Tomorrow I will install new Motorcraft O2 sensors (upstream) on my 2004 crown vic pi. I saw one thread where it was mentioned to use dialectric grease at the connector. I've not done that before, so maybe I've been leaving out a standard practice. Anyone else use that grease for O2 sensor connections? And because there are four pins, would there be a problem of shorting out? Thanks for any answers.
When dielectric grease is recommended it is primarily used to keep connections from corroding over time. So O2 sensors would be a good use due to their exposure to the elements under the car.
The grease will not short out the connector I have used this on multi-lead connections quite a bit. I use it on all the wiring connections for my 1980 Honda CB650 since they are all exposed to the elements.
Dielectric substances are an electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. But when it does so it does not conduct the electricity directly that is still done by the electrodes in the connector.
Thanks for the advice on the use of dielectric grease. I can go to the three circuits I have just decoupled (the MAF and two oxygen sensors) and apply it to the electrodes. As I mentioned earlier, I had read conflicting statements about using it, but your reply was well articulated. Thanks again!
Posted:1/25/2015 16:24