Blue Thunder

Can't remember which it is for the door seals and other gaskets. I think it was silicone spray to give some lasting protection.

Anyone??? I am going to give the Blue Thunder a good cleaning this weekend, and wanted to make all the "black" stuff look black again, instead of aged gray.

Please reply if this is correct.

Thanks.

Norris

I have used silicone grease for years, good stuff, comes in small tube. Apply it with clean rag, just wipe it on, not too heavy of coat.

John Shiels

Dielectric very sparingly

Big Carrot

silicone spray works really well to protect and revitalize rubber weatherstrip. A mechanich told me about it one time when I had a squeak. It worked well and I have used it since.

silversport

I have even used armor all with good success...I know the Krytox is the best but its expensive...the grease in the tubes is similar and much cheaper...Eckler's, MidAmerica Designs, etc. carry them. :chevy

Gearhead Jim

I am using the diaelectric silicone grease, a standard GM part # although a bit pricey. Someone once posted that silicone SPRAY should not be used because the "vehicle" in the spray can attack the rubber over the years. Wish I knew.

silversport

...Well before I do it...PLEASE...Someone tell me.
"Oh mighty Oracle at Delphi (or is that Delco?)" :chevy

vette2001c5

I use GM silicone grease on my weatherstrip. It is much neater than a spray, and protects better.

ScreaminDemon

The majority of silicone and other weatherstrip "cleaners" contain harmful pretrolium distillants which will break down the soft rubber compounds in your very expensive weatherstripping. It is always best to use common soap and water. I know you hate to hear that.. :nonod:

silversport

"Good to know!"
Thanks, I will get the grease, Krytox or whatever... :cool: :cheers: :D :chevy

Streetrod

Blue Thunder, If it is spray buy a silicone with a water vehicle not petro base. The Solder Seal Brand with the earth globe on it from sears is one kind that is friendly as it is true, they are not all equal. Here is a good test--try it, get a styrofoam cup and spray your silicone in it, let it stand 1/2 hour. When you return if the cup has melted, run from that brand.......run to Sears for the one I said to use and do the test. I saw this on a car show somewhere and it is true. I will only use the strong one on metal not rubber. Hope that this helps......did me! Streetrod

LIGHTNING

screamindeamon...

are you trying to tell me that gm silicone grease (the one in the tubes) that ive been using on my c5 weather stripping for the past 2 years, will actually deteriorate the rubber?!! i find this difficult to believe.

ScreaminDemon

I don't know the ingredients in that product, but when you say a silicone grease, it sounds like a harmful chemical. But it will be either a water or a petroleum(or alcohol) based product, and petroleum breaks down soft rubber. Any kind of flamable product can desolve both open and closed cell rubber compounds. This also applies toward belt and rubber hose dressings. Just read the ingredients, if it's water-based your fine. You might notice this when you clean it. Does the rag you use to clean it with take the black off " after the surface is clean?" If so, it's being degraded. hope this helps...

Mark S.

Use GM's Dielectric grease...comes in a small tube about $10 bucks, but it will last a long time. Use it sparingly and rub it into your weatherstripping, follow it up with a clean cloth to take off the excess (even take your top off and use it there...will keep the weatherstipping from sticking). I still have the same tube that I bought back in '94 for my C4. I would use the grease on her every 4-5 months and my weatherstripping looked great and didn't have any cracks, etc. I've already used it once on my present C5. Of course if you park your baby outside in the elements, or leave her in the sun a lot...you'll need to use the grease every couple of months...but in the long run it will save you a lots of money.
Tip: To save the seals/weatherstripping around your windows always crack the windows open a few inches when you park inside the garage...it will allow your window seals to expand and remain in the uncompressed position until you put your windows back up. Doing this will keep them in pretty good condition and then they will seal the windows properly when you have your windows up.

Evil-Twin

Here s the skinny on silicone.. Some products ( Like Armoral ) contain Disulfides... a petrolium based cleaner... using this on rubber cleans it but by itself, drys the rubber,and makes the rubber a silicone junkie... the disulfide, while cleaning the rubber makes it thursty for silcone... which gives that wet look.. Stay away from anything with anytype of disulfide in it..
The GM dielectric greese or Permatex dielectric are both good products.. the permatex tube is around 5 dollars...

99HT

The best I have found is:

Black Magic Trim & Tire shine

VERY thick silicone liquid with no water, about $5 at DAP. Very easy to apply and not too messy like grease which is a PITA to use.

RareBird WS6

I use GM's Dielectric sillicone grease. Comes in a small tube, about $9. Very good, used Z-16 RUBBER'WORKS' before, but switched to this stuff for my rubber seals on t-tops. Could have continued using Z-16, that stuff was great :cool:

:cheers:

PeterK

I use vacuum silicon grease. You get a pound for $20, enough for the whole life of your car.

Corvettedon

For what it's worth... when I had my 84 repainted, the body man claimed that all the fisheyes--which he eventually removed--was caused by silicon! Don't know...

mprp

Very interesting, especially the part about degrading the rubber. :cheers: