What window/door gasket lubricant to use?

[neil.ervin]

I need to start using a UV protection lubricant on my 2005 window and door gaskets. This should extend their life before they start drying out and cracking (Arizona sunshine and dryness).

What is recommended to use?

Thanks,

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by neil.ervin

I need to start using a UV protection lubricant on my 2005 window and door gaskets. This should extend their life before they start drying out and cracking (Arizona sunshine and dryness).

What is recommended to use?

Thanks,

"Silicone" spray "ONLY"

Use lots of it, and let it set for as few days, and then wipe off the surplus.

Andy

[neil.ervin]

I used Silicone on some (old) VW Camper rubber seals and the seals turned splotchy white.

So I do have some hesitation to use straight silicone.

My airstream dealer is recommending one of the Slide-Out products, but I'm willing to listen to alternatives.

Thoughts?

[dwightdi]

If you are just interested in protecting the rubber seals from the Ozone and sun in Arizona, the black Neoprene based paint that they used to sell for balck wall tires would do that. There is likely some local products to do this as Arizona has been known to be hard on rubber for years. The second concern is the tendancy for the seals to stick to the aluminum making the windows and doors hard to open. A barrier grade anti-block lubricant is the answer for this. Andy's suggestion of silicone oil is one possibility. The higher viscosity silicone you use, the more effective it will be. Dow Corning makes some good oils at 500 to 5,000 1/sec viscosities.

[CanoeStream]

lewster really knows his stuff! See http://www.airforums.com/forums/439162-post16.html

[neil.ervin]

I'm interested in two facets:

(1) To protect the rubber window/door seals from the sun (UV rays), and
(2) to keep the window/door rubber seals in good condition (prevent from drying out).

Recommendations?

At this time I do not need anti-stick lubricants but I have recorded the Dupont Teflon recommended by Lewster. I may need it in the future.

I used to work at the Union Carbide factory that manufactured silicone oil, grease, and rubber. I would not expect silicone oil to have much UV protection, but I am not a chemist.

Thanks,

[2airishuman]

hi neil

with the thread title as what 'lubricant' to use...

the silicone and teflon suggestions hit the spot.

the title and your 'stated' need aren't exactly the same.

a little back tracking on silicone...

first they were mis-named during the discovery phase, while thought to be related to another chemical grouping...

in reality the compounds are actually siloxanes but the mistaken name 'ones stuck.

siloxanes contain NO OIL OR GREASE...

but oil or grease (or water or alcohols) can be the vehicle for the various siloxanes.

most folks that have had problems with siloxane sprays were using 'oil or petrol based products.

YOUR seals/gaskets are butyl based synthetic rubber, and probably have uv protection already IN the syn rubber formulation.

IF you wanna add topical uv protection (which may do very LITTLE to lengthen the lifecycle of the gaskets)

use one of these 2 products.

303

Sonus Total Eclipse

the 303 has the double utility of lubricant and protectant...

while sonus is VERY popular with auto detailing geeks...

like me.

these uv 'protectants' are often compared to spf 40, which of course is ANOTHER misleading and mis-useage of the term....

since the spf system and ratings is ONLY meant to apply to animal/people skin...

but i'm sure it helps sell the stuff.

cheers

2air'

i'm no chemist either, so if there is chemist who'd like to go into greater detail about 'silicones/siloxanes' or butyl rubbers, have at it!!!

[Fyrzowt]

2air, Not bad for a non-chemist...

[Dwight]

I have used 303 on my windows, FanTastic fan gaskets and vinyl trim without any problems.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by neil.ervin

I used Silicone on some (old) VW Camper rubber seals and the seals turned splotchy white.

So I do have some hesitation to use straight silicone.

My airstream dealer is recommending one of the Slide-Out products, but I'm willing to listen to alternatives.

Thoughts?

We have used straight "silicone spray" in our service department for over 20 years.

We have yet to see any signs of turning white.

There is a "dry" and a "wet" silicone spray.

We only use the wet type. It stays wet as long as it's in place.

Every hardware store has the type we use.

Andy

[fltlevel510]

How about 303 Aerospace Protectant. I have been using this for some time on cars, boats, aircraft and of course the Airstream. They have protectants for rubber, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum and canvas. The Sunbrela folks recommend 303 for their fabrics.

They have a very good web site with technical info and uses for their products, best of all they will send you free samples for the cost of shipping.

303 Products - Aerospace Protectant, High Tech Fabric Guard -* World's Leading Automotive Care Products

[neil.ervin]

Thanks all.

With UV protection built in to the rubber seals, it makes sense that Silicone is the way to go.