bulb grease

[easysurfer]

I was driving last night (out of town) and have trouble seeing at night. The headlights on my car were so dim (original light bulbs, about 15 years old). No way would I want to go through that again. So today, I went ahead and bought a new pair of headlights.

Amazon.com: Sylvania 9007 XV BP TWIN XtraVision Halogen Headlight - Pack of 2: Automotive

Got the lights at Autozone. Also, bought the bulb grease (didn't know they had such a thing) in the little packet. My car doesn't make it easy to change the bulb. Didn't have any tools so didn't remove the light casing. Instead, fiddled around and around with it til finally changed. The bulbs are a lot brighter. In full sun, I can still see the hightlights on where no way before could I see them on.

I knew to wear gloves to avoid putting hand oil on the glass of the bulb.
But in my fiddling around to get the bulb in place, I may have got a little bulb grease on a bulb. (I did go ahead and wipe the bulb with a napkin) Would that be just a bad as had oil? Hopefully, that won't shorten the light bulb's lifespan.

 

[ls99]

Nearly as bad.
Use denatured alcohol not rubbing alcohol to wipe clean. Or wait until it burns out then do it right the next time. It always comes down to: more money or time.

 

[easysurfer]

Cr*p! Not what I hoped for, but thanks for the answer. My excuse was trying to do the job in 96 degree heat and humidity. (I'm out of town, away on vacation). I'll probably be lazy and wait for it to burn out, then change it properly.

 

[JakeBrake]

I don't see at night as well as I used to, either. Another one of the advantages of growing older I suppose.

By "bulb grease" I assume you mean dielectric grease. Autozone sells the little packets and they also have larger tubes. I use the stuff on all almost all electrical connections. I use it on the electrical connection of all light bulbs on the cars and in the house. I use it on both ends of spark plugs. I use it on battery terminals. I use it on trailer connectors. etc.

I don't think it's any more harmful than any other automotive grease. Wiping up the excess should be with a napkin should be extremely adequate.

 

[easysurfer]

Yeah..that's the grease I'm talking about. It came in a little packet.


I hope so...guess time will tell as from what I've red, bulbs with oil on them can go kaput as soon as a week.