# Lubricating Door Joint/Hinges in Cars **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970 "2017-05-19T00:18:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/1 "2017-05-19T00:18:56Z")
Is there an actual recommended product for this, as in used by manufacturers? In my experience that WD-40 crap is only good for loosening rusted stuff, I NEVER use it to lubricate. I have used that General Purpose 3In1 Oil before, and it works, is this a viable option? Are there drawbacks? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Oddball\_92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b3f665/32.png) [@Oddball\_92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oddball_92)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/2 "2017-05-19T01:13:12Z")
I use white lithium grease. ---
**Author:** ![JHBoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JHBoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHBoom)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/3 "2017-05-19T01:18:39Z")
White lithium grease. I use the aerosol can with the straw, usually either CRC or Liquid Wrench brand (whichever is cheaper when I buy it). ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/4 "2017-05-19T04:38:43Z")
Use the white grease, holds up longer with the loading on door hinges. The WD stands for water displacement. WD-40 is good for that. It has some lubricating capability but its film strength doesn’t hold up. It has some penetrating capability but there are much better choices. It will clean up gears, chains, other interfaces but there are better choices as well. However from bicycle touring experience ; a long day in the rain with road grit and a chain with some wear gets a little cranky. You can always find/borrow some WD-40 to get you through the ride. It penetrates, cleans, lubes and get the water out in the very short term. Then use some proper chain lube at the end of the day. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/5 "2017-05-19T11:35:37Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > However from bicycle touring experience ; a long day in the rain with road grit and a chain with some wear gets a little cranky. You can always find/borrow some WD-40 to get you through the ride. It penetrates, cleans, lubes and get the water out in the very short term. Then use some proper chain lube at the end of the day. Discerning bicyclists at Burning Man, where you definitely don’t want corrosive playa dust sticking to your chain, favor [White Lightning](http://www.whitelightningco.com/). No compensation was received for product endorsement; your mileage may vary; void where prohibited by law. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/6 "2017-05-19T11:50:16Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Discerning bicyclists at Burning Man, where you definitely don’t want corrosive playa dust sticking to your chain, favor [White Lightning](http://www.whitelightningco.com/). > > No compensation was received for product endorsement; your mileage may vary; void where prohibited by law. corrosive ? well I guess you dont want a salted chain, but the main problem is oils cause stickyness, and so it holds onto dust… and then the dust falls off taking the oil with it, and anyway its hard work to fight the extra friction from the dust, which is also ERODING your chain parts too. You can get wax chain lube so that it doesn’t hold dust but does lubricate. But car doors tend to do alright with just an ordinary clear grease. You can even use vaseline if you dont want to buy anything toxic. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/7 "2017-05-19T13:52:56Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Use the white grease, holds up longer with the loading on door hinges. > > The WD stands for water displacement. WD-40 is good for that. It has some lubricating capability but its film strength doesn’t hold up. It has some penetrating capability but there are much better choices. It will clean up gears, chains, other interfaces but there are better choices as well. > > However from bicycle touring experience ; a long day in the rain with road grit and a chain with some wear gets a little cranky. You can always find/borrow some WD-40 to get you through the ride. It penetrates, cleans, lubes and get the water out in the very short term. Then use some proper chain lube at the end of the day. As they say…if it moves and it shouldn’t, use duck tape, but if it doesn’t move and it should, use WD-40. WD-40 is a penetrating lubricant and it (basically) evaporates after use, leaving behind little in the way of continuous lubrication. White lithium grease is a much better solution. I sometimes take a hair dryer to the joint after I apply grease, as it will let the grease soften and spread throughout the components. I then wipe off the excess. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/8 "2017-05-19T21:53:07Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Discerning bicyclists at Burning Man, where you definitely don’t want corrosive playa dust sticking to your chain, favor [White Lightning](http://www.whitelightningco.com/). > > No compensation was received for product endorsement; your mileage may vary; void where prohibited by law. > [@ZonexandScout](#): > > As they say…if it moves and it shouldn’t, use duck tape, but if it doesn’t move and it should, use WD-40. WD-40 is a penetrating lubricant and it (basically) evaporates after use, leaving behind little in the way of continuous lubrication. White lithium grease is a much better solution. I sometimes take a hair dryer to the joint after I apply grease, as it will let the grease soften and spread throughout the components. I then wipe off the excess. YMMV. Jeeess guys/gals. No where did I advocate WD-40 as a quality lubricant. Please re-read my post. Quick summary: One example of a use for WD-40 is to get you through a wet day with a crapped out chain. You might/should have one of the correct lubes [dry slide, teflon, etc…] but you can almost alway find some WD-40 in any store; even from a woman with a baby carriage [obscure reference to a “Baby Blues” comic strip]. 🙂 The crap gets on the chain not from WD-40 [which you shouldn’t have used beforehand]; it’s from the oil, grease, and sand floating up on the roadway on the wet day being slung onto the gears and chain. WD-40 works fine to get you to the end of the day to perform a proper lubrication. After a spray down with the WD-40, use your partner’s shirt to wipe down the chain.😃 As I’m sure you know, lube on the outside (any kind of lube) attracts the grit. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/9 "2017-05-19T22:08:45Z")
I found a few purveyors of the White Lithium Grease, going to pick some up today! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/10 "2017-05-20T13:41:07Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > I found a few purveyors of the White Lithium Grease, going to pick some up today! Thanks! I use it on my garage door parts as well. mmm ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/11 "2017-05-20T17:37:34Z")
Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/12 "2017-05-22T02:08:04Z")
Silicone sprays work quite well and they don’t “attract” dirt. IMHO, they’re better on garage door parts too. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/13 "2017-05-22T02:20:35Z")
Just came here to reply about the White Lithium Grease. FAN-TASTIC! The doors feel almost pillowed, like they are floating when opened and moving so smoothly. You all never disappoint! Thanks again! P.S. trying this on ye old garage door next. ---
**Author:** ![cattalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cattalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cattalk)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/14 "2017-05-22T03:48:56Z")
Believe it or not, I’m using chain lube that I bought from [4WheelOnline](http://4wheelonline.com/) the brand that I’m using is Motorex. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/15 "2017-05-22T04:46:23Z")
I’ve always used motor oil applied from a squirt can. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-door-joint-hinges-in-cars/786970/16 "2017-05-23T16:10:14Z")
There’s a product called “Super Lube” which is a clear synthetic spray grease that works well. It doesn’t yellow or get hard over time like the white lithium grease can. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk