FAQs: Garage Door Lubricant
30th Aug 2023
How Do I Lubricate my Garage Door?
For smooth operation and to extend the lifespan of your garage door, you should regularly lubricate the various parts with a lithium-based grease or specially formulated garage door lubricant. Lubricate the hinges, rollers, any exposed ball bearings, the outsides of springs and bearing plates, lock and armbar, and the top of the rail. Do not lubricate nylon rollers. Before you begin lubricating, close the garage door, disconnect the power, vacuum out dust and dirt from the tracks and clean them with a damp rag.
What Kind of Lubricant Should I Use?
To lubricate a garage door, it's important to use the right type of lubricant, which is lithium-based grease or a specially designed garage door grease (and not oil or standard degreasers such as WD-40). Garage door grease is usually available in a spray or aerosol can. You can find garage door lube that minimizes friction on metal components, in addition to preventing speaking and corrosion. Lithium grease is especially good at adhering to metal. It's non-corrosive, supports heavy loads and is tolerant to variations in temperature.
Is WD40 Lithium Grease?
No. The highly popular standard WD-40 is a penetrating oil and water-dispersing formula, not a lithium-based grease, but the WD-40 Specialist brand offers a protective white lithium grease that's appropriate for lubricating garage doors and other metal-to-metal applications. Read the label carefully and make sure you choose the right one. This white lithium grease is recommended for outdoor hinges, latches, automobile hinges, sprockets, gears, overhead door tracks, guide rails, cables and pulleys. Like other lithium-based greases, it's appropriate for heavy-duty use and will protect metal parts against corrosion and rust. It also performs well within a very wide temperature range.
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