Question about using dielectric grease on coax connectors

An old timer from Comcast told me last summer to always put a thin coat of dielectric grease on my outdoor coax connections before tightening them. Said it would stop corrosion and make them easier to take apart later. I tried it on about 15 drops around town over the last 6 months and now I'm second guessing. Two of those connections had signal loss issues that were fixed by cleaning the grease off and re-terminating. Could be coincidence, could be I used too much. You guys put grease on your outdoor F connectors or do you keep them dry? Specifically for RG6 in wet climates.

2 comments

2 Comments

derekgibson1d ago

Used to be a "keep 'em dry" guy myself, thought grease was just asking for trouble... but then I started seeing old connectors that were basically welded together from corrosion, and that changed my mind. You gotta be real light with it though, like a super thin smear, not a blob. Too much and it works its way into the center conductor and messes with the signal, sounds like that's what happened on those two drops. I've had better luck with a light coat just on the threads and the outside of the connector, leaving the center pin clean.

anthonykim19h ago

That "light smear, not a blob" thing is the whole key, man. It reminds me of how I used to slather sunscreen on my face as a kid and wonder why I looked like a ghost in every photo. Just a tiny bit too much product and the whole thing flips from helpful to ruining your signal or your selfies. Same with WD40 on a squeaky door hinge, a quick spray fixes it, a full soak just makes a mess that drips everywhere. I see this pattern everywhere, people think if a little is good then a lot is better, but with grease, sunscreen, or lubricant, the margin between "just right" and "too much" is thinner than you'd think.