What do you guys use to lubricate latches/hinges for hood, car doors, tailgate, and glove compartment, on your vehicles?

 

I use white lithium grease on anything metal to metal that requires it. Don't lubricate any pneumatic lift rods, just wipe them clean.

If your car has The little "bone" shaped plastic pieces to hold the door open by friction, do not lubricate them, just clean off any build up. Any lubricant (silicone, grease, etc) and they will probably never work right again, don't ask how I know.

 

For door hinges that grease doesn't seem to wick it's way into, I use a light synthetic engine oil (5W-30) applied with a precision oiler. The precision oiler helps prevent excess lube from making a mess. My precision oiler is a plastic syringe with a long metal tube on it and is designed for this purpose.

 

I have never had a problem using WD-40, but on a squealing power sunroof, use silicone spray.

 

Thanks for your responses. I used the white lithium grease which seems to work well. I also have a glove compartment latch with plastic parts. Will the white lithium grease work well on this also?

 

I doubt it would hurt it, though a silicone grease might be better.

 

Let me seeeeeeeeee. You did just that very thing(until you learned your lesson), and your car was parked by the curb and the street was crowned and there was a wind, and you were getting stuff out of the car and the car door slammed in you in the rear. Am I close?

 

lol...not that bad ecman...
I was just doing the whole grease and lube thing in the spring one time..and noticed the drivers door were a little "gritty" when it opened and closed. The hinges were ok, it was the hold open..so I wiped it with a rag..still gritty...so a little silicone spray. Then it wouldn't hold open at all in the slightest breeze or incline. Tried to clean it up...no joy. Took it out completely and cleaned it..no joy. Finally just bought a new one..like $20 IIRC...worked fine.

Whoever decided the spring loaded cam on the hinge wasn't good enough and a piece of bone shaped plastic would work better, should be shot. Prob saved $1 and 2 lbs per car.

Now that I'm out here in AZ with the heat and blowing sand and dust, all the doors on both cars are gritty. I just wipe 'em off when I do my cleanups/PM's and deal with it.