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View Full Version : Door Hatch Seal Maintenance

2bz
02-27-2019, 01:01 PM
Any suggestions on what to/not to use to clean/protect the EPDM door seals?
scylla
02-28-2019, 04:27 AM
Use a water based protectant like 303 Aerospace protectant. It seems to be the longest lasting protectant I have used. For this next summer I will be switching over to Surf City protectant for my interior dash and seals. It gets great reviews and I just want to try something new.

One product I won't recommend is the sil glyde grease that was touted as being great for seals. I found it to be very sticky no matter how thin I spread it.
ex-x-fire
02-28-2019, 08:32 AM
I use dielectric grease.
B.B._07
03-01-2019, 03:32 PM
I like silicone spray the best, it really brings back old door seals to life. 303 is also very well regarded, mostly known for use on plastics though. The good thing about silicone spray is that it gets absorbed really well so there's no greasy residue leftover.
yarisbug
03-01-2019, 09:42 PM
I only use 303 for tire sidewalls, it gives a great low-gloss shine, lasts quite a while, and protects tires. I guess I should maybe use it on seals too.
dogsridewith
03-02-2019, 08:52 AM
If silicone is OK, any problem w/ DOT 5 brake fluid?
scylla
03-02-2019, 11:40 PM
If silicone is OK, any problem w/ DOT 5 brake fluid?

Yes! Brake fluid will destroy your paint. Use brake fluid only in your brake system.
dogsridewith
03-03-2019, 08:05 AM
You know that DOT 5 hurts paint?
scylla
03-03-2019, 05:26 PM
After looking it up, it would seem DOT 5 doesn't eat paint. Still, if wanting to use silicone, the spray type is extremely cheap and can be used in other ways besides as a seal preservative.
dogsridewith
03-04-2019, 08:10 AM
I started using DOT5 brake fluid on automobile "rubber" bushings after reading Mitutoyo MityVac instructions to use it for flushing before storage to protect the seals.
(I got lazy about that, and now need a seal kit.) I'm thinking DOT5 silicone might have fewer additives than are put in the spray-can silicones...and I dislike spray cans when there is another way to apply.

On this Yaris, I know I waxed the door frames. And a good chance I used "Corrosion Block" (fragrant green snake oil from Florida) on the frames and/or gaskets.