Silicone paste helps electrical connections withstand the elements, thereby minimizing the risk of weather-related electrical comebacks.
Silicone paste, also known as dielectric grease, has applications on components such as brake parts, suspension bushings, spark plug boots and ignition terminals. But service personnel may underestimate its value on basic electrical connections.
I began using silicone paste on various electrical connections back in 1977. I happened to interview an engineer who described its ability to protect terminals from rain, snow, road splash, road salt, humidity and battery fumes.
What's more, silicone paste won't liquefy or melt in a hot engine compartment.
Among the locations where I have tried silicone paste are battery terminals, firewall harness connectors, various lighting connectors and trailer harness terminals — not to mention computer, sensor and actuator connectors.
The engineer said the paste would not restrict the flow of electricity through a healthy electrical connection. Numerous times I have tested electrical connections before and after treating the terminals with the paste.
Indeed, I have never measured any increase in the voltage drop across an electrical connection after treating its terminals.
The silicone paste protects an electrical connection by coating its terminals, filling the tiny voids or air gaps between those terminals. To be fair, experience has shown that many electrical connectors withstand years of exposure to all the elements.