LordRipberger

Hey Guys,

I take my antenna out every so often during the winter when I go through a car wash because I don't want the antenna to get ripped off or bent. I know what many of you are thinking, but I think it is worse to leave the all the salt and crap on my car all winter than to go through a car wash. I can take out minor scratches. Plus it looks terrible when it has crap all over it, all winter.

Anyway, I have noticed there is a very small minor amount of surface rust on the end of the antenna when I unscrew it (the threads); which is starting to make the unscrewing a little more difficult.

I wanted to know if there was a substance or a kind of grease I could put in the whole and around the threads of the antenna to prevent the issue from getting worse and keep the area lubricated for easy removal in the future.

Thanks.

Ronin38

Di-Electric grease! It's almost pure silicone, and is great for all electrical connections in cars, trucks, boats, etc.

I got little packets of it with a new set of spark plug wires, and a little goes a looonnnggg way! Still squeezing little bits out of that package and using it!

Glenn

wd-40 will work also

LordRipberger

I was under the impression that WD40 was a temporary fix to things. As after repeated and long time use, it will actually make the problem worse as it breaks down over time and become acidic.

ford4v429

how about just good old vaseline... I kinda worry about any silicone oils as they can be a royal pain to get off paint, and might tend to streak if it seeps out- like armorall on a tonneau cover, man was that ever a mistake...

tip- ever had a aluminum lightbulb end weld and twist off in a socket? put a little dab of vaseline on the treads and it wont happen.

cdynaco

contains sulfuric acid. unless they've changed the formula since the 80's. I only use wd to break loose frozen/rusted stuff.

cdynaco

good trick - it doesn't block current?

ford4v429

never had any problems... we have a lot of 'coolant in the connector' issues at work on some of the CNCs, a buddy had been completely pushing the amphenol plugs into vaseline before installing them, they last a lot longer- I hate it as its messy as heck, but it works- encoders are highspeed 5 volt signals, motors are 2~300 volt high frequency/high current, never seen any ill effects- other than the mess.
on lightbulbs I just put a tiny dab on the fiirst thread, it smears as you put the bulb in, they never get that 'nails on a chalkboard' squeak or stick again- ceiling fans are the worst, my wife busted 3 off in a year...I'd mentioned to someone about how this was never a issue back when bases were brass, they told me about the vaseline trick.

I also use it for 'tip dip' for my mig, smear some around where youre welding too as anti spatter and those little BBs wont stick to the metal either. best thing is it cleans right off with pretty much ANY type of a solvent or detergent.

I'm sure a dielectric grease has advantages(even the factory uses it on our car connectors), but its not always the easiest stuff to find

cdynaco

Glenn

I stand corrected. I suggested wd-40 because it disperses water.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40

LordRipberger

I am also betting that vaseline is cheaper than a di-eletric grease.

The only concern I have is putting vaseline in my antenna socket and if I ever need to clean it out, how would I do it that. That whole is not big enough to get a finger in there and wipe it out.

ford4v429

thats a good read- never knew it was good for aluminum corrosion protection...wonder if it might work on hood edges, or if it would harm paint...hmm

Glenn

He said vaseline, socket, hole and finger all in the same sentence

Glenn

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CIMBEPMCMAA#
maybe try something like this

Glenn

Charlie stated above that it contains sulfuric acid.

I don't know if wd-40 would harm the paint. I have heard of people using it on their 1/4 panels when doing burnouts so the hot rubber from the tires wouldn't stick to them.

cdynaco

And so this popped in your mind at 5.40am.... what were you dreaming about all night?

Glenn

7:42 my time ...and yea my honey keeps me pretty horney lol x2