Frozen Door Locks - What Do I Need?

DazQ87 · 22 Dec 2019 at 22:09

Had this issue on the wifes car last year.

I sprayed a liberal amount of WD40 into the lock and lock mechanisms to get all the water and grime out, and then sprayed a load of white lithium grease into the areas where water could get in, hasn't been a problem since.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-40-N-A-Lithium-Grease/dp/B006UCJ4AE

paintguy · 23 Dec 2019 at 08:04

A locksmith friend of mine recommends (original) GT85 for most types of lock.

It does the water dispersal job of WD40 (I believe it's part of the same company or something) but has a longer lasting lubrication effect.

Iamzod · 23 Dec 2019 at 16:11

Been in this pickle about 10 years ago, however it was the fuel cap lock that was frozen & my fuel light was on.

Being at work at just gone 10pm I had no access to things like WD40 and I didn't want to end up stranded.

Ended up urinating on the fuel cap then used an empty plastic bag to open it.

Threepwood · 23 Dec 2019 at 16:57

paintguy said:
A locksmith friend of mine recommends (original) GT85 for most types of lock.

It does the water dispersal job of WD40 (I believe it's part of the same company or something) but has a longer lasting lubrication effect.

Wd40 is bad for certain rubber/plastic too, whereas gt85 is okay with them, so the guys at the motorbike shop say anyway.

mollymoo · 23 Dec 2019 at 16:59

I used gun oil, it seems to work very well.

Lopéz · 23 Dec 2019 at 17:00

Nasher said:
Don't use WD40 on rubber. Use something silicone based.

Rubber door locks??

Incidentally, WD40 datasheet states "Surface Compatibility For all variations : WD-40 demonstrates none to negligible deleterious effect to plastic, rubber, and metal hard surfaces. This includes Acetal, neoprene/hard rubber, HDPE, PPS Copolymer Polysulfone, Teflon, Viton, steel, galvanized steel hot dip, electroplated, copper, brass, magnesium, nickel, tin plate, titanium, and zinc"

Dave M · 23 Dec 2019 at 17:38

Not had a car that needed this for years, but the last time I had a fiat I'd use lithium grease and cover up the key hole (denso tape or similar). I'd do it before the weather turned bad so it was dry before I put the grease on.

jpaul · 23 Dec 2019 at 18:21

... isn't it condensation inside the door panel on the metal lock, as opposed to ingress ? lock shield protects key hole

Even if wd40 is ok for rubber, the plasticisers and other uv protectants may not appreciate it

my concern with wd40 remains, if you spray it somewhere you cannot see, and guarantee, to subsequently re-lube with 100% certainty , like the sprung lock pins,
you leave it/them open to metal abrasion .... yes put it on a bike, or motorbike chain, but not some inaccesible cavity.

bledd · 24 Dec 2019 at 10:01

Lakeland said:
Resolution - put key in a warm orifice, leave for 5 minutes and then reinsert in to the barrel. The residual heat should melt the ice and as if by magic everyone’s happy.

Make sure you wash your key after.

PiKe · 24 Dec 2019 at 10:18

Would GT85 work?

HoneyBadger · 24 Dec 2019 at 11:33

Too much?

Cleisthenes · 24 Dec 2019 at 17:14

I had this on my Alfa a few years ago. Used silicone liberally on the locks and didn't have issues after that.

b00merang69 · 24 Dec 2019 at 17:25

Get this dog to deice your whole car locks and all.

Django x2 · 24 Dec 2019 at 20:12

Hi, in 1997, when I last had a car that you had to put a key into the door, you would just spray some WD40 in there.