On 1/27/2016 2:18 PM, Micky wrote:
My car's radio antenna doesn't fully retract when the radio is off and
it's really cold out. I know it needs to have the mast lubricated,
but the only "oil" I can find now is Sta-bil, the gasoline stabilizer.
Do you think that would work?

More important and with deeper electonic meaning, is it possible that
actual oil say, or any other lubricant, getting between two of the
telescoping sections of the car antenna could impede the electrical
current which is the radio signal? Even if oil conducts electricity
(does it?) the conductivity is less than the metal in the antenna, so
wouldn't there be a partial reflection at the junction between metal
and oil and again between oil and metal, and twice again between the
next larger concentric piece of tubing that is the antenna? About 10
junctions in all, I think, for my 6-section antenna.

Or do the pieces of antenna even have to touch each other for them to
act as one antenna? I know there are signal reflectors that don't
have to touch the antenna, say for an indoor radio, plus my hand
sometimes affects reception, but reflection is different from
reception.

Do they have to touch and would too much oil interfere in their
touching?


Mistake to use Sta-bil as residue from evaporation could make it worse.
If I were you, I'd clean it off before using any oil. If it's dirty you
could gum it up worse.