Not sure of best place to post this, but I've probably shortened the life of some relay contacts due to liberal use of silicone spray, oils, and grease.

I didn't know that silicone will pit and coat relay contacts due to a by-product of silicone and arcing contacts.

I found this while researching good lubricants to use to increase relay point life:

"When a source of silicone gas (silicone rubber, silicone oil, silicone coating materials and silicone filling materials etc.) is used around the relay, a silicone gas (low molecular siloxane etc.) may be produced.

The produced silicone gas may penetrate the plastic case and enter the inside of the relay. When the relay is kept and used in this condition, silicone compound may adhere to the relay contacts. The silicone compound may be changed to be an insulator which may cause the contact failure. Do not use
any sources of silicone gas around the relay."

This was in the relay user section of this Panasonic pdf:

https://www.panasonic-electric-works.com/pew/eu/downloads/ca_automotiverelay_en.pdf

With further searching I found references ( as far back as the 80's ) to silicone products reducing the life of electric motors and other places " such as windshield wiper motion control contact surfaces ".

Guessing I'll be using far less silicone products in the future.

Last year I used molykote 33 to lube my wiper gears & the wiper control contacts. Possibly a bad choice due to possible shortening of the contacts and motor life.

So definitely don't try to clean or lube electric components or contacts with silicone products.

I've found a few products that are supposed to improve relay contact life but haven't chosen one to use yet. A few tout increasing relay contact point life and function way beyond normal non-lubricated contacts.