lubricating old window and door seals

[riceye]

[riceye]

That's the "as seen on tv" good ole boy Billy Mays! The youtube link is an amusing outtake of him.

Your comment sounded like one of his ad claims, that's all. No offense intended, RCB.

Baby oil does work well on weatherstripping, as does silicone spray. The trick is applying it often enough, without overapplying.
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'87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads

There's gonna be some changes made.

“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee

"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig

[RCB]

Hey riceye, Can you elaborate on the correlation between my posting and your reply to it ? I didnt open the link due to past issues with YouTube.

[riceye]

[RCB]

TK, if the rubber is as cracked as the Serengeti and or shrunk beyond belief than obviously its best to replace it Baby oil works wonders on the rubber trim on my Westy, as well as the dash. I bought a new sliding door seal from VW a few years ago because parts were getting hard to find. I havent used it yet but my 26 year old seal is just as pliable as the new one is and Ive been applying baby oil to all the seals for years and years. It doesent leak either.All my seals ,interior as well as exterior look brand new.....no leaks either. If it works for me, can you think of any reason why it wouldnt work for someone else?? Maybe you should give it a try......... another thing, did you know that frequent applications of Furniture Polish to after market hub caps and bumpers creates a nearly rust free finish as well as a beautiful shine? Its the silicone thats in those "types" of polishes that works wonders. It works for me, can you think of any reason that it wouldnt work for others?

[offthewallace]

I would second the advice for 303 Aerospace Protectant. I use it on just about everything rubber, including the latex seals on my dry suit. Expensive but it works. It won't restore badly cracked or torn material but will bring back rubber that has dried out and probably provides the best UV protection vs other products.

One concern regarding vegetable oil would be attracting mice, rats etc, or even bears depending on where you are camping or storing your Van...

[RicoS]

[markz2004]

[candyman]

an old body shop trick is to use ATF. I apply it about once every two years. My seals are still OG and in very supple shape. I also live in a very dry climate. I have used ATF to bring back old ghia dash board covers, rubber mats, you name it. Some will say "oh that ATF petroleum based and that is bad for rubber", well 20 years later and my seals are still like new, you do the math

[Perales]

As per the Bentley:
"To seal properly, weatherstrips around hood, hatch, windows, doors, etc., must be pliable. Spray with silicone or coat with talcum powder or glycerine to retain flexibility of the rubber and to protect against freezing in the winter."

I am not sure about using silicone since I have heard to keep it far away from vehicles, but I suspect that it might really be the best thing to do any reconditioning, assuming the rubber is not already decomposing. I believe scuba divers are known to use talcum powder on their mask rubber to keep it in shape, but I assume that is more of a preventative thing. Glycerine could be interesting though...?
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-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino)

[bucko]

[mariposa]

Thanks guys,

I think that I am gonna try the baby oil (cheap-cheap!!!), and save up for some bran new seals...
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'83 Vanagon (Diesel) converted to a gas 1,8L jetta (most probably) 1993

'91 Subaru Loyale "The Red Baron"

[Terry Kay]

Buck said it best--

If the rubber's or glass gaskets are dried up and weather checked--

NOTHING is going to reverse the UV damaged rubber.

Save yourself some time, money and aggravation.
There is no miracle rubber restoration product that's going to fill in the cracks in the rubber or get them to swell up back to their factory original, new condition.

It's an physical impossibility.

Replacing the dried up rubber parts is the only way.
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T.K.

[msinabottle]

[bucko]

If they show any signs of hardening or cracks, replace them. No type of coating/application is going to bring them back.
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Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[LostMyVWkey]

silicone paste. I have used it successfully for the last 20 years. rub it on with the brush and rub in and on the rest of the way and globs back off. It is also good for minor water leaks. Don't use it on the surfaces that contact glass.

[RCB]

Does anyone else apply Baby oil to the seals and to the dash board ??

[mariposa]

oh my!

checked out the "aerospace protectant". I like the name...I"m gonna order some if the shipping isn't too much (nope, you can't buy that stuff up here...sigh)
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'83 Vanagon (Diesel) converted to a gas 1,8L jetta (most probably) 1993

'91 Subaru Loyale "The Red Baron"

[berge13]

Hmmmm, and I thought Vaseline was just for.... Oh, never mind.
_________________
"If someone believes in you, well that is just the greatest thing in life..."
Berge;1972
85 WBX GL
Prior:
59 Ragtop
66 Barndoor
71 TinTop Westy
69 Karmann Ghia
62 Bus
83.5 Vanagon

[mariposa]

I was chatting with a guy at the Napa counter and he was suggesting vaseline (?) seems strange to me
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'83 Vanagon (Diesel) converted to a gas 1,8L jetta (most probably) 1993

'91 Subaru Loyale "The Red Baron"