Opening your car door becomes second nature, an activity you don’t think much about until something goes wrong. Without proper car maintenance, especially in cold winter, your vehicle door hinges and car locks can stick, making your door difficult, if not impossible, to open. Lubricating your car door hinges can reduce premature wear and tear and ensure safety and accessibility when the temperatures drop.
When push comes to shove, your extended warranty plan can help you with winter lockout services. However, a few minutes of car door maintenance can prevent you from being frozen out this winter.
Why Lubricating Car Door Hinges and Vehicle Locks is Essential
Most car owners ignore or overlook the squeak of a gas door, a groaning driver’s side door, or even a sticky lock until their key gets stuck or, worse, breaks in the lock. Unusual noises your car makes should never be ignored, as they are generally your car’s way of letting you know routine vehicle maintenance is overdue and needs attention.
Your car doors and windows are your vehicle’s first line of defense in vehicle security, and the various components shouldn’t be overlooked. Just like we get regular oil changes, transmission fluid changes, and top off all other fluids to ensure the car is running like the “well-oiled machine” that it is, we should also be sure other high-usage areas get attention. These areas include, but aren’t limited to:
- Car door hinges, including trunks
- External vehicle locks
- Windows, sunroofs, and moon roofs
- Entry point gaskets
Without proper care and lubrication, the parts that experience regular wear and tear can experience mechanical breakdowns, reducing your safety and making it difficult to use your car. Over time, hinges can get dry and cracked, rubber gaskets deteriorate, and dirt and grime build up in locking mechanisms—even those that never get used, thanks to the invention of keyless entry technology. Common winter issues that are left untreated can result in more significant damage to your vehicle.
Common Winter Issues with Frozen Car Locks and Door Hinges
Most typical winter car problems are minor and avoidable, such as stiff or frozen car door locks or hinges. However, even these minor issues can be a major inconvenience if you have somewhere to be. If ignored, something as small as a squeaky door hinge can result in bigger car repairs.
For example, if left untreated with the proper automotive lubricant:
- Car hinges can bind up, stick, or even bend and twist, resulting in a door that won’t open or shut.
- Rubber gaskets around vehicle doors can break down, preventing a proper seal, allowing leaks, and increasing the likelihood of a frozen car door during winter.
- Gaskets around car windows also deteriorate, keeping the car windows from sliding smoothly.
- The exterior locks are metal. Over time, moisture and dirt can gather inside, causing corrosion inside the mechanisms and resulting in a frozen car lock.
Routine lubrication with the right materials for these high-usage areas can reduce friction, making it easier to use your vehicle. Lubrication also prevents rust and extends the life of your car door components.
Choosing the Right Vehicle Lubrication for Car Doors
Just like you spend time finding the right oil for your car’s make, model, and usage, you want to ensure that you’re using the best car lubrication for hinges, locks, and gaskets. Choosing the right solution can make car maintenance like this fast and easy, so it is essential to do your research or ask a vehicle service professional.
WD-40 Penetrating Oil
Ideal for use on: Car door, trunk, and hood hinges; Door latches and hinges of the glove box and gas cap cover
Whether you swear by the often touted cure-all lubricant WD-40 or see it as an overused solution, WD-40 has earned its spot as one of the leading solutions for squeaky doors around the house and in your car. WD-40 stands for Water-Displacement Formula 40 and is an excellent light-duty lubricant ideal for usage on car door hinges and locks since these areas don’t experience the high temperatures caused by excessive friction like in a car engine.
Initially created as a rust prevention and engine degreaser for the military, this formula can break through dirt, grime, and rust to loosen jammed parts and help them work smoothly again. Thanks to its water-dispersing properties, it can keep the area free from moisture. Unfortunately, some mechanics do not love the film left behind, arguing that it attracts dirt—a problem that is easily resolved by wiping away excess oil.
Silicone Lubricant or Silicone Grease
Ideal for use on: Door and hood latches; Gaskets around doors and windows
Silicone spray lubricant for cars is another option for light-duty jobs. It is beneficial in areas where you would prefer not to have stains since its chemical makeup reduces the risk of staining. However, it also means it’s not great for metal-on-metal jobs. Silicone grease is best used in jobs with highly porous materials, like nylon, plastic, or rubber, that deteriorate with harsher lubricants. It would be ideal for the gaskets around the doors and windows. It can even be used as a cleaner for dashboards and removing stickers.
White Lithium Grease
Ideal for use on: Hood and trunk hinges
Although silicone lubricant isn’t good for metal-on-metal jobs, white lithium grease is ideal for many of those heavy-duty jobs. This lubricant is much thicker than the other alternatives, allowing it to adhere to slick surfaces like metal. However, it is a harsh chemical that can also deteriorate any plastic or rubber it comes in contact with.
White lithium grease can also dispel water, giving it a rust-proofing quality. It also stands up to extreme temperatures, making it helpful for exposed external components. However, the thicker texture also attracts dirt, meaning you must remove any dirt before reapplying.
Graphite Lubricant
Ideal for use on: Car door locks
If your car door lock is sticking, dry graphite lubricant is suitable for fine-lock mechanisms. It is made of the same crystalline carbon in lead pencils, leaving behind no filmy or sticky residue—which means it does not attract dirt. Plus, the material can handle high heat, pressure, and wear and tear. However, you must be careful not to use too much to avoid clogging up and jamming your locks.
Step-by-Step Guide to Lubricating Car Doors
Once you’ve determined the best lubricant for the task, gather a clean rag, maybe an old toothbrush, and a pair of gloves to get started.
Step 1: Clean the Area
When applying lubrication to your hinges, gaskets, and locks, clean the area of dirt, debris, and old lubrication using a clean cloth or rag. Applying lubrication to a dirty surface can reduce effectiveness or create additional problems.
Step 2: Apply the Lubricant
This step varies slightly based on the type of lubricant and the problem area.
Car Door Hinges
Typically, this comes in an aerosol spray can that must be shaken before applying. Then, apply enough lubrication to cover the moving parts of the hinge. An old toothbrush can be helpful to direct more oil into the area where the hinge connects, known as the hinge joints. Finally, open and close the door a few times to help distribute the oil within the hinge.
Car Door Locks
One of the easiest ways to apply lubricant to a car door lock is to lubricate your key, insert it into the external vehicle lock, and turn it. However, sometimes, you’ll encounter a frozen door lock, which can prevent the locking mechanisms from turning and distributing the lubricant. In those instances, you may need to use a nozzle and spray directly into the lock. Once the car lock lubricant is applied, activate the lock a few times, either by turning the key or using your keyless entry remote.
Car Door and Window Seals
After cleaning the rubber seals around your windows and doors, you can use a rag to apply a silicone lubricant to the entire seal. You may also spray it on directly, but be sure to spread it evenly across the whole seal, paying extra attention to any dry or excessively worn areas.
Step 3: Wipe Away Excess
Before wrapping up, be sure to wipe away any excess lubrication. Leaving it there can result in stains inside your vehicle or on your clothes, dirt buildup, or other damage.
How Often Should You Lubricate Your Car Doors?
Most reputable car mechanics recommend lubricating your car doors at least once a year. However, in an area with high humidity, frigid winters, dust storms, or other extreme weather conditions, applying lubrication more frequently will help prolong the life of your car door components and prevent premature wear and tear.
Preventing Frozen Locks and Hinges During Winter
The best prevention is applying lubrication before the temperatures dip down. However, here are a few tricks you can try in an emergency to prevent your locks and hinges from freezing this winter:
Park Inside or Under Cover
One of the best ways to prevent your vehicle door locks and hinges from freezing is to keep them out of the elements. If moisture isn’t allowed into the vehicle’s cracks and crevices, then freezing isn’t likely to occur.
Try a Magnet
One clever way to keep moisture out of your lock in a pinch is to use a magnet. A magnet will stick to the metal part of your car door lock, keeping moisture out and reducing the risk of a frozen lock.
Vaseline or Cooking Oil
Although it isn’t ideal for long-term use, especially in door locks because it holds onto dirt and debris, using Vaseline or cooking oil on your hinges or door gaskets can keep them from freezing, but these aren’t guaranteed solutions.
How Endurance and Roadside Assistance Helps with Winter Lockouts
An extended car warranty, also known as an auto protection plan or vehicle service contract, can help keep your vehicle on the road longer by helping you keep up with routine maintenance. It can also help get you back on the road sooner with little to no out-of-pocket cost by covering the cost of repairs.
Auto protection providers like Endurance Warranty offer additional benefits, including trip interruption coverage and rental car reimbursement. However, when it comes to winter lockouts, Endurance also has you covered with 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, and lockout services. These services can help Endurance customers when their car door locks freeze or the car door is frozen shut.
Endurance Warranty Offers Comprehensive Winter Coverage
In winter, extreme temperature fluctuations worsen many mechanical issues, leaving drivers stranded in the cold. Endurance Warranty plans offer customizable, comprehensive coverage for mechanical breakdowns, offering peace of mind all year round. Additional perks like towing and lockout services can also help get you back into the warmth faster!
Contact an Endurance plan advisor at (800) 253-8203 or request a FREE quote online. We are ready to answer any questions and help you find the best vehicle service contract for your needs and budget.
Still looking? Shop our eStore to see your vehicle protection plan recommendations and pricing now.