How to Lube Door Hinges on Your Car

A squeaky car door may seem like a minor issue, but it can quickly become a major annoyance. Fortunately, all that’s needed to address this is a little grease, but to get the job done, you need to know how to lube door hinges on your vehicle. Here are some key points to consider when you’re lubricating your car’s door hinges.

Benefits of Applying Lubrication to Your Car’s Door Hinges

There are several reasons why it’s a good idea to apply some lube if the hinges on your car door are squeaky:

1. Applying lube will make the squeaking go away, allowing your car doors to open and close silently, with no annoying creaks or groans.
2. If your car door squeaks, it means the hinges are dry and unlubricated. If a dry hinge isn’t addressed, it can wind up wearing or bending over time. This could ultimately cause the door to feel loose, stick or twist off-center. Adding some lube keeps the hinge functioning and should prevent this kind of damage from occurring.
3. Finally, regular lubrication can help prevent rust from forming on the hinges of your car door and spreading to other nearby metal components.

Types of Lubricant

Here are some lubricants that are commonly used on car door hinges:

• Lithium grease
  This heavy lubricant is an excellent choice for car door hinges. It repels moisture and can help prevent metal from degrading. It’s affordable, and it functions well in extreme weather, holding its own in sub-zero winter temperatures and blistering heat. Keep in mind, though, that it can be messy to apply, and you’ll definitely want to keep it away from your clothes and upholstery.
• Silicone spray
  Silicone spray is lighter than lithium grease. It’s a great lubricant for car door hinges, and it can help stave off rust. It lubricates metal as well as materials such as plastic and nylon. WD-40 Specialist is a popular silicone spray.
• Teflon/PTFE
  PTFE is a synthetic compound that’s also known by the trade name Teflon. It repels water, and, like lithium grease, it’s capable of handling freezing cold and extreme heat.
• Dry lubricant
  This is a great choice if you’re looking for a lubricant that’s less likely to create a mess, as it dries quickly and doesn’t stain. However, it doesn’t provide as much lubrication as wet alternatives, which means more frequent applications may be necessary to keep your car door hinges in good shape.

How to Apply Lubricant to Your Car’s Door Hinges

After you’ve decided on a lubricant, you’ll be ready to apply the lube to your car’s door hinges. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open the car door.
2. Spray the lubricant on the door hinges, or apply it with a paper towel or shop rag.
3. Open and close the door a few times to work the lubricant into the moving parts of the hinge.
4. If necessary, use a clean towel or rag to wipe away excess lubricant.
5. Repeat this process on all of your car doors.

Regular application of lube can help keep your car’s door hinges in good health, and now you know how to handle the job.

Check out all the automotive lubricants available on NAPA Online, or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how to lube door hinges on your car, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

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