I'm looking for some home remedy advice from other old-timers like me. I'm new to the world of minivans, and I'm having an issue now that the weather has turned cold. The rubber seals around the door freeze and hold the door closed. I'm thinking there's something to apply to the rubber seals to prevent them from freezing and sticking. Petroleum jelly? Silicone lubricant? Chicken soup? This had to be a common problem up north.
Spray seals with wd40. Well really put on a rag and wipe on the seals. Dont have wd40? Basically any spray oil silicone will work.
The internets will tell you that seals will dry out, your cows will dry up, your fields will become barren and dead goats will rain from the sky if you do this because "the seals will dry out" these people dont live up north.
Shotgun?
Fueled by Caffeine said:Spray seals with wd40
This. Doesn't hurt to do the lock cylinders and mechanisms, too.
Silicone spray is a chemically safer choice than WD40. Both will prevent ice from sticking but you can be sure the silicone won't degrade the door seal rubber.
GameboyRMH said:Silicone spray is a chemically safer choice than WD40. Both will prevent ice from sticking but you can be sure the silicone won't degrade the door seal rubber.
In fact the silicone keeps the rubber seals from drying out over time.
In reply to GameboyRMH :
does it really? do you have experience?
I'll wait while you find evidence...
**Micheal Jackson eating popcon.gif**
Wipe the seals with Armor-All because it won't hurt. Spray silicone the metal edges, door handles and locks.
We acquired a 2008 Maxima, hate it. Door opens higher on top than the bottom, snow-rain falls right into the seat. Trunk hinges are BELOW the trunk rain gutters. OK in the land or the rising sun, but hell we got weather!
I usually clean and wax the mating surface on the door frame and then silicon the E36M3 out of the seals. Doing it once a winter seems to work.
Gummipflege for the seals. Lock-eze for the locks.
pinchvalve said:I'm thinking there's something to apply to the rubber seals to prevent them from freezing and sticking.
Yes! It's called "heat."
I'll let myself out....
02Pilot said:Gummipflege for the seals. Lock-eze for the locks.
I agree on the Gummipflege, but I'd go with Tri-Flow for the locks. Graphite has been superseded by silicone and teflon based lubes; the graphite builds up in the locks and collects grit and causes wear. It was the bees knees in the 50s but nowadays it's not the superior product. Even our awesome local old school "walls of keys" locksmith uses tri-flow over graphite lubes.
We applied Aerospace 303 to the seals of both the Prius and the Saturn wagons (S Series are notorious for frozen door gaskets) this fall after buying a gallon on the recommendation of ths very forum. Have not had any problems since.
Tri-flow for locks. Wax on paint in door jambs a couple times during winter months without wiping it off.
02Pilot said:Gummipflege for the seals. Lock-eze for the locks.
Yes, Gummiplege is best for the seals, do not use WD 40 on them
I have Phil's Tenacious Oil I use in locks though, Triflow is also good.
Learn something new every day. I've only got half a can of Lock-eze left, so I'll get some Triflow once it's gone.
It's excellent that this thread came up as I was going to start one. On my 06 Sienna the doors freeze quite often, especially the sliding doors. I'd like to remedy this. Yesterday I found two tubes of molykote 111 from dow corning in a box that was destined for the dumpster at work. They were brand new unused and I figured it was dumb to see them thrown away. I grabbed them and read that they are silicone based. I figured I could use them to lube my sunroof on the Delica, but now I'm thinking it might work on the door seals of the Sienna. Anything wrong with using asilicone based substance on rubber seals?
Well, I went to the store and got some silicone spray and applied liberally to all door seals. This morning, in 19-degree weather, I am happy to report that the doors were no longer stuck. Thanks hive! I was also somewhat surprised to see another can of silicone spray in the cabinet when I put the new one away. DOH!
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