Steering wheel contact grease

[e21pilot]

I'm about to put the steering wheel back on the steering column and I notice that there is a small amount of clear grease by the electrical contacts that touch the tracks on the backside of the wheel. I've cleaned up the wheel and would like to add a little more of this grease.

Wondering what type of grease is this and where can I get some?

 

[forzda]

I believe it is Dielectric grease , it is used to make connections corrosion free . any auto parts store should have it

 

[adsm08]

It's not di-electric grease. It's electric grease. There is a minor but super important distinction.

Electric grease is thin, runny, and for use in low-voltage applications like headlights, and airbags.

Dielectric grease is thick and pasty, and for use in high-voltage applications like spark plug wires.

 

[forzda]

It's not di-electric grease. It's electric grease. There is a minor but super important distinction.

Electric grease is thin, runny, and for use in low-voltage applications like headlights, and airbags.

Dielectric grease is thick and pasty, and for use in high-voltage applications like spark plug wires.

thanks for clearing that up , you learn something new everyday

 

[Mark_88]

Even more clarification...electric grease is actually called conductive grease by some people...but Adsm08 has the right idea...

http://www.w8ji.com/dielectric_grease_vs_conductive_grease.htm

 

[bruker]

Crisco works just fine too.

















OK, OK maybe not...

 

[Mark_88]

Actually, Crisco will work...but only if the part is already...ahem...fried...

 

[Andy D]

Crisco would get stinky after awhile. I recommend lard or bacon. For terminals some sort of petroleum jelly is used . It is non conductive. It gets expressed from the connections that amperage flows through. You make the connection, then slather the grease on. It keeps the air out. Di-electric grease is pretty cool stuff. I used it to quiet down a dried out set of Plug wires on my old Willys wagon. That is how I learned about the difference.