Best thing to stop car door seals freezing together?

Participant · Sunday at 09:03

Hi

Every year I have a fight with my car doors on frosty mornings and I want something to sort it. I'm guessing people will say to start your engine 20 minutes before you leave, but sometimes I can't / don't get time / forget.

I'm guessing it's going to be some kind of silicone oil? But what specific things do people use?

Thanks.

Diddums · Sunday at 09:19

This stuff is great, and most importantly, doesn't smell:

Silicone Lubricant Spray Clear 400ml

Polymax silicone spray leaves a glossy film that is colourless, odourless, heat stable, anti-static, water repellant, non-toxic lubricant and safe with food stuffs<br/><ul><li> Do not spray onto or near surfaces to be painted</li><li> Do not spray on floo

www.polymax.co.uk

Participant · Sunday at 09:23

Diddums said:
This stuff is great, and most importantly, doesn't smell:

Silicone Lubricant Spray Clear 400ml

Polymax silicone spray leaves a glossy film that is colourless, odourless, heat stable, anti-static, water repellant, non-toxic lubricant and safe with food stuffs<br/><ul><li> Do not spray onto or near surfaces to be painted</li><li> Do not spray on floo

www.polymax.co.uk

Thanks.

I've realised I have a can of this https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-silicone-spray-200ml/6699x?ref=SFAppShare from plumbing, so if it's as simple as a plain silicone spray, I might try that first.

Diddums · Sunday at 09:25

Participant said:
Thanks.

I've realised I have a can of this https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-silicone-spray-200ml/6699x?ref=SFAppShare from plumbing, so if it's as simple as a plain silicone spray, I might try that first.

Yeah it'll be the same. Just factor in the smell, it might not bother you now but after 6 weeks it'll start annoying you.

Conscript · Sunday at 09:26

Gummi Pflege.
I have some made by Einzsett (sp?) but theres similar made by Liquid Moly and others available.

Terminal_Boy · Sunday at 09:57

Make sure the seal and every surface it contacts are clean and dry first.

I’ve found using the silicone spray very sparingly and wiping off the excess helps to avoid getting the stuff on trousers etc.

jpaul · Sunday at 11:33

maybe gummifledge, use einzsett too, is just silicone - but not being a spray you can apply it accurately by putting some on a cloth that you work into window seal fissures, wrapping cloth around thin knife.
after thorough cleaning with soap as TB said.

GF doesn't attract dirt which silicon sprays , if you used them for plastic dash maintenance would

robj20 · Sunday at 11:37

Any of the Rubber Care sticks are good.

g60dubster · Sunday at 15:43

Gummipfledge or Krytox GPL105 (Krytox is what manufacturers use to resolve warranty squeaks and rubber seal issues)
Is a lot more expensive that Gp but lasts much longer and a tiny bit goes a long way.
Stops my pillarless windows sticking when car is frozen

chaparral · Sunday at 18:41

Am lucky as my car doesn't suffer from this problem as i own a Ford and all the rubber door seals just fall off. :cry:

Nasher · Monday at 06:11

chaparral said:
Am lucky as my car doesn't suffer from this problem as i own a Ford and all the rubber door seals just fall off.

Every mk3 Focus seems to have a door seal hanging out of one of the side doors.

jpaul · Monday at 07:57

real rubber seals, leather seats, resilient paint, the genz putty medal is recycled/envi-friendly/vegan;
surprising wood has not come back in for dash/console though, black ash rather than piano black (mohair lives ?)

still in the medicine cabinet - Vintage gf for real rubber was a different tooth-paste like stuff

Nasher · Monday at 08:21

Dos the BMW one need to be programmed in by a dealer?

robj20 · Monday at 08:33

Don't spend extra on Gummi Pflege over Rubber Care.
You do realise it's just the imported version literally translates to Rubber Care

jaybee · Monday at 08:45

I don't believe this is a common issue for people living outside of The Artic Circle. Is it not more likely to be the door or door seal itself is an issue and not fitting correctly?

Uther · Monday at 08:49

A timely thread, must remember to do my soft top before the winter hits.

robj20 · Monday at 08:55

jaybee said:
I don't believe this is a common issue for people living outside of The Artic Circle. Is it not more likely to be the door or door seal itself is an issue and not fitting correctly?

No they definitely freeze shut, I try to remember to disable folding mirrors as well.

Rroff · Monday at 09:00

jaybee said:
I don't believe this is a common issue for people living outside of The Artic Circle. Is it not more likely to be the door or door seal itself is an issue and not fitting correctly?

I think I've had 1 day in the last 5 years where it has been that bad - my windows also rattled all the way home because the rubber was so stiff from the cold.

Before that I think it was 2009 or 2010.

jaybee · Monday at 09:04

Yeah that was my point. When it snows, or rains and then properly frosts...yeah...the occasional, second or third go at pulling the door open can occur. But to have this all the time seems unusual?

iamgigglz · Monday at 09:10

jaybee said:
I don't believe this is a common issue for people living outside of The Artic Circle. Is it not more likely to be the door or door seal itself is an issue and not fitting correctly?

I live at York latitude and last Winter I had this issue a number of times. I started laying towels along the top edges of my doors if frost was forecast. Solved the problem but frost is hard to forecast.
ACF-50 works wonders on the rubber seals too, cold or no.

jaybee said:
Yeah that was my point. When it snows, or rains and then properly frosts...yeah...the occasional, second or third go at pulling the door open can occur. But to have this all the time seems unusual?

I've had mine frozen to the point where I was worried I'd break the door pull off my car. Patience and water was the only way in.