Refresh me on Lube No-No? Silicone Spray vs. Lithium Grease vs. WD40

[sugarwood]

What use cases are you not supposed to use one of these?
Which kills rubber? Which turns into gunk and makes lube worse? etc.

I tend to avoid my can of white lithium spray grease, since it gets crusty pretty quickly.
What is the use for this kind of lube?

[KNS]

Keep Lithium grease away from rubber, WD-40 doesn't do much for rubber.

Silicone grease would be good for rubber.

[asphaltgambler]

Silicone spray is great for assembling rubber, or rubber based products but it dissipates quickly. Other than using it for immediate assembly, you can spray it on rubber seals/ moldings on convertible tops where it seals against glass or metal, then wipe excess. If you've ever riden in a modern car with a convertible top, windows & top up listen to all the squeaks as it travels over the road, it'll drive you crazy. Also, there is a difference in quality with silicone sprays. What you want is100% pure silicone. If it doesn't say so on the front, it's not.

Lithium grease, especially white lithium is crap. Works OK in the short term but will eventually harden. Also it us sensitive to ambient temps essentially melting and separating into its basic components when hot or becoming glue like when cold. At one time 50's through 70's the big 3 all used it in light duty things like window regulators, largely because it was cheap. But for the reasons above, abandoned it entirely. If you have a tub of it lying around- just throw it out. I've had direct experience with this in my younger days, can attest to the above over time.

WD40, is a combination of elements and has good 'cling' and lasts a while. I'm not sure if it degrades rubber over time. It does leave a residue

[astrochex]

White Lithium grease was recommended to use on storm shutter hardware.

What is a better product for protecting outdoor fasteners?

[M.D. Holloway]

Great questions. A Silicone Spray is a mixture of siloxane (the silicone oil), carrier solvent, and a propellent. The siloxane is very compatible with all sorts of polymers except silicone rubber. The issue may come with the carrier solvent and even the propellant. Some propellants are really volatile and may create some problems.

Lithium grease is typically made with paraffinic mineral oil. Mineral oils can harden and shrink Butadiene (NBR) rubber and can swell and soften Chlorinated Rubber seals. Not the best for natural rubber, SBR, Butyl rubber, Neoprene. The compatible polymers are typically Nitrile and Urethanes.

WD40 is a a petroleum distillate made of Ligroins, petroleum fractions consisting mostly of C7 and C8 hydrocarbons. The fraction is also called heavy naphtha. The formula is 50–60% naphtha, hydrotreated heavy. <25% petroleum base oils. <10% naphtha, hydrodesulfurized heavy (contains: 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene, 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene, xylene, mixed isomers) and 2–4% carbon dioxide as a propellant.

According to their marketing materials, it is compatible with Acetal, neoprene/hard rubber, HDPE, PPS Copolymer Polysulfone, Teflon, Viton. It should not be used with wax polishes and certain wax coatings may be softened. Clear polycarbonate and polystyrene may stress craze or crack.
There is the concept in chemistry that ‘like dissolves like.’ I wouldn’t use WD40 around any rubber pr plastic.

[Scott Douglas]

I sometimes use WD-40 to remove 'stuff' from paint on the car.
What would you recommend using to get it (the WD-40) off of any plastic trim I might get it on?

[asphaltgambler]

^^ try 'Goo Gone ^^^^^^

[sugarwood]

I tend to avoid my can of white lithium spray grease, since it gets crusty pretty quickly.
What is the use for this kind of lube?

[LWJ]

I recently went deep into grease research. Valvoline (I think) has a great webpage on the seven basic formulations of grease and their qualities. Very informative and useful. I just looked and didn’t find it.

Knowing the different types of grease is a great way to have better results. I needed something for my dirt bike that gets immersed and muddled up all the time. I hope I did well with a super tacky aluminum based grease. We will see.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I tend to avoid my can of white lithium spray grease, since it gets crusty pretty quickly.
What is the use for this kind of lube?

I used it on rusty hinges. It worked well until it turned into something like dried out farina. Haven't used it since.

"What would you recommend using to get it (the WD-40) off of any plastic trim I might get it on?"

Given WD's petro base something like Dawn dish detergent should work well.

[Cajundaddy]

WD-40 is a penetrant, water displacement, rust inhibitor, and light lubricant. I like using it to free up rusty hinges, tools, and most things that should move freely but don't. It will attract dirt if used outdoors and with low viscosity it doesn't stay in the game long but still always in my tool kit.

Another light viscosity spray lube I like is Tri Flow Teflon. It goes on easily and tends to stay in the game longer than WD-40 without attracting dirt. I don't think it is as effective as a penetrant or rust inhibiter as WD.

For heavier lube when motor oil won't work I like 100% silicone grease. It works well and is recommended for o-rings in contact with water to lubricate and protect. A little of this spread lightly on rubber tends to protect from cracking.

[Arizona_928]

White lithium sucks. You want the intercalated lithium with molybdenum.

[pwd72s]

Garage door installer told me to lube the screw with white lithium. Hmmm. So far, over a decade, seems to work. Maybe once a year? Maybe longer. Only do it when it gets really noisy.

[porsche tech]

I always liked Audi’s spray silicone for any “squeak” problem and for rubber door seals, o rings, etc. My favorite spray lube is Wurth HHS 2000…it sprays out as a liquid and turns tacky very quickly so it can seep into tight places like door hinges and then stay there.

[rfuerst911sc]

For exterior corrosion resistance Fluid Film is good stuff .

[asphaltgambler]

I highly recommend Wurth's SS 2000 - I can't live without it. Goes on as a clingy spray, then airs to a grease like consistency. It penetrates then stays put

[bob deluke]

Balistol. Made in Germany. Lubes well, no silicone. Lithium grease is crap. WD40, meh.

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

I highly recommend Wurth's SS 2000 - I can't live without it. Goes on as a clingy spray, then airs to a grease like consistency. It penetrates then stays put

I also have used SS 2000. Not easy to find.
For grease in places that don't need wheel bearing type grease. I use Super Lube. For example, I put it on Viton O rings for AC install. Super Lube is sticky and doesn't wash off.

[911 Rod]

I think I have cans of most things.
I use white lithium grease on o rings for pipe fitting like garden hoses.
The silicone spray was used for all of the suspension points on the Outback to get rid of squeaks.
Sound like I shouldn't have used either?

[svandamme]

WD40 is not a lubricant