What is the likely corrosion here?

[Bleep Bleep]

70 Charger. Recent purchase. Plug wire ends and distribution cap shows quite a bit of some colored residue.
Planning on replacing plugs, wires, distributor.
But curious if there are any broader implications elsewhere based on cause?

 

[radical rob]

Dielectric grease???

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

show us a photo of the inside metal portion of that wire end.

 

[Bleep Bleep]

Dielectric grease???

Does that harden over time? About 5-6 yrs old.

 

[Davefinan]

Kind of looks like white lithium grease

 

[Bleep Bleep]

show us a photo of the inside metal portion of that wire end.

#8 cyl if that is of any relevance

 

[Bleep Bleep]

Update:

Plug wire ends and distribution cap shows quite a bit of some colored residue.

To be more accurate actually the other cyl wires are cleaner, relative to the one shown.

 

[OKDart]

Just guessing but I imagine moisture got in and corroded the zinc plating. I've seen that before on cars I've worked on. To prevent that, I'd say better quality terminals/distributor cap, and coat with dielectric grease.

Here's Google AI info: (bottom paragraph for zinc coated steel)

Powdery corrosion on electrical contacts is a serious issue that can significantly affect the performance and lifespan of electrical components.
Here's a breakdown of its causes, types, materials affected, effects, and solutions:
Causes of powdery corrosion

• Exposure to elements: Moisture, salt, dirt, dust, and corrosive chemicals are the primary culprits.
• Dissimilar metals: When different metals with varying electrochemical potentials are in contact in an electrolyte environment, galvanic corrosion can occur, resulting in a powdery substance.
• Fretting corrosion: This occurs in tin-plated connectors due to micromotion (vibration, temperature changes) and low contact pressure, leading to the buildup of tin oxides, a powdery substance.

Types of powdery corrosion

• White powder: Often seen on battery terminals and indicates the presence of lead sulfate (corrosion of the negative terminal) or potassium carbonate (leakage from alkaline batteries).
• Green/blue powder: Indicates copper sulfate, which is copper corrosion.
• Sulfur corrosion: Forms silver sulfide on silver contacts in the presence of sulfur in the air, creating a high-resistance layer.

Materials susceptible to powdery corrosion

• Copper: Commonly used in wires and cables, it can corrode over time, especially in damp environments.
• Tin-plated connectors: Vulnerable to fretting corrosion, leading to oxide buildup.
• Zinc-coated steel: Zinc corrodes into a white powdery substance (white rust) when exposed to moisture.
• Silver-plated contacts: Susceptible to sulfur corrosion.
• Battery terminals: Especially the negative terminals.