6 Critical Places to Lubricate Your Car Before Winter
Updated: Jun. 04, 2018When cold weather is right around the corner, that's the time to get your car ready for winter driving: lube locks, latches, hinges, window channels and weather stripping. Proper lube can prevent binding and freezing and save you the cost of a busted regulator. You can lubricate your car in less than 20 minutes. All you need is dry Teflon spray, spray lithium grease, a rag and glass cleaner.
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Spray Window Tracks
Spray window tracks with silicone spray or dry Teflon. Silicone stays slick even in cold weather, so windows slide smoothly, lessening the wear on your window motors. Lower the window glass and shoot dry Teflon spray down the front, rear and top window channels on each door. Soak the tracks. Then run the window up and down several times to spread the lube. Finally, raise the window and clean off overspray with glass cleaner.
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Weather Stripping
Spray silicone on all weather stripping. Silicone will keep ice from bonding the rubber to the metal doors. That’ll make doors open smoother and may even prevent tears in the weather stripping. Coat all the weather stripping with dry Teflon spray. And then spread it with a cloth. Finish the job by lubing the hood, trunk or tailgate latches with lithium grease. And then spray the door hinges. Operate the latches and doors several times to spread the grease.
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Hood Latch
Spray aerosol lithium grease on the hood latch mechanism. And use the spray straw to force the lock 'door' open. Then inject a quick shot of dry Teflon spray into the lock cylinder. You don’t want to fight a balky hood latch when it’s snowing and you’re trying to add windshield fluid.
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Lock Cylinders
Keep your lock cylinders working smoothly by injecting dry Teflon lubricant spray. And insert your key and rotate the lock to spread the lube. You never know when your remote keyless entry system might let you down.
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Door Hinge
Spray lithium grease on door hinges to keep them opening smoothly and prevent rust. First, wipe the hinge area with a clean rag and spray it with lithium grease. Move the hinge several times to work the grease into the hinge. And be sure to get it into both sides of each hinge. Wipe away the excess to keep it from collecting debris.
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Gas Tank Lid
The gas tank lid really takes abuse, especially in salty environments. Give it a squirt of WD-40 a few times a year to keep it from rusting. Wipe away any excess to keep it from dripping onto your car’s finish.
Originally Published: November 30, 2017