Tip for CV Boots

[Boaz]

I am not sure if this has been suggested before...

I buy a can of cheapo silicone spray everyonce in awhile and give my CV boots a nice coat to keep them in good shape. I try to do it every oil change if I can. A old mechanic told me about this. Maybe its a bit on the "old school" side but it seems to be keeping my CV boots in good shape.

Comments?

 

[oilboy123]

It can't hurt, just be careful around the O2 sensors. Have heard that it can screw them up.

Have not tried the theory........

 

[jamesn]

you can only hurt a 02 sensor by spraying the sensor tip. if they are screwed into the exhaust as they should be, you cant hurt them with the spray.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

What brand of spray do you use?

 

[Schmoe]

Si would be OK, but don't use WD-40. It will degrade 4 times as fast.

 

[surfstar]

Aren't products that contain silicone not good for protecting rubber? All the detail forums have people who recommmend 303 protectant b/c silicone dries out the rubber. Wouldn't this be counter-productive for CV boots?

 

[IslaVistaMan]

Silicone doesn't dry out rubber, but the carrier propellant in most cans of silicone spray might.

I've been doing the CV-boot hose-down for years, and have never needed to replace mine. They're always flexible and soft, and the front ones show no abrasion from lock-to-lock turns.

What you want is one of the newer non-staining sprays. Pyroil makes a good one. It also doubles as a decent light-duty parts wash.

 

[labman]

As rubber ages, it does lose low molecular weight components that weren't cross linked among other things. Anything you spray on it that is absorbed into will soften it, but also swell it. A little might actually help. Very much would be a disaster. Also spraying anything on it until it drips off may extract the very things you need to save. Maybe the best thing is soap and water to remove abrasives and oil.

I have had good luck wiht leaving them alone.