Are not most fuels and solvents "Oxidizers" of some sort or another? Not cool for electrical connections over the long haul. (Flamable too.) A little residue, and ten years from now they get a lost neutral.... Like spraying bleach on Al clad buss, a few months later it will be white chalk. Oils on the other hand have Anti-oxidizing properties. And not all oils are the same.... Some are great mechanically, but not electricaly inert. Some like WD-40 actually soften metals over time. Remember this is for an electrical connection and should be purpose specific, especially with AL conductors.

Among others, I like a product called "corrosion-X HD" for GP reasons when working with copper buss, cutting KO's, etc. (Word of caution - aerosols, dielectic, or conductive oils and live electrical circuits don't mix!)

Back on topic though, there is no way to measure PSI inside a connection... "Erk's" could lead to one of two things failure of the lug or the treads in it, or over-compression reducing the conductor size. the NEC handbook also has some listed in the commentary after 110.14.


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason