Best lubricants for car door hinges

Before even entering the car, a driver and/or passenger must use the car’s doors. To this end, it can be argued that a car’s door is among the most used and abused parts of a car.

On top of that, a car door’s hinges are technically part of the exterior. As such, nature and the elements can and will negatively affect it in the long run.

With that said, there will come a time when a car door’s hinges will wear down. The same goes for other hinges on the car.

If you're using your car daily, then its doors are definitely working daily too

Most often, worn-down hinges on a car will squeak, and in some worst-case scenarios, it might produce scratchy, grinding sounds.

This is because, in some particular situations, the rubber seal surrounding the hinge deteriorates, thus allowing water and other contaminants to reach the hinge. This results in the accumulation of grime and dirt, which can cause the rusting of its hinge.  

So, how does one fix a squeaky car door barring outright replacing it? Well, lubricants can fix that problem. 

Lubricant for car door hinges - Zsinor Motors

4 types of lubricant for car door hinges 

White lithium grease

White lithium grease is a thick substance that is ideal for metal parts. It provides heavy-duty lubrication, as well as protection from rust due to its water repelling characteristic. This type of lubricant is great for the door, hood, and trunk hinges. 

WD-40

WD-40 is an American-made water-displacing spray and light-duty lubricant. It works great for removing rust and is capable of unsticking rust-coated moving metal parts. WD-40 is ideal for car door hinges, glove boxes, and gas tank cover hinges. WD-40 can also be used on corroded hinges.

A well-prepared mechanic will always have a can of WD-40 lying around his/her shop

Silicone spray 

Unlike the former two, silicone spray lubricant has a gentler composition. As such, it can be used to lubricate non-metallic materials like wood, plastics, nylon, and even rubber. You can use these if the hinge is surrounded by the aforementioned materials, and on the door latches as well. 

Graphite Lubricant 

Graphite lubricants, as the name implies, uses thin layers of graphite to slide on top of each other. This type of lubricant doesn’t attract much dust and dirt, so it is ideal for locking mechanisms like door locks and trunk locks. 

Graphite lubricant will often come in tubes like this

3 best lubricant products for car door hinges 

Since we’re focusing on your car door’s hinges, we’re only mentioning lubricant products that are recommended for the said part.

As mentioned above though, graphite lubricant powder is ideal for locks. This includes the door locks, trunk lock, and glove box lock. This type of lubricant is also available on local e-commerce websites. For the gas tank’s lid hinges, you can also use WD-40. 

WD-40 333 ml 

A 333 ml can of WD-40 can be brought from WD-40's official Lazada page for Php 256. Other than online shopping sites, it can also be bought from most hardware stores, and automotive parts stores, and even department stores. 

A 333 ml can of good ol' WD-40

WD-40 Specialist High Performance White Lithium Grease 

A 360 ml can of WD-40 White Lithium Grease is much less common. It can be found in some automotive parts stores and hardware stores. It is also available on the official WD-40 Lazada page for Php 359.75. 

WD-40 brand white lithium lube

WD-40 Silicone 

WD-40 Silicone can be purchased in some hardware and automotive stores locally. A WD-40 branded 360 ml can is also available online for Php 260. 

A can of WD-40 Silicone

10-minute guide on how to lubricate your car’s door hinges 

For the door hinges, spray it once or twice with white lithium lubricant. After doing so, move the door a couple of times. Just to make sure, apply the lubricant on both sides of the hinge. And finally, wipe off any excess lubricant. 

If the door hinge squeaks still persist, then it might be corroded. As such, Philkotse.com advises you to spray it with WD-40 and then move it several times afterward. After the squeaks disappear, finish it off with a spray of white lithium lubricant. And finally, wipe off the excess lubricant.

If you can, better use a spray nozzle extension to get to those hard to reach areas

Do note though that some car models will have door hinges that are in very close proximity to non-metallic materials. If you want to be more careful, we recommend using a silicone spray instead of WD-40. Do note though that silicone type lubricants are less capable of addressing rust.   

With this guide on the best lubricant for door hinges, you can finally get rid of the annoying squeaks from your car door. As a last reminder though, we recommend using a clean microfiber towel whenever you’re wiping something off the car’s paint.  

For more helpful guides like this, keep reading here on Philkotse.com. 

Best lubricants for door hinges: FAQ

1. Can I use regular automotive grease for car door hinges?

Answer: Yes, you can use regular automotive grease on car door hinges but note that it doesn’t have the rust removing and water-repelling qualities found on recommended door hinge lubricants. Also, using automotive grease can get messy.

2. Can I use WD-40 on drive chains?

Answer: No, we do not recommend using WD-40 on drive chains.

3. Where can I buy graphite powder lubricant?

Answer: Graphite powder lubricant is available on local e-commerce websites. It is also available in hardware stores, and in stores that specialize in locks.

4. How long does it take for WD-40 to dry?

Answer: It takes about 5 minutes for WD-40 to dry.

5. Is WD-40 safe for car paint?

Answer: WD-40 won’t damage a car’s paint, but it can strip car wax.