If you’ve had your vehicle for a while, you might notice that the doors are starting to stick and squeak. Rather than shelling out hundreds of dollars for a full service, you can grab an affordable can of car door hinge lubricant and fix the problem yourself.
The best lubricants for car door hinges are made from a lithium grease, silicone, or petroleum base. The overall best lubricant is the WD-40 Specialist Protective White Lithium Grease Spray. It’s designed for automotive functions and lubricates while protecting against rust and corrosion.
In this article, we will cover the best lubricants for car door hinges on the market. We will also discuss the different properties of each lubricant and any potential drawbacks. Then, we will walk you through the process of choosing a car door lubricant and everything you need to know before purchase.
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1. Permatex 80345 White Lithium Grease
The Permatex White Lithium Grease is a great all-rounder option for lubricating car door hinges.
It has a white lithium grease base, which is thick and resistant to moisture. This makes it a great long-term option, even if you live in a wet or humid climate. It will continue to lubricate the hinges for long periods and also prevents overall wear and tear, rust, and corrosion.
The lubricant does not cause stains and has a non-toxic formula, which ensures that you won’t do any damage to your car door. We still recommend wearing personal protective equipment like a face mask and gloves when applying this lubricant just to be sure.
The Permatex lubricant can be used on metal or plastic, making it a good addition to your tool shop for uses other than car door hinges. It adheres well and lubricates the hinges of your car doors so that they open and close with no resistance or noise.
Our only criticism is that while the lubricant has a nozzle for application, it does not have a precise tip. Therefore, it can make for a messy job if you don’t have any other nozzles at home.
Specs
- Type: White lithium
- Application: Grease
- Temperature range: -15℉ to 300℉ (-26.1℃ to 149℃)
2. WD-40 Specialist Spray and Stay Gel Lubricant
WD-40 is one of the most popular brands when it comes to lubricants, and for a good reason. This Specialist addition to their product lineup uses a petroleum base in a unique gel spray format.
The thick gel formula is designed to avoid dripping, which is ideal for avoiding mess inside or outside of your vehicle. You can use it on a wide variety of materials, including metal, plastic, and rubber. It’s a good all-purpose lubricant to have in your shed, but it particularly excels on car door hinges.
The only potential issue is that it can be hard to control spray from the nozzle. It comes out quickly and powerfully, so the non-drip formula is essential to avoid excess mess.
It also effectively resists moisture and moves it away, preventing rust and damage to your car door hinges. WD-40 advertises one year of rust prevention from a single application. This means you just need to do annual touch-ups for optimum performance.
Compared to other similarly priced lubricants, it has a truly impressive working temperature range of -100℉ to 500℉ (-73.3℃ to 260℃). Therefore, you don’t need to worry about performance in any weather conditions or regular car usage.
Specs
- Type: Petroleum base
- Application: Gel spray
- Temperature range: -100℉ to 500℉ (-73.3℃ to 260℃)
3. DuPont Teflon Silicone Lubricant
The DuPont lubricant combines a silicon spray with Teflon fluoropolymer fortifications.
It’s an extremely slippery formula that goes on wet and clear. Make sure to clean any residue off to avoid a mess. It’s also important to clean the car door hinges before applying this spray, or it will not adhere properly.
It serves four purposes for the hinges: waterproofing, protection, lubrication, and preservation. It can be used on a wide variety of materials, including metal, rubber, vinyl, plastic, leather, and wood. In metal, it reduces corrosion, oxidation, and rust so that the metal keeps its form for longer.
The inclusion of Teflon increases the longevity, resistance to temperature changes, and chemical resistance of the lubricant. This means that it’s a great option in the long term because an occasional application will keep your car door hinges in their best condition.
The DuPont lubricant advertises itself as a low odor formula. However, some users have complained about the strong smell of this product. We recommend using a respirator or face mask to protect your airways when using the silicone lubricant spray. If possible, use it outside or in a well-ventilated area.
Specs
- Type: Silicon and Teflon
- Application: Spray
- Temperature range: -40℉ to 392℉ (-40℃ to 200℃)
4. WD-40 Specialist Protective White Lithium Grease Spray
Another offering from the WD-40 Specialist range is this white lithium grease spray, which is designed to lubricate and protect.
It has a heavy-duty formula that is optimized for metal applications. It sprays on white and dries as a thick coating that protects car door hinges from corrosion and rust. The lubricant is specially formulated for automotive functions, so you can use it freely without worrying about doing damage to your vehicle.
The lubricant has a foamy greasy consistency that doesn’t drip or cause a mess. It also has an attached nozzle so you can spray with greater precision. The lubricant is designed for long term use, so you can apply it periodically for optimum performance.
It is more expensive than some of the other car door hinge lubricants on the market. However, you can think of it as an investment when you consider the product’s longevity and its protective qualities.
Overall, the WD-40 lubricant lives up to the reliable reputation of the brand. It can also be used as a penetrating oil for removing rusty parts if you spray and leave it on overnight.
Specs
- Type: White lithium
- Application: Grease spray
- Temperature range: 0℉ to 300℉ (-17.8℃ to 149℃)
5. 3M Silicone Lubricant – Dry Version
The 3M lubricant differs from other car door hinge lubricants because of its dry formula.
Dry lubricants are ideal for avoiding mess because they don’t drip or attract dirt. The lubricant is also free from petroleum oils. This means that you can comfortably spray the 3M silicone formula without worrying about oil stains or marks on your vehicle. Therefore, this is the best option if you’re worried about your vehicle’s appearance.
The 3M dry lubricant’s main drawback is that you will need to use it more often than wet sprays. It effectively eliminates squeaking sounds in car door hinges, but you will need to pay more attention to upkeep and routine applications.
Its formula is suitable for multiple surfaces, including metal, rubber, plastic, and leather. It lubricates and seals moisture out from its surface, which also helps to protect against rust and other external damage.
The lubricant is easy to apply, with an included extension tube that can be used to get into smaller spaces. It’s also suitable for a wide range of weather conditions, with the ability to withstand temperatures as low as -28℉ (-33.3℃) and as high as 350℉ (176.7℃).
Specs
- Type: Silicon
- Application: Dry spray
- Temperature range: -28℉ to 350℉ (-33.3℃ to 176.7℃)
6. AGS DEK-3 Door-Ease Lubricant Stick
The AGS DEK-3 lubricant stick is radically different from the other car door hinge lubricants on this list because of its delivery method. The small grease stick allows complete control over the application, making it a great choice if you’re worried about the mess. It can also easily reach small and awkward places without affecting the surrounding areas.
This lubricant was designed with doors in mind and can lubricate car and house door hinges alike. It has a thick petroleum base that effectively reduces annoying squeaking noises and prevents doors from sticking.
One issue with the lubricant’s design is the packaging. Once you have used the initial section, you need to remove the paper to expose more lubricant. This can get messy if you’re not used to this kind of application. However, you don’t need to use very much of the AGS lubricant to be effective.
The beauty of the AGS lubricant stick is in its simplicity. While many other brands advertise superior chemical formulas and innovative application methods, the AGS lube is simple and effective. This means it could be your ideal choice if you like an old-school lubricant that just gets the job done.
Specs
- Type: Petroleum
- Application: Grease stick
- Temperature range: Maximum 161.6℉ (72℃)
7. CRC Power Lube Industrial High-Performance Lubricant with PTFE
The CRC Power Lube is a seriously heavy-duty lubricant suitable for both DIYers and professionals who want to fix their car door hinges.
It has a combination formula that has both a petroleum base and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This allows it to be resistant to high temperatures and repel moisture to prevent rust or erosion. PTFE has high thermal stability, so it’s particularly suitable if your car will be exposed to high temperatures regularly.
CRC advertises that this lubricant can handle twice the load carrying of other lubricants. This means that it can be used in industrial contexts without affecting the quality of the lubricant. However, it’s also perfectly simple for home applications.
It’s best used on metal surfaces, creating a movement that many users describe as ‘silky.’ As an added selling point, it also has an attractive minty smell, which is unusual for an automotive lubricant.
The only criticism of the CRC lubricant is that you need to use a straw nozzle for precise applications. If you try to spray it directly from the aerosol can, you’re likely to make a big mess because of its pressurized nature.
Specs
- Type: Petroleum solvent with PTFE
- Application: Spray
- Temperature range: Maximum 300℉ (148.9℃)
What You Need to Know When Buying Lubricants for Car Door Hinges
The Purpose of a Lubricant
Lubrication is essential for the upkeep and care of your car door hinges. It helps the hinges to move more easily. You might need to use a lubricant for the following reasons:
- The car doors are creaking or groaning.
- You want to avoid damage to your hinges.
Regular wear and tear of your hinges may not be apparent until you start hearing unusual sounds. However, it’s important to regularly use a lubricant to prevent rust and preserve the car door hinges’ shape and integrity.
If your hinges don’t receive proper lubrication, they can start to bend and change their form. This can cause your doors to stick or move off their center axis, even to the point where they don’t close properly anymore.
Lubricant Types
You have the following options when choosing a lubricant for car door hinges:
- Lithium grease
- Teflon/PTFE
- Silicon
- Dry lubricant
- Petroleum-based lubricant
Each has its advantages and drawbacks, so you should consider the following points before choosing your lubricant.
Lithium Grease
Lithium grease is one of the best options for lubricating car door hinges. It is perfectly suited to metal applications and actually protects the metal from degradation. It does so by repelling moisture and moving it away from its surface. Therefore, it prevents rust and erosion of the metal hinge.
Lithium grease is also resistant to extreme temperatures. It maintains its integrity in sub-zero and high temperatures, making it ideal for extreme climates and industrial applications. It also leaves a white coating behind, so you can easily see when you need to reapply another layer of this lubricant.
The only issue with lithium grease is that it can be very messy. It has a thick and sticky texture, so you need to be careful when applying. Otherwise, you can quickly get it stuck on everything and have to do an intensive cleanup job.
Teflon/PTFE
Teflon is the trade name for PTFE, which is a synthetic compound with multiple uses. When used as a lubricant, it is similar to silicon in consistency.
The main benefits of Teflon lubricant are that it repels water and has long term effectiveness. Like lithium grease, it can handle extremes of temperature and protects the car door hinges against erosion and rust.
However, it can have a strong odor and can be messy to apply. Make sure to use protective equipment if you choose this lubricant.
Silicon Spray
Silicon is another staple choice for lubricating hinges. It can keep water away from metal and thus prevent rust and is also suitable for many other materials like plastic.
Silicon lubricant is transparent and extremely slippery. It provides lighter lubrication and is not suitable for industrial uses.
Dry Lubricant
Dry lubricant is a great choice if you are worried about the mess. It dries quickly, so there is no danger of dirt or dust sticking. It also doesn’t stain, so you don’t need to worry about messing up your car’s paint job.
However, dry lubricant provides less overall lubrication than wet formulas. You will need to apply it more frequently to keep your car door hinges in good condition.
Petroleum-Based Lubricant
The last option for lubricating car door hinges is a petroleum-based formula like WD-40. It is particularly good at reducing rust and erosion by directing moisture away from the hinges. It’s also long-lasting.
However, petroleum-based lubricant does attract more dirt and dust and can be messier to apply. Therefore, it’s not a good option for visible areas.
How to Apply Lubricant to Car Door Hinges
Once you’ve chosen the lubricant for your car door hinges, you need to apply it. Many lubricants include application instructions on the packaging, but you might need extra guidance if you’re new to the process.
- Open the car door and spray or apply the lubricant directly to the hinges.
- Open and close the car door several times to distribute the lubricant evenly across the hinges.
- Use a single spray of white lithium grease or motor oil after you have applied the lubricant.
- Open and close the door several more times.
- Open the door fully and use a clean rag to wipe away any excess lubricant or mess.
- Repeat the process for each car door.
The following video shows you how you can lubricate car door hinges with WD-40:
To Sum Up
In summary, the best lubricants for car door hinges have one of the following formulas:
- Silicon
- Lithium grease
- Petroleum
- Teflon/PTFE
Each of these lubricant types works differently to lubricate hinges, prevent damage like rust and erosion, and keep out moisture. Depending on how frequently you intend to lubricate and how much you are worried about the mess, a different formula could suit your needs.
Regular car door hinge maintenance is essential to avoid damage, warping of the shape, and the always annoying squeaking and groaning sounds. Remember to apply lubricant in a well-ventilated area and use protective equipment like a respirator to protect yourself.
So, there you have it! Hopefully, this guide will help you to choose the perfect lubricant for your needs and fix those squeaky car doors for good.
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