Silicone for car doors: the most complete analysis of the topic

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Silicone lubricants were still known fifty years ago. But they gained great popularity 10 years later. They were most often remembered in the automotive environment. Silicone is used to process rubber products, mainly car door seals. It is used to lubricate rubbing surfaces.

But not everyone knows how to use it correctly. Today we’ll figure out how to properly use silicone for car doors. Let's make a small TOP of silicone lubricants, which one is better to choose for a car.

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Ways to open doors

If you neglected lubrication or simply forgot to apply the product to the seal, the doors froze. There is no point in opening them by force, as you may damage the mechanism and handle. The first thing to do in such a situation is to try to swing the door back and forth so that the frozen water cracks. Another way is to get into the car through the luggage compartment, if of course it opens. When all else fails, try opening doors in these ways:

• Pour 1.5 liters of warm water into a plastic bottle. Pour water slowly from top to bottom at the junction of the body and the door. Warm water will melt the ice and the doors will open immediately. Just make sure that the water is not too hot;
• Spray the joint between the doors and the body with Vedashka and try to open it again.

Never use crowbars or other tools to open doors. They will only ruin your car.

As soon as you get into the car, immediately wipe the doors and rubbers dry and put the car in the garage. Then treat the rubber seals in any way as suggested above. If you have experienced doors freezing, write what methods you used and what helped you. Share your useful experience with us, it is interesting and useful, as it helps to avoid force majeure situations.

To prevent the driver from having problems opening doors in winter, you need to prepare for frost in advance and treat the door seals with a special compound. The best option is lubricant for car door seals , which prevents the rubber seal from freezing.

Table 1

Why do seals need lubrication?

In general, silicone-based lubricant is a universal product that not only protects rubber seals and other surfaces , but is also used to solve many other problems. Its use greatly increases the life of many decorative and sealing elements in any car.

Spray treatment of rubber seals

The lubricant used for rubber seals protects the elements from cracking, aging, and winter freezing . In addition, this product improves tightness, heat and sound insulation.

But it is precisely the versatility of the existing properties of silicone-based lubricants that allows them to be used for almost all rubber and plastic car parts. Silicone has ideal chemical properties, including water-repellent characteristics and the ability to protect parts from mechanical damage. The operating temperature of such products is in the range from -50ºС to +250ºС. But regardless of the ambient temperature, the viscosity of silicone lubricants does not change.

This allows you to use silicone for car doors and other elements at any time of the year: in winter - to prevent the seal from freezing to the body, and in summer - to prevent drying out and destruction of rubber parts.

Why are seals needed?

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, seals are designed to provide a tight seal. They create a barrier that prevents the penetration of dust and contaminants from the external environment, and, conversely, prevents the leakage of various substances.

For the production of seals, elastomers are most often used - elastic and soft materials that can easily take the shape of mating surfaces.

Rubber seals must:

• Ensure tightness for a given service life
• Be resistant to working environments and external factors
• Provide ease of installation and dismantling
• Prevent corrosion of metal surfaces
• Reduce heating and friction losses in components of various equipment

During long-term storage or during operation, seals can be exposed to high loads and temperatures, various working fluids and substances, and negative environmental factors. All this leads to the aging of elastomers: they lose elasticity, swell or shrink, and lose their insulating properties.

Silicone lubricants can solve such problems and increase the service life of seals.

Types of lubricants

When wondering how to lubricate rubber bands, you need to have an idea of ​​what types of lubricants are available to motorists today and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each type. This should be discussed in a little more detail.

Spray for treating seals

Paste products

These are thick plastic mixtures applied using napkins. Paste-like products are used when treating rubber car seals , diving equipment and household appliances. The disadvantages of such lubricants include the difficulty of lubricating hard-to-reach places.

Gel products

This type of lubricant has a thick or liquid consistency and is applied to parts using a soft cloth. The advantages of thick products include the fact that parts that are not being processed remain clean . While their disadvantage is the impossibility of application in hard-to-reach places. Liquid gel-like products are used to treat complex devices, since, on the contrary, they easily penetrate hard-to-reach places. The disadvantage of liquid gel products is their ability to spread, but sometimes this becomes their clear advantage.

Aerosol products

These products are easy to use. They are used for applying to large surfaces and small parts in hard-to-reach places. The disadvantage of aerosols is excessive splashing , leading to contamination of neighboring elements. To reduce splashing, you need to use special long nozzles. In addition, if not rubbed thoroughly enough, aerosol products form greasy stains.

Aerosol sealant treatment agent

Conditioner "Very Lube"

This product is in the form of a spray, which is intended for treating rubber and plastic surfaces. It helps restore color and protect against aging . The spray has excellent cleaning properties, penetrates deeply into small cracks and scratches, and when filling them cleans them of dust and dirt accumulations. The use of such a product helps restore the original color and shine, improve the aesthetic appearance of rubber surfaces, protect against fading and cracking, and prevent freezing of rubber seals on doors, hoods, and trunk. The only drawback of applying the spray is the fragility of the protective coating. This increases the need for their use.

Penetrating lubricant "NanoProTech"

Today, lubricants of this type have become very popular. They have ideal moisture-proof, anti-corrosion, lubricating and penetrating properties . Prevents freezing of moving parts at temperatures down to -80ºС. The lubricant is recommended for use on rubber seals. It guarantees reliable protection from moisture, helps improve the condition of rubber elements and their stable operation. The product has many advantages:

• promotes the formation of a waterproof and water-repellent protective layer that pushes out moisture;
• filling microscopic cracks and depressions;
• the lubricant retains elasticity for a long time;
• does not destroy materials;
• does not dissolve in water and does not form an emulsion;
• the product does not contain rubber, silicone, Teflon, etc.;
• the product is not exposed to external factors;
• it is safe for humans and nature;
• resistant to mechanical stress;
• operating temperature range from -80ºС to +160ºС;
• The period of preservation of protective properties is up to three years.

How to make rubber elastic

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Gasoline and oil resistant rubber becomes hard when left dry for a long time. Wetting with oil helped restore elasticity (in particular, the O-rings on the bumblebee primus stove).

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Posted 05 Nov. 2007 17:35

With the onset of the autumn-winter season, I began to understand that in order to maintain visibility at a normal level (especially in the dark, of which there is a lot in winter), it is necessary to change the wipers.

Old windshield wiper blades practically ceased to perform their function - they jumped on the glass, squeaked, and left streaks.

After previous replacements, I was left with 5 pairs of old wipers with the same symptoms. Each of them had already served its purpose and was sent into retirement with the above symptoms (creaking, jumping on glass, etc.). Moreover, among them there are SWF, Champion, and noname.

Before purchasing new windshield wiper blades, I decided to experiment with old wipers. After reading on the Internet what car owners advise, I conducted an experiment.

1. Take an old windshield wiper blade. We check the rubber for mechanical wear - the presence of breaks and other obvious defects in the wiper rubber. If everything is OK, go to step 2.

2. We check the frame (all hinge joints, the place of attachment to the lever) for the presence of play. If nothing hangs above the permissible limits, go to step 3. If the wiper itself has already become loose, then most likely it will go into the firebox.

3. Thoroughly degrease the gum.

Someone recommended wiping it with anti-bitumen, maybe it helps.

I had white spirit and a clean rag on hand, with the help of which the rubber band was carefully wiped off everything that had accumulated on it during the period of use, and there was a lot of dirt on it.

4. Spray/smear the rubber band with silicone grease.

This should restore elasticity to the elastic.

5. After rubbing the rubber band with silicone grease, leave it in this state for a while. (several hours, days, etc., whoever cares). I waited 2 hours because... I had to go.

6. Before starting use, wipe the rubber band again with white spirit (carefully, and not as in step 2), thereby removing any remaining silicone grease from it, so as not to smear it on the windshield, because This clearly will not improve visibility.

If the silicone grease remains on the rubber band, then the wiper will also glide well, but not only on the glass, but also on the water that is on the windshield, on the dirt stuck to it, and on frozen ice - it’s generally excellent. There won't be anything to wipe off.

7. Let's try. My wipers wiped the glass without squeaks or streaks. After the experiment, 3 days passed - the effect of the new wipers did not disappear.

Time will tell how long these brushes will really last after the procedures performed.

I liked the result. The purchase of new windshield wiper blades has been postponed indefinitely, given my stock of used wipers (it’s good that I didn’t throw them away)

They also recommend turning the rubber band on the old wiper the other way around, but to do this you first need to pull it out, which requires a little effort. The above procedures were enough for me, without turning the gum over.

PS The ability of silicone grease to restore the properties of rubber is confirmed.

Application

Automotive lubricants have a wide range of applications .

Door seals

Lubricants are actively used to prevent cracks and wear of the sealing elements of doors, hood, and trunk . Experts recommend regularly treating these elements with silicone-based lubricants. This contributes to maximum sealing and the absence of extraneous sounds in the cabin. In addition, such lubricants are used to process all kinds of moving elements and surfaces.

Using silicone spray, door hinges and side window grooves are treated. For easy sliding of the hatch and reduction of loads on its surface, this treatment extends the operating time.

In addition, all surfaces treated with such means are protected from wear and damage, corrosion and exposure to external factors.

Locking mechanisms

Regardless of the make and model of the car, all vehicles have a decent number of locking mechanisms. All of them are exposed to external factors and mechanical wear. For example, condensation, accumulating in the secret of the element in winter, freezes, which makes it difficult or prevents the opening of doors, hood, trunk and other parts equipped with a lock. To prevent this, you need to regularly lubricate the mentioned mechanisms.

Using the nozzle for hard-to-reach places

Silicone-based lubricant prevents icing. Excellent penetrating characteristics ensure easy penetration of the product into any hard-to-reach places. Teflon, which is part of the composition, creates an invisible protective layer on the surfaces of parts. This prevents corrosion and various oxidations.

Silicone is highly resistant to salt solutions, alkalis and mildly aggressive acids.

Plastic elements

Plastic parts in the car interior (dashboard, door cards, etc.) often emit extraneous noise; to prevent this, it is recommended to use these chemicals.

Silicone-based lubricant does this job perfectly. Contact and joint lines treated with silicone grease stop making any noise. Also, using these compositions, you can treat any plastic elements, this gives them shine and thereby changes the appearance of the interior.

Suspension parts

Suspension parts made of rubber are exposed to harmful foreign microparticles. When moisture, dust or sand gets on parts, they act on them like abrasives , which leads to their rapid wear. In winter, to reduce the influence of aggressive compounds and reagents on suspension parts, it is also advisable to treat them with a protective agent. Today, all kinds of silicone-based lubricants are on sale, aimed at protecting metal parts of the body and chassis from negative influences that cannot be avoided when operating a car.

Lubricating rubber door seals

Control details

Silicone lubricants extend the life of the sealing bushings of pedals and levers. Moreover, aerosols are excellent for applying to cables. To do this, the product is blown into the protective casing of the cable using a special thin nozzle, having previously disassembled it.

This treatment promotes good gliding and protects against moisture/dust.

Making the right choice for processing loops

The hinges in the machine need to be lubricated several times a quarter; if the operation is not particularly intensive, the frequency of this procedure can be reduced. But is it worth it to start the state of the doors and wait until they cry out to you by creaking and jamming when the car is opened.

To avoid regretting your choice, buy Wurth 2000 synthetic adhesive lubricant. It is also suitable for locks, cables, rollers and gears. Good penetration into all gaps and crevices, formation of a stable and reliable film, protection from all those factors that negatively affect car parts - all this allows us to call this product the best in its segment. A similar product that can also be used on door locks, not just hinges, is Molykote Multigliss.

Since you are treating doors, you should at the same time acquire a Movil spray can, which is very effective at treating the lower edge, preventing the formation of corrosion. Hinges can also be treated with this product, but only if there is no special lubricant at hand. The thick brown liquid, when properly applied to well-cleaned surfaces, can retain its protective and lubricating functions for about a year. And this at a low cost. The only small drawback is the process of applying this product, which requires a brush.

You need to love, protect and take care of your car, then it will respond to you with gratitude and will not let you down along the way. Each element of the machine requires your attention, door hinges and locks can cause inconvenience if they are not monitored and the lubrication process is ignored.

What to choose

The basis of silicone lubricants for rubber seals is mixing a polymethylsilixane solution and propylenes with the addition of various types of polymers. The differences between the products are almost impossible to discern. All of them provide excellent results in moisture repellency and lubrication.

The main differences between these products are the presence or absence of odor, ease of processing and application. Operating temperature conditions also differ slightly (ranges -30°C-+200°C and -50°C-+250°C). The solvents contained in such products erode easily, thanks to which they dry quite quickly.

Treatment of hard-to-reach places

To determine the type of lubricant, you must carefully read the instructions for use and technical instructions. parameters . It is preferable to treat glass seals with a paste-like or gel-like product; for the hood/trunk, gels and aerosols are the best option.

The quality of lubricants is determined by their shelf life, manufacturer’s rating and price - a low cost may have a low quality composition.

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Let's sum it up

In addition to special products intended for lubricating car door locks, there are also old recipes for car care for car locks that are still used today. Many car owners with extensive driving experience continue to actively use them, for example, they use grease or kerosene. And they continue to save on purchasing a newfangled lubricant.

However, if you really don’t want your car doors to stop opening one frosty winter morning, then it’s best to purchase a product specially created for this purpose rather than rely on traditional methods.

Let's categorize the lubricant compositions described in our article according to the effectiveness and preferences of many car owners:

1. The best choice is lithium grease with the addition of molybdenum disulfide. High quality lubricant, but the price is appropriate.
2. Silicone compounds are universal, suitable not only for metal processing. However, they can wash out quite quickly, so their service life, as a rule, is much shorter.
3. You can also purchase graphite lubricant. This is a less preferred and proven option, but also cheaper. Grease can cause wear on the hinges and locks of the car. However, it is recommended to opt for the other two lubricant compositions described above.

All of the above compounds are on sale and at an affordable price. Therefore, each car owner should decide for himself how to lubricate car door locks for the winter, based on his capabilities and preferences. What product do you prefer for lubricating car locks? You can share your experience in the comments.

Lubrication Methods

Freezing occurs due to the accumulation of moisture in the sealing rubber bands. Most often this happens after washing the car. It is difficult to remove all the water from the body with a rag; it gradually flows onto the rubber bands, where it remains for a long time. Since the rubber band connects the body to the door, the door automatically freezes. So the first thing to do after washing is to wipe the body and the rubber seals dry again, don’t forget about the trunk. To be sure to avoid such an incident, it is better to leave the car after washing in a warm garage until it is completely dry.

If your car is sleeping or parked in the yard, you can prepare in advance. Treat the rubber gasket with a product that will prevent freezing and moisture accumulation. There are several methods, they all show their effectiveness, so they can be adopted.

Silicone Grease

The most popular option among experienced motorists is a lubricant based on polymer compounds. It perfectly withstands large temperature changes and even at -50 degrees retains its protective properties. Upon contact with a hard surface, the lubricant forms a thin film; it remains on the elastic for 2-3 weeks, so freezing does not occur for almost a month. Moreover, the lubricant helps the rubber coating maintain its elasticity and protects against cracking from the cold.

Most silicone lubricants are sold in spray form, but here are the most popular brands:

• "Foresters"
• "Liqui Moly";
• "XADO."

Sometimes in car dealerships you can find a composition from a domestic manufacturer called “PMS-200”. Before applying lubricant, wipe the sealing rubber dry. If there is even a little moisture left on it, the doors will freeze instantly. Then apply or spray a thin layer of lubricant from a can and let it dry. The drying time is usually indicated by the manufacturer on the label; it leaves 1-2 minutes, no more. The car is ready for use, you have nothing more to fear.

Technical Vaseline

If you want to save money and not buy expensive lubricant, use technical Vaseline. In terms of chemical and physical properties, it is similar to the contents of the can, only it has a gel-like structure and costs several times less. Vaseline has a low freezing point, about 45 degrees, so it will be effective against freezing of doors.

Make sure all rubber bands are dry before lubricating.
Then apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the seal using a dry cloth and wait until it dries. It takes a little longer to dry than when working with lubricant. The effects of Vaseline last for 2 to 3 weeks. Attention!
You need to lubricate the rubber seals in a warm room, then they will dry out faster.

Aerosol "WD-40"

Another favorite tool for motorists has become “WD-40” or, as it is popularly called, “Vedashka”. It contains mineral oil, carbon dioxide and solvent. The mixture of substances effectively displaces moisture and prevents its appearance. However, you need to be careful with the aerosol: it can easily damage the paintwork and contribute to the rapid destruction of the rubber coating. It only makes sense to use a Vedashka when you find yourself in an emergency situation and there is no silicone lubricant nearby.

“WD-40” is packaged in a can with a red thin tube attached to it. The tube is convenient for applying the product to the seal; it penetrates even into hard-to-reach places. Just don't overdo it: just spray a little on the elastic and let it dry.

Alternative methods

If you don’t have anything suitable from the listed products in your garage, then you can lubricate the doors with products that have a water-repellent composition. They are based on mineral oil, silicone components, polyester and organic compounds. When applied, the product immediately leaves behind an invisible film that preserves the elasticity of the rubber and prevents condensation from accumulating.

Most often, such compositions are produced in the form of sprays. Here are examples of some manufacturers

• TurtleWax;
• Wynn's.

In the North, motorists use deer fat; they say it helps no worse than popular silicone lubricants. Instead of deer fat, bear fat is also suitable; it does not freeze at low temperatures, and, therefore, the doors do not freeze.

Rules and sequence of care for modern plastic windows

Caring for PVC windows should not only be regular, but all procedures must be carried out carefully and carefully. It is also necessary to know the sequence of the processing procedure and be aware of where the elements that need to be lubricated are located.

For those who have never cared for windows themselves, experts recommend carrying out work in the following sequence:

Cleaning window fittings and removing base dirt

Fittings and locking mechanisms are cleaned with the window sashes open with a damp cloth, a brush with stiff bristles and tassels. After removing the main dirt, it is necessary to carefully treat the joints of the fittings with the frames, eliminating any remaining grease and ingrained dust.

Lubrication of moving parts of fittings

Lubricating compounds are applied to clean, dry surfaces: 2-3 drops for each part. When applying oils, it is necessary to actively move the lubricated elements: turn handles, close/open doors, etc. This is necessary to distribute the oil throughout all moving mechanisms.

Cleaning, lubricating or replacing seals

Maintenance and lubrication of seals is one of the most important procedures affecting the durability of the window and its proper operation. Shrinkage and cracking of the sealant in 80% of cases causes structural failure. If the seal requires replacement, this should be done before the onset of frost. The old material is removed using a chisel or flat screwdriver, and new material is applied to the cleaned and glued surface. After gluing, the seal is lubricated with silicone oil or a special compound.

Window adjustment

In spring and autumn, it is necessary to adjust the hinges and locking mechanisms of plastic windows. By tightening or loosening the screw fastening, you can adjust the position of the window and the tightness of pressing its sashes to the frames.

Windows are usually washed, cleaned and oiled twice a year. early spring and late autumn. If the windows do not face a busy street and are not very dirty, then you can lubricate them once a year. In large cities with heavy traffic, windows may need to be washed and oiled more often than in the spring and fall. You should not take the needs of PVC windows lightly and ignore them - this can lead to rapid wear and tear of the window structure and the need for its complete replacement.