Cars with a few years on them eventually start to squeak and groan.
The noise will come from things like your car’s door, the hood or the trunk.
Luckily with the application of a few lubricants you can get your car to be nice and quiet again and probably avoid repairs too.
The lubricants we will be discussing here are :
WD-40 Penetrating Oil – a very popular penetrating spray for the lubrication and freeing up of sticking metal assemblies. Available a most hardware stores and auto parts stores.
White lithium grease – A thicker grease great for metal-to-metal joints like hinges and latches. Same availability as above.
Graphite lubricant – The right choice for delicate mechanisms. It is a dry powder compound and as such won’t attract dirt and dust to mechanisms like oils will. Also available a most hardware stores and auto parts stores.
Here are four known “squeak areas” that mechanics suggest you lubricate periodically:
- Hood Hinges – Lift up the hood on your car and you will see two scissors- like hinges holding the hood to the car body. Spray these hinges with white lithium grease. Do this at least twice a year so the mechanism works freely.
- Lock Mechanisms – Most of today’s cars have electronic locks but if you have an “old fashioned” key lock on your car’s doors, it should be lubricated periodically. You can keep these delicate mechanisms moving freely with a blast of dry graphite powder inside the lock tumbler. Spray a little into each lock and move the cylinder with your key several times to work the graphite into the mechanism. Make sure to do this to both of your doors, and your trunk lock too.
- Gas tank lid – This hinge is out in the open and gets hit with a lot of grit and salt spray. Give it a squirt of WD-40 a few times a year to keep it from rusting up.
- Hood Latch – Your car’s hood latch will be at the front of the car and it secures the hood in the down position. They typically grab a circular metal loop that is located on the front of the hood. These latches get dry and this often makes unlatching the hood difficult. Locate the latch mechanism (there may be two) and give it a good blast with the white lithium grease. Then open and close the hood a few times to work it in. Lubricate your trunk latch the same way.
Article source : PaulConteChevrolet
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