Just bought a 2012 certified Cadillac SRX and I want to preserve the suppleness of all the weather seals for as long as possible. They are in good shape now I believe. Manual says to use either dielectric silicone grease or GM weatherstrip lubricant. On Amazon a tiny bottle of the weather strip lube is $60 and at the dealer it's over $70. Tried the dielectric grease on one rear door and it took 15 minutes to do all the strips and the result was it was sticky and looks like it could catch on people's clothes getting in or out. I can't believe making it sticky is going to help in the long term and the time to apply is ridiculous. Would a good quality silicone spray (such as Toyota's) be just as good or is there some other product that would be better? In other words, what would be the best way to achieve my goal of trying to make the weatherstrips seal as well as possible and last for as long as possible? All thoughts will be appreciated. Just to be clear, am not having any issues--future preservation is only consideration here.
best weatherseal lubricant protectant for GM car
- Thread starter Jasper8146
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Be careful with spray products as most use a petroleum based carrier which may, after repeated use, dry out your seals. You can check to see if your favorite spray is petroleum based by web searching for the material data sheet.
The dielectric grease works good but you have to apply it with a rag, not directly on the seals. Again make sure the grease itself isn't petroleum based with a silicone additive!
I take a lint free shop towel and start with a tablespoon of dielectric grease and rub it into the rag. The idea is to get the grease worked into the rag and distributed evenly, I do this by rubbing the rag together vigorously. Then wipe the rag over the seals and see where that tablespoon gets you. It should be an extremely thin coat evidenced by a slight color change in the seal.
It helps if the seals are cleaned before hand as you'll use less product that way.
The dielectric grease works good but you have to apply it with a rag, not directly on the seals. Again make sure the grease itself isn't petroleum based with a silicone additive!
I take a lint free shop towel and start with a tablespoon of dielectric grease and rub it into the rag. The idea is to get the grease worked into the rag and distributed evenly, I do this by rubbing the rag together vigorously. Then wipe the rag over the seals and see where that tablespoon gets you. It should be an extremely thin coat evidenced by a slight color change in the seal.
It helps if the seals are cleaned before hand as you'll use less product that way.
We've sprayed silicone spray on our seals two to three times per year on our 1982 BMW and 1993 Chevy and the seals are still supple and black.
No complaints here with that method.
No complaints here with that method.
Silicone spray on a clean rag, or 303 protectant.
Bud_One
Site Donor 2025
Both dealerships I used to work at used this...
http://www.amazon.com/3M-08877-Silicone-Lubricant-Plus/dp/B0002KKVKC
http://www.amazon.com/3M-08877-Silicone-Lubricant-Plus/dp/B0002KKVKC
303 Protectant works great.
Also do a google search on Honda's shin-etsu silicone grease for window tracks, rubber seals, etc etc. Good stuff and keeps even old cars rubber fat and pliable.
http://www.amazon.com/Honda-Genuine-Shin-Etsu-Grease/dp/B006Z9TZ9M
http://www.amazon.com/Honda-Genuine-Shin-Etsu-Grease/dp/B006Z9TZ9M
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Leather conditioner.
Been using Mac's silicone spray from Napa. Took a while to build up or wherever but the seals on my truck feel great now. Very slick and soft. I also use motorcraft xg3a silicone grease in cerrtain spots to combat squeaks that develop.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
303 Protectant works great.
THIS ^^^
303 Protectant works great.
THIS ^^^
Originally Posted By: dishdude
I don't think this is really necessary anymore, weatherstripping and door seals have come a long way in the last few years and don't dry rot like they used to.
Maybe...
After 7 years, they started leaking on my 2003 Saturn ION and dad's 2007 Pontiac G6.
Dielectric grease will not extend the life of those parts. Also, it was way to easy for me to get dielectric grease stuck to my clothes.
I think 1Z makes a chemical just for making weatherstripping last longer.
I don't think this is really necessary anymore, weatherstripping and door seals have come a long way in the last few years and don't dry rot like they used to.
Maybe...
After 7 years, they started leaking on my 2003 Saturn ION and dad's 2007 Pontiac G6.
Dielectric grease will not extend the life of those parts. Also, it was way to easy for me to get dielectric grease stuck to my clothes.
I think 1Z makes a chemical just for making weatherstripping last longer.
Originally Posted By: Bud_One
Both dealerships I used to work at used this...
http://www.amazon.com/3M-08877-Silicone-Lubricant-Plus/dp/B0002KKVKC
All of these different rubber and vinyl care protects confuse me. Or, their marketing confuses me.
Wurth Rubber Treatment says it contains NO silicone, implying that silicone is bad.
303 (silicone) and others advertise that petroleum distillates are bad for rubber and vinyl. Yet, MANY of these products contains petroleum distillates.
Look at the 3M product msds quoted above: http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=SSSSSuUn_zu8l00x4Y_1NxmxOv70k17zHvu9lxtD7SSSSSS--
Contains Isobutane 50-60%, Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillates 20-40%, Silicone 7-13%
What gives?
Both dealerships I used to work at used this...
http://www.amazon.com/3M-08877-Silicone-Lubricant-Plus/dp/B0002KKVKC
All of these different rubber and vinyl care protects confuse me. Or, their marketing confuses me.
Wurth Rubber Treatment says it contains NO silicone, implying that silicone is bad.
303 (silicone) and others advertise that petroleum distillates are bad for rubber and vinyl. Yet, MANY of these products contains petroleum distillates.
Look at the 3M product msds quoted above: http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=SSSSSuUn_zu8l00x4Y_1NxmxOv70k17zHvu9lxtD7SSSSSS--
Contains Isobutane 50-60%, Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillates 20-40%, Silicone 7-13%
What gives?
The answer to all of this is...
Sil-Glyde
In its famous pudgy red white and blue
tube.
Sil-Glyde
In its famous pudgy red white and blue
tube.
Originally Posted By: SumpChump
The answer to all of this is...
Sil-Glyde
In its famous pudgy red white and blue
tube.
YES! Polypropylene Glycol should be good for EPDM rubber.
The answer to all of this is...
Sil-Glyde
In its famous pudgy red white and blue
tube.
YES! Polypropylene Glycol should be good for EPDM rubber.
Sil-Glyde from NAPA
Thanks very much everybody for all the helpful tips.
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