Electrical connection and ground grease

[landtoy80]

As I live in the rust belt, any bare metal will rust or corrode.
I always used a dielectrical grease in the electrical connectors and the ground spots (the bolts).
Do I keep doing what I am doing or should I use a conductive grease?
I tried Ox-gard on the connectors on the battery and grounds when I installed the Slee harness. WHen I started the motor I would get a spark and the battery would die, then come back to life. I cleaned off the Ox-gard and all was well.

 

[RavenTai]

the conductive grease must have made a short somewhere?

every time I disconnect an external (not inside the cab) connector for other maintenance I fill it with silicone Dielectric grease (non conductive), it helps keep oxygen and moisture out to prevent corrosion like you said

 

[Rich]

I would expect that conductive grease would be ok on single wire conductors where there is no chance of the grease shorting positive to ground. You would not want to use it in a multi wire connector.

Using it on a ground connector fastened to engine block or body would be ok. I'm not certain I would use it on battery posts. It contains powdered metal, and exposure to battery acid may cause more corrosion problems than plain grease or dielectric grease.

The problem you are describing sounds like a bad connection in the starting circuit. Could be a broken connection inside the battery or a damaged battery post.

 

[scottm]

Would copper antiseize be a good conductive grease? I just found dielectric grease at Autozone in a small aerosol can with an odd tube-like nozzle. I don't remember the price, but I've never found it this cheap before. STP I think.