Caring for rubber car seals - why is it important before cold weather and how to do it right?

It's good when the car owner has his own garage. But alas! This luxury is not available to everyone. For most owners, the car "sleeps" on the street with all the ensuing consequences for rubber seals (and not only). How does the environment affect these body parts and what can be done to extend their lifespan?

Why seals are needed

In addition to ensuring tightness, rubber bands help maintain the microclimate in the cabin (the so-called thermos effect). That is, with an intact seal in winter, it saves heat, and coolness from the air conditioner in summer. A good rubber band protects the interior from the penetration of noise from the street and drafts into it. And one more quality: the material has shock-absorbing properties. In the event of high loads on the body, the rubber bands ensure minimal impact on the door locks.

Why seals "age"

They are made of porous rubber. On the one hand, this is correct. Such material has good heat and sound insulating properties. But on the other hand, it has many pores into which moisture and dirt penetrate. Of the main factors leading to the destruction of seals and their loss of elasticity can be noted:

• ? exposure to ultraviolet radiation
  
• ? getting into the structure of water at a negative temperature, which causes the formation of ice, which, expanding, tears the material
  
• ? surface impact of aggressive substances: gasoline, oil, other technical fluids
  
• ? high temperatures that cause the rubber to crack
  

The way out is the treatment of seals with special silicone compounds. But first it is necessary to carry out elementary actions.

Regular washing and keeping the machine clean

Avoid soiling doorways. Dirt, dust, and moisture accumulate on the seals when boarding / disembarking passengers and the driver himself. Food products also act aggressively on rubber: ice cream, chocolate, soda with sugar and other sticky liquids.

Placement of the car in the parking lot

Most car owners have a minimal choice: the problem of parking in the city, near multi-story buildings is a sore spot for vehicle owners. But if there is an opportunity, car It is recommended to install it so that the sun's rays have minimal impact on it during the day. As for winter, it is worth considering: on the windy side, the seals will harden more often, and, as a result, tear. Therefore, it is better to park the car with the driver's door on the "warm" side.

Seal care

Many people prefer to use inexpensive silicone formulations for processing. They are really good at resisting moisture, do not "let" it into the pores of rubber. But there is a "trick" here. If silicone gets on the surface of the car body, it will remain there almost forever: it is difficult to remove it, and besides, it is not visually noticeable. When, for example, a minor body repair is needed that requires touch-up, silicone can provoke peeling of the paintwork. Therefore, it is worth using special products with a minimum content of this substance. An example is Liqui Moly Gummi-pflege, which belongs to the category of professional formulations. The agent is neutral to other materials (including salon plastic), helps to clean the seals, and contributes to better conservation.



The composition is suitable for processing new elastic bands (in terms of prevention) and old ones (helps restore elasticity). According to the manufacturer, Liqui Moly Gummi-pflege includes components that clean the sealant from dirt and saturate the surface with substances that restore the original performance properties of rubber. It becomes flexible and elastic.

Application

Using the tool does not cause difficulties. You need to find a piece of rag or foam sponge (it is better to use those that are specifically designed for car care). It is worth remembering: in the future, use them only for processing seals, but not the body. Apply a little of the composition to the sponge and wipe the gum to remove dirt and cover it with a protective film.

Use of other means

Liqui Moly Silicon-Fett - this composition is sold in plastic tubes equipped with a foam rubber sponge, like shoe polish creams. Thanks to this, it is convenient to use the tool. Liqui Moly Silicon-Fett is not specifically designed to process seals. It is used as a lubricant for rubbing metal and plastic surfaces. These can be skids under the seats or sunroof rails. A feature of the composition is inertness to rubber, plastic and metals. Therefore, it is successfully used in the contact zones of these materials.

Application of Liqui Moly Silicon-Fett

The consistency is like a cream. It must be squeezed out and rubbed over the surface of the gum with a sponge fixed in a tube, or use a rag. The cleansing “ability” of this product is worse than that of the one described above, but the protection is stronger, especially from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and drying out. The cream is recommended to be applied at the contact points of rubber and metal elements. Another plus of the composition is the elimination of squeaks of contacting surfaces.

VMPAUTO Silicot Spray 2706

It is used both for processing rubber seals and mechanisms that need lubrication. Protects well from moisture, working temperature range from -50 С° to +200 С °. Sold at an affordable price.

Felix

It resists moisture very well and stays on the surface for a long time. The lubricant is characterized by versatility: it can process not only seals, but also door locks. The popularity of the tool is also due to the affordable cost.

LERATON P4 MATT

It has good water repellent properties. The composition contains polymer and silicone (no more than 30%) compounds. When processing rubber, it prevents it from drying out, the appearance of cracks, and also gives the material a natural color. Plus provides antistatic properties. The manufacturer recommends using LERATON at low temperatures during the next wash. After applying the product, the surface must be wiped with a dry cloth.

What causes inattention to seals

Dirty, torn, cracked or dry rubber bands cause:

• ? deterioration of the thermal insulation of the passenger compartment - it is cold inside the car in winter, hot in summer
  
• ? the appearance of corrosion on body parts due to the penetration of precipitation (rain, snow) into the contact points of the seal and doors
  
• ? deterioration of the sound insulation of the cabin, which leads to a decrease in the comfort of the trip, a drop in the concentration of the driver's attention, which may result in an accident
  
• ? freezing of doors in winter: attempts to open them by force can damage the rubber bands
  

It is better to use universal products after each wash, processing seals and locks. Then the winter morning will not bring problems with opening the doors and you can go on a trip in a good mood.