the red wire going to a yellow wires connection or the a leg of the stator output. I think the end effect was instead of sending direct current 12v back to the battery and ignition the one side for the pulsed voltage got a constant feed from the battery and the positive to the battery was actually sending power to the stator. Kind of like putting two trains heading towards each other on a train track except the trains here would be electricity heading towards each other. Whew! Now for the photos. Just for fun I thought I'd layout the wiring for the new stator and trigger just in case someone was curious as to what most of the 1984 Inline 6 Mercury Mariner 90hp looks like.

 

[accentphoto]

Re: Should I use Dielectric Compound

Fishing Dude too, in as much as I am not sure if the rectifier bottom acts as a heat sync or ground to engine block, it got a nicely spread spot of dielectric as well. Hey... better safe than sorry. The switch boxes from CDI do not have any metal bodies (unlike the OEM and similar replacements) so no grease on them except the mounting bolts. I do know about that "silver paste" for computers. It boosts one of the highest temperature transfer efficiencies around.