Silicone Lubricant

What is general-purpose silicone lubricant used for?

Carmakers specify silicone lubricant for seat rails and sliding sunroof guides. It is also recommended for door locks and hinges. Different carmakers have different preferences, though: Japanese and Korean manufacturers recommend silicone lubricant for these components, while European ones recommend white grease for the same purpose. This has more to do with tradition than with any technical differences between these components from manufacturers in different countries. There is no disagreement, however, about treating rubber door seals: here silicone lubricant has no rivals. It soaks into rubber very well (rubber, as is well known, is itself made using silicone), keeps it flexible and repels water. As a result, the seals do not freeze to the doors in below-freezing temperatures and last longer.

Another use of silicone lubricant is getting rid of squeaks from interior panels. When removing and reinstalling interior trim parts, such as door panels, it is a good idea to lubricate the contact surfaces with silicone to prevent dry friction between them. Silicone lubricant works well with any combination of metal, rubber and plastic. Silicone lubricant is also used as additional insulation for high-voltage ignition wires. After they are treated with silicone, the likelihood of insulation breakdown is much lower.

You may also come across tips on some rather unusual uses of silicone lubricant. It turns out to protect body parts quite well … from welding spatter. When repairing a car, you sometimes have to weld right next to painted parts, and there is always a risk of damaging the paint with hot spatter. If you don’t have a special product at hand, for small jobs where you only need to do a little welding, you can apply a thick layer of silicone lubricant to the surfaces in the “danger zone.” The silicone will not let the welding spatter stick to the surface, and the spatter can then be easily removed together with the lubricant.