Rubber sealing elements are found everywhere: from household appliances and automobiles to heavy industry. Their main task is to ensure tightness. During operation, under the influence of the environment and other factors, shrinkage, swelling or loss of elasticity occurs, which leads to the destruction of seals and loss of tightness.
To increase the service life of rubber seals, it is best to use silicone lubricants.
They can have different consistencies: the most popular are liquid, plastic and aerosol materials based on silicone. Pastes are less common.
We selected 7 silicone lubricants for seals from well-known manufacturers, compared their properties and made our rating.
TOP 7 silicone lubricants for rubber seals
Silicone lubricants EFELE
Silicone lubricants EFELE
1
place
0
/100
RATING
0
100
EFELE silicone lubricants have collected the best user reviews on the Internet. EFELE UNI-S Spray and EFELE SO-780 Spray have a wide range of applications in industry, automotive and household applications. Both lubricants have an optimal price-quality ratio. Their main difference is the purity of the silicone.
EFELE UNI-S Spray lubricant is 100% highly purified silicone. The material contains no solvents, so it does not react with plastics and elastomers and does not affect their color and structure.
The harmlessness of the lubricant to people is confirmed by the expert opinion of Rospotrebnadzor. The approval of a reputable organization makes it possible to use the product in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
EFELE UNI-S Spray has excellent water-repellent, protective, antistatic, lubricating and release properties. The transparent film formed by the material is not washed out by water and exhibits good dielectric characteristics.
Unlike other aerosol silicone lubricants, EFELE UNI-S Spray is used more economically and covers a larger surface area.
EFELE SO-780 Spray is a silicone lubricant that effectively eliminates squeaks and jams, restores the appearance and elasticity of rubber seals, preventing them from cracking and freezing. This material has good water-repellent properties, is compatible with plastics and elastomers, and has a wide range of operating temperatures (-40 °C...+200 °C).
Due to the lack of food approval and the content of additional components (besides silicone), EFELE SO-780 Spray is cheaper than EFELE UNI-S Spray.
EFELE lubricants are examples of the best ratio of price, quality and versatility of use.
Molykote Separator Spray
2
place
Molykote Separator Spray
0
/100
RATING
0
100
Molykote Separator Spray - silicone oil in aerosol packaging. Designed to protect rubber parts and seals from deformation and destruction, and can also be used as a release medium. Operating temperature range from -40 to +200 °C.
The main purpose of the material is industrial applications, but the scope of application also includes automobiles and household needs. It has food grade approval, which makes it safe for the environment and human health. The packaging contains information about the product in Russian and other languages.
Molykote Separator Spray is colorless and odorless, does not destroy elastomers and plastics, and does not require frequent reapplication. The lubricant bottle is equipped with a special nozzle that makes it easier to apply the material to hard-to-reach places.
In first place, Molykote Separator Spray lubricant is inferior in cost, but superior to all other materials in versatility and performance characteristics.
Buy on Ozon
Liqui Moly Silicon-Spray
3
place
Liqui Moly Silicon-Spray
0
/100
RATING
0
100
Colorless silicone grease, free of mineral oils, fats and chlorine-based solvents. Operating temperature range not specified.
The material is intended for lubricating metal, plastic and elastomeric car parts: rubber seals, guide hatches and seats, carburetor control rods, door and window hinges, hinges, plastic panels, etc.
The lubricant forms a chemically inert colorless layer on the surfaces, which protects them from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and drying, eliminates squeaks, and prevents metal corrosion.
Liqui Moly Silicon-Spray does not contain harmful chlorinated hydrocarbons and has good performance characteristics. However, the lack of information about the operating temperature range of the lubricant and the high price allow it to take only third place.
Buy on Ozon
MANNOL Silicone Spray
4
place
MANNOL Silicone Spray
0
/100
RATING
0
100
Silicone lubricant with insulating, anti-friction and protective properties. The manufacturer does not indicate the operating temperature range.
Designed to service metal-plastic pairs, eliminate squeaks and cracking of seals. Suitable for lubricating seat belt guides and rollers. Restores the elasticity of elastomers and prevents freezing.
The material does not contain fats and mineral oils and forms a protective film on surfaces that has dust- and moisture-repellent properties.
Although the manufacturer does not indicate at what temperatures the lubricant can be used, MANNOL Silicone Spray ranks fourth in terms of quality and cost.
Silicone grease RUNWAY
5
place
Silicone grease RUNWAY
0
/100
RATING
0
100
Silicone lubricant for protecting rubber seals on car doors and hoods, plastic and rubber interior elements. The manufacturer does not indicate the operating temperature range.
Can be used in electrical contacts and battery terminals to protect them from corrosion and oxidation. Suitable for eliminating grinding and noise from speedometer cables, timing belts, and fan belts.
Forms a protective layer on surfaces that has antistatic and water-repellent properties. The material prevents freezing and icing of locks and seals and displaces moisture.
In terms of characteristics, this material is somewhat worse than those presented above, and in terms of cost it is comparable to MANNOL lubricant.
Silicone grease DAYTONA
6
place
Silicone grease DAYTONA
0
/100
RATING
0
100
Silicone lubricant for protecting rubber and plastic surfaces. The manufacturer does not indicate the operating temperature range.
The material is used in mechanical moving parts with metal-plastic and metal-rubber friction pairs. It restores the elasticity of elastomers. Can be used as a preservative composition in the winter season.
The lubricant displaces moisture and protects against oxidation and corrosion. Suitable for electrical contacts. Does not leave greasy marks and adds shine to surfaces.
In terms of price and volume ratio, DAYTONA lubricant is quite expensive. The characteristics of the material are quite standard.
SILICOT rubber
7
place
SILICOT rubber
0
/100
RATING
0
100
Silicone grease applicator for rubber seals. Operating temperature range from -50 to +50 °C.
The material is used to service rubber seals on car doors, PVC windows and doors, cuffs of refrigerators and washing machines, and sports equipment.
It protects against freezing, prevents leaks and drafts. The manufacturer states that the silicone content in one bottle of SILICOT rezin is 5 times more than in a similar aerosol.
Among the advantages, it is worth noting the applicator packaging, which ensures cleanliness and precise maintenance of the seals. But because of this, the lubricant consumes quite a lot, since some of the material remains in the sponge. In addition, this lubricant, unlike the above, collects dust very strongly. And the cost of 30 ml of material is quite high.
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.
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.
Is it necessary to lubricate car wipers with silicone?
This is a controversial issue. Some say it makes no sense. Others recommend doing this. Now let's look at all the pros and cons. And you write what you think about this.
Automotive silicone grease repels moisture well. It creates a thin, greasy film on the surface of your car's rubber windshield wipers. That is, there will be no close contact between the wipers and the glass. This means they won’t freeze to the windshield.
How to do this correctly?
This operation is no different from applying silicone to car door seals.
- We clean the wipers from ice, dirt, and snow. Let them dry.
- Spray it on the sponge if it’s in a can or spread it if it’s in liquid form.
- Wipe the windshield wipers with a moistened sponge. Make sure that the silicone grease spreads evenly over the entire surface of the wipers.
There is a downside to this operation. Grease marks may appear on the windshield. But if the glass was clean, it will not become cloudy. But in the morning, when it’s cold, your wipers won’t freeze to the windshield. Plus, the water will roll down without freezing on the glass.
To Contents...
Composition and properties of silicone lubricants
Why are silicone lubricants used for rubber seals? The answer is simple - other materials based on essential and mineral oils are most often incompatible with elastomers and cause them to swell or shrink.
Synthetic lubricants (for example, based on PAO oils) have a smaller operating temperature range and service life.
Silicone lubricants have:
- Compatible with elastomers and plastics
- Operable over a wide temperature range
- Anti-friction and anti-wear properties
- Sealing properties
- Excellent release properties
- Resistant to water and environmental influences
The majority of the composition of silicone lubricants (up to 100%, like EFELE UNI-S Spray) is silicone. It is usually supplemented with extreme pressure additives, corrosion and oxidation inhibitors, solid lubricant particles (such as PTFE) and other components that improve the performance of the lubricant.
Door handles
On cars where you need to pull the handle towards you to open the door, you need to lubricate the junction of the handles and linings. If your opening principle is the same as that of the VAZ 2101-07, then there is nothing to smear there - everything will flow down and there will be no effect.
- Pull the door handle towards you a little.
- We spray silicone from a container into the gap formed between it and the door.
- We process the place where the handle is attached to the mechanism, if it is possible to reach it.
- Let's release the handle. We repeat the procedure 2 times, constantly pacing it so that the lubricant penetrates deeply inside.
To Contents...
Release form
Silicone greases are not as thick as pastes, so they are easier to use for maintaining rubber seals. Such materials are applied in a thick layer and rubbed over the surface with a rag or fingers.
Pastes have a very thick consistency, so they are rarely used for seals.
Aerosols are the most versatile type of silicone lubricants. They are convenient to use and dose. However, you should work with them very carefully: due to the high pressure in the cylinder, when sprayed, the lubricant splashes and can get to places where it is undesirable.
Oils do not pollute surfaces and can penetrate into hard-to-reach places, but to apply them you must use applicators (brush, rag or sponge). The lubrication process takes quite a long time.
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.
Where else can silicone-based lubricants be used?
Silicone lubricants are truly versatile. The scope of their application is not limited to seals.
In industry, such materials are used to service conveyor belts, pneumatic equipment, guides and bearings, working tools, sealing jaws and knives in packaging equipment, dies, dies, molds, high-temperature bearings, etc.
Silicone-based materials also help protect surfaces from welding spatter and sparks.
In everyday life, silicone lubricants are widely used for servicing sports equipment, fishing reels, mixers, hair clippers, electric shavers, coffee machines and other small household appliances. They are also suitable for furniture and window fittings, door locks and hinges.
Silicone lubricants are most popular in the automotive industry. They are used for plastic elements of a car, wheel tires (in preparation for storage), hinges, locks, parts of disc brake systems, guide hatches, seats and window lifts, control cables, high-voltage wires in order to increase the level of electrical insulation, pipes, bushings, engine mounts etc.
Application in car
The best silicone lubricant for cars is not determined by the manufacturer's logo. The main thing is to choose the right consistency.
- A spray is suitable for velvet edging of glass, rubber seals of doorways, hermetic framing of the ceiling hatch. You can apply liquid silicone only by controlling the thickness of the layer.
- The sides of rubber tires are also treated with liquid or aerosol. Silicone tire lubricant is used not only for cosmetic reasons. It protects rubber from the effects of road chemicals. Therefore, it is advisable to treat not only the external, but also the internal surface. The aerosol is also applied to wheel rims.
- To lubricate car doors (more precisely, hinges) with silicone grease, it is not necessary to disassemble them. Liquid lubricant penetrates the mechanism under the influence of gravity. Consistent compounds are suitable only in case of overhauling the hinge (replacing the axle rod).
- Silent blocks, stabilizer bushings, rubber cushions and hangers in the installed state are treated with liquid silicone or a spray with a dispenser tube. If you change the elastic element, gel or grease is placed in it.
- Friction bearings in mechanisms are treated with plastic silicone.
- Immediately after cleaning, interior rubber mats can be rubbed with a liquid compound or treated generously with an aerosol.
- The plastic is rubbed with gel applied to a soft rag. The use of liquid or aerosol is not recommended: it may cause stains.
- The filling between the creaking parts is best achieved using a dispenser tube. If the connection is removable, you need to coat it with gel.
- Silicone grease in any consistency behaves excellently in cable drives.
Options for using silicone grease in a car - video
If you want to maintain all the parts of your car in proper condition, you need to have at least two different compositions in stock. For example: spray and gel. Interesting fact: with regular use of silicone compounds, the ductility of rubber and plastic is maintained and even restored.
Benefits of silicone lubricants
Based on the above, the following advantages of silicone lubricants can be identified:
- High adhesion to various substrates
- Compatible with elastomers, plastics, varnishes, paints and other materials
- Biological inertia
- Antistatic and dielectric properties
- Elasticity
- Oxidation resistance
- Resistance to weak solutions of acids and alkalis
- Resistant to washing off with water
- Non-flammability
- Long service life
- Lack of smell, taste and color
- Wide operating temperature range (average values: -50 to +200 °C)
- Anti-friction properties
- Good heat transfer
