Need some help

[5th Tuition]

Not a lot of activity on the board so let me ask this question here instead of a different forum.

My navigation lights (both red and green) do the same thing. The bulbs last for a short while (couple hours) then stop working. The filiment doesn't blow!! It's almost like a contact problem. They are "festoon" bulbs. They have a contact on the top and the bottom. It's like corrosion of some sort keeps from making good contact.
My main question is can I use some type of "electrical" grease (looks like white vasoline) and put just a light coating on the top and bottom of the bulb to improve the connection?
I don't use them very often, so they may go unused for a month, then I turn them on and they work fine. But use them for several hours, and one or both of them stop working.
If I put in a new bulb, they work fine again.
I've tried sandpapering the little "donut" contacts, but it still occurs. It's such a pain, that if I see some LED nav. lights that would fit my bow; I might just switch them out when available.
I hope I explained it well enough for a response.
5th (Marty)

[PhilK999]

Marty, I was having a similar problem and did the marine electrical lube I got at the marina and I have not replaced a lamp ina year and was doing on a regular basis before I did that.

[Skip]

I think what you are looking for is called dielectric grease.
Home Depot carries it.

Odd it happens after the bulb has been on for some time.
Almost sounds like the metal is getting hot and expanding slightly - just enough to lose contact. Might be worth trying to very gently bend the contact upwards for a better contact.

[PhilK999]

Skip used the right term. That is what worked for me, I just couldn't engage the brain to come up with the name.

[5th Tuition]

Phil; that's great to hear that your problem was corrected with the grease. Skip, thanks for the proper name (I couldn't think of it either). I know they applied some to my trailer connection (coupler) last time the trailer was serviced.

I'll hit home depot tomorrow to buy some.

5th (Marty)

[Night Nurse]

That reminded me to do the same with my lights. Had the same problem several years back and only now did I lose the bulb. Quick trip to the hardware store for me.

TED