What grease is used for car dash controls internals (plastic gears behind dash)

[WildCoast]

When you take your dash apart on a older Nissan/Toyota/etc and look inside, there are a bunch of moving plastic/metal parts that are the inner working of the various physical dials/sliders on the dash. There is usually this yellow grease on the sliding/moving surfaces.

What kind of grease is that? If cleaning/fixing up these things, what kind of grease should I use?

It's all super low pressure stuff, mix of metal and plastic and pretty open (not contained like a bearing). So I'm assuming grease properties should mainly be not runny, etc? Would silicone dieletric grease work? I'm worried that would be too tacky/thick?

 

[Lubener]

Myself, I would use a light thinner grease such as Lubriplate.

 

[ripcord]

Silicone type grease is usually a good choice. White lithium grease is also commonly used.

 

[alcyon]

Super Lube, made in New York

 

[Kira]

It "always" looked like white lithium grease to me.

 

[TomYoung]

WD40, to clean off the old stuff. Wipe off with microfiber or paper towel. Relube with silicone grease or white lithium grease. Suggest avoiding aerosol grease.

 

[Kira]

Suggest avoiding aerosol grease.

As the propellant might hurt plastics, yes? (good idea)

 

[TomYoung]

As the propellant might hurt plastics, yes? (good idea)

Maybe, but for me the motivation is to control where the lube goes, and to avoid overspray. I have made a mess with aerosols before, but not sure that I have actually damaged plastics.

 

[Nessism1]

Hydrocarbon based greases can damage some types of plastic. Gotta be careful.

 

[vwmaniaman]

I would use Super Lube. Lubricate hardens up over time.

 

[vwmaniaman]

Lubriplate hardens

 

[Lubener]

Lubriplate hardens

I never had that happen.

 

[nthach]

Dow Molykote 33 Light. It’s a silicone-based grease using a lithium soap thickener. https://www.dupont.com/products/molykote-33-medium-extreme-low-temperature-grease.html

Toyota uses a weird yellow grease that’s also a Molykote grease. YM-102/103 I believe.

 

[nthach]

Lubriplate hardens

I’ve seen that happen with Genie screw-drive garage door openers. And yet, Genie recommends it, and I see garage door techs use it.

 

[IndyIan]

I use some white lithium spray grease on the vent box gears and slides, and sprayed some inside it to keep the rubber seal from sticking, and breaking the dial selectors. That was a few years ago and the rubber seal still doesn't stick, but does harden up in the cold so a 120-140f air is needed to move it easily.

 

[vwmaniaman]

I worked on X-ray equipment for over 30 years and I used lubriplate on the gears that moved our heavy tables and X-ray stands. PM procedures required that it be removed and fresh paste of it to replace the old stuff. When it gets hard it does not lubricating. When the fresh load is on it it works ok but I think there are better choices.

 

[Nessism1]

Mineral oil, SHC (PAO, polybutene) and silicone fluid

These are recommended for plastic. I would not use white lithium, unless you can confirm what type of plastic, and prove that it's safe. Polycarbonate for example, will be attacked by many hydrocarbon based greases.

 

[nthach]

Mineral oil, SHC (PAO, polybutene) and silicone fluid

These are recommended for plastic. I would not use white lithium, unless you can confirm what type of plastic, and prove that it's safe. Polycarbonate for example, will be attacked by many hydrocarbon based greases.

You also forgot fluorocarbon/fluoropolymer greases. Krytox, Christolube, Tribolube. They work great on elastomers(medical O2/scuba uses a lot of Tribolube/Christolube) but are also expensive.

Mercedes uses a special grease for their sunroofs - it’s more like a soap but it does a **** fine job as a lube for any sunroof - the sliding elements are felt or UHMWPE against steel rails.