WD-40® High Performance Silicone Lubricant is ideal for use on rubber materials. After you have allowed time for the glue to dry and settle, spray the entire rubber surface with WD-40® High Performance Silicone Lubricant, and wipe away with a clean microfiber cloth.
As mentioned above, and unlike lithium grease, silicone lubricant is the perfect lubricant for rubber surfaces, but it is also extremely versatile, so it can be used on most other materials, including metal, plastic, wood, and even painted materials.
Use of the Day: Spray WD-40 on weather stripping and rubber car door seals to keep them soft and pliable and prevent drying and cracking.
Lubrication of seals can be achieved by adding a lubricant to the rubber compound before molding, or by treating the seal after molding. Seals that have a lubricant molded into them are considered to be Internally Lubricated. Silicone Oil or Molybdenum Disulfide can be applied to the surface of molded rubber products.
WD40 contains a mineral (petroleum) spirit as a carrier solvent. The mineral spirit WILL soften and swell natural rubber. It is ok to use on fuel and oil hoses but NOT coolant hoses and definitely not on door and window rubbers!
Once the rubber seals have been cleaned and freed of contaminants, protect them against moisture, heat and frost with a silicone lubricant. Not only does this ensure a long life, but it also keeps them looking their best all year round!
There are many different types of plastic, but there are two kinds that you should avoid using WD-40 on—polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic. Polycarbonate is a transparent plastic that is commonly used in greenhouses, and polystyrene is typically used for styrofoam and soft drink lids among other items.
If you put WD-40 on o-rings, it will clean them, but it will also dry them out and eventually ruin them, especially if you do not put silicone grease on them afterward.
Penetrating oil will stuff up rubber components. Do not use it. There is nothing that can be sprayed onto rubber bushings, they are designed to grip not spin, so you would be making them useless. Replace them with poly bushes if the rubber is stuffed.
People planning to use latex condoms should not use Vaseline as a lubricant. Oil based substances, such as petroleum jelly, can weaken latex products.
Silicone spray lubricant is safer to use on rubber and plastic. A silicone spray like WD-40 is excellent for rubber seals as it is safer for use on rubber and plastic, so it continues to seal correctly.
Silicone-based material that helps ensure positive lubrication and sealing by slightly swelling rubber O-rings and seals.
WD-40 can swell rubber or buna rubber gaskets when the gasket is immersed in the fluid. If the fluid is sprayed on and wiped off, the gasket will not swell. This swelling will not ruin the gasket, however it will swell the rubber.
Myth: WD-40 Multi-Use Product is not really a lubricant. Fact: While the “W-D” in WD-40 stands for Water Displacement, WD-40 Multi-Use Product is a unique, special blend of lubricants. The product's formulation also contains anti-corrosion agents and ingredients for penetration, water displacement and soil removal.
This rust-removal formula has no toxic fumes, does not use acids or caustic chemicals, is non-irritating to skin, and is safe to use on most metals. To remove light rust, leave parts in the solution for 1-3 hours. To remove heavy rust, leave parts in the rust removal solution overnight.
WD-40 Specialist® Cleaner & Degreaser is a water-based, non-flammable, non-aerosol cleaner & degreaser with a unique bio-solvent formula engineered to be powerful yet safe for sensitive surfaces.
You'll need to wait about 15 minutes after applying WD-40 for it to do its thing. For only slightly stuck stuff, it'll take three to five minutes.
They concluded that vegetable oil and acetone mixture might be better than WD-40 in terms of both lubrication and rust prevention. Vegetable oil is something most preppers consider essential, and if you know how to store cooking oil for the long term, it will be readily available when disaster strikes.
As said, vaseline will degrade the rubber seals. Even Halfords sell silicone spray for this very purpose.