How to Grease Your Car Before Winter
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Winter weather can take a toll on vehicles, but with with a few squirts of lubricant, you can keep the moving parts working properly. Here are five spots in particular that need grease.
What You Should Lube in Your Vehicle
Cold weather is right around the corner, and now’s the time to lube locks, latches, hinges, window channels and weather stripping. You can lube your entire vehicle in less than 20 minutes.
Tools and materials required for this project:
– Glass cleaner
– Dry Teflon spray
– Spray lithium grease
– Rags
Step 1: Lube Window Tracks (pictured)
Spray window tracks with silicone spray or dry Teflon. Silicone stays slick even in cold weather, so windows slide smoothly, lessening the wear on your window motors.
Step 2: Lube Door Weather Stripping
Spray silicone on all weather stripping. Silicone will keep ice from bonding the rubber to the metal doors. That’ll make doors open smoother and may even prevent tears in the weather stripping.
Step 3: Lube the Hood Latch
Spray aerosol lithium grease on the hood latch mechanism. You don’t want to fight a balky hood latch when it’s snowing and you’re trying to add windshield fluid.
Step 4: Lube Locks
Keep your lock cylinders working smoothly by injecting dry Teflon lubricant spray. You never know when your remote keyless entry system might let you down.
Step 5: Lube Door Hinges
Spray lithium grease on door hinges to keep them opening smoothly and prevent rust.
Check out more do-it-yourself car maintenance tips!
Explore Reader’s Digest Cars.
