Whooshbang Door Seals Sticking

[Kannon Fodda]

The rubberised seals on the side sliding door on my PVC are sticking to the door paintwork internally. After a few days of non use the door can only be opened by pushing from inside to break the adhesion.

I could clean with say methylated spirits and then apply silicon spray, but would the silicon then simply acquire more gunge?

Any suggestions please?

 

[ALI G]

Hi, try polishing the inside of the door frame might help it stop sticking.
Alan.

 

[TinaLes]

I would Clean & polish the metalwork where the rubber seals touch, I would also clean the rubber seals and try applying some talcum powder/chalk or similar to the seal mating edges.
If you think about it, when rubber seals are new in their packaging, they do appear to have a light coating of powder on them.
Good luck, I am sure you will find an easy fix.
LES

 

[Dart]

Autoglym do a Plastic and Rubber Care product that can be applied to door and window seals to help prevent sticking.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Ali G’s suggestion is good and should work well with the following.

Spray WD-40 High Performance Silicone Lubricant onto the rubber surface and wipe it off with a lint free cloth. I would avoid microfiber cloths. Furniture polish is often silicone based but do check the can.

Some people swear by Vaseline, olive oil and grease while others are adamant that they will all react with compounds in the rubber and cause it to break down. In my view you should avoid using petroleum on natural rubber seals, as it can degrade them. You should also avoid using vinegar or any acid, on rubber seals, as it can cause the rubber to swell, crack, and degrade.

An alternative is a rubber conditioner. Some brands that make rubber conditioners include Sonax, Wurth, and Meguiars.

Another option I favour is French chalk (magnesium silicate) which is used by gymnasts and divers. It’s great for helping to get one's head through a dry-suit neck seal.

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[Gellyneck]

Any suggestions please?

Stop waking up the neighbourhood and use the cab door?

 

[Diabalo]

Talcum powder on the rubber

 

[L' Hobo]

Olive oil, it's natural so shouldn't hurt rubber?
OR, just polish the paintwork.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Another thought. Tyre Talc. The powder you see on the inside of new tyres or on inner tubes. Basically French chalk (magnesium silicate).

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Looks like elbow grease with a wax polish on the paintwork, and a proprietary cleaner for the seals (they are slightly sticky in places so somehow that needs to be cleaned) before a talk/chalk coating is the way forward.

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[Coolcats]

Talcum powder on the rubber

This works well on rubber and latex clothing as well I hear

 

[Dorset Diver]

Looks like elbow grease with a wax polish on the paintwork, and a proprietary cleaner for the seals (they are slightly sticky in places so somehow that needs to be cleaned) before a talk/chalk coating is the way forward.

Not wax polish. Try Paintseal Direct Waterless Wash (DryClean) on the frame. It should lift any rubber residue and will leave behind a fine siliconed surface.

 

[Wombles]

We use Nextzett Gummi Pflege on all rubber seals on car & motorhome with no sticking so far

 

[Two on Tour]

Another vote for Gummi Pflege, I have the same as Wombles with the foam pad applicator and a spray version from Würth.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Aerospace 303, apply to the rubber interface. You don't need a lot. Are you back home at home currently? If so I can pop round and drop a squirt on the seal for a trial for you, but can confirm I use it on all our door and window seals for the reason it stops them sticking, in my experience.
Mike.

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[Riverbankannie]

I have same problem not helped by van being nose down on the drive. I have tried silicon spray, talc and würth sponge applicator rubber care. No joy yet. Now used to climbing through from cab and pushing from inside.

 

[L' Hobo]

I have same problem not helped by van being nose down on the drive. I have tried silicon spray, talc and würth sponge applicator rubber care. No joy yet. Now used to climbing through from cab and pushing from inside.

Try Olive Oil and you can stop eating your spinach!

 

[Terry]

Hi Rob the best stuff is lip balm
Easy / clean to apply and cheap as chips. Used to use it on all the double glazing rubbers to stop them sticking / perishing

 

[royandsharont]

Talcum powder is what Swift advised in my old van’s manual.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Stop waking up the neighbourhood and use the cab door?

Not that practical as the windscreen cover won't stretch enough to allow the cab doors opening.

Aerospace 303, apply to the rubber interface. You don't need a lot. Are you back home at home currently? If so I can pop round and drop a squirt on the seal for a trial for you, but can confirm I use it on all our door and window seals for the reason it stops them sticking, in my experience.
Mike.

I'm at Sethorns at the moment.

Will have to google this and a few other named products to see what is what.

Hi Rob the best stuff is lip balm
Easy / clean to apply and cheap as chips. Used to use it on all the double glazing rubbers to stop them sticking / perishing

I'm not going to ask how you discovered that one

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[L' Hobo]

Not that practical as the windscreen cover won't stretch enough to allow the cab doors opening.

I'm at Sethorns at the moment.

Will have to google this and a few other named products to see what is what.

I'm not going to ask how you discovered that one

Terry LOVES his vehicle!

 

[mackeellan]

Pour small amount of olive oil onto a small cloth and rub onto the door seals. Make sure the door side is cleaned well.
Done this on doors and windows for customers over the years, works every time.
Long lasting too.

 

[Burge]

Stop waking up the neighbourhood and use the cab door?

Or do you know a Good Welder

 

[InvictaMoto]

I use a silicone spray and apply it to all the seals with a microfibre cloth. Seems to be plenty good.

Although I heard from a friend of a friend that Lizzie Arden creams of some variety are almost as good. Cheers Harry.

 

[Lenny HB]

applying some talcum powder

Talcum powder on the rubber

Baby powder is OK but never use Talcum powder, the perfume in it will rot the seals.

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[PaulW2]

Johnson & Johnson phased out talc from their US baby powder products some years ago due to law suits arising from cancer cases. They continued to sell talc-based powder in countries where legal pressures were weaker. I think they intended to phase talc out eventually, in favour of a cornstarch-based formulation, in most jurisdictions.

If you do buy it it may be worth checking the ingredients to be sure what you are getting.

 

[Brianmor]

Another vote for Gummi Pflege, it keeps the rubber in good condition as well as stops it sticking. The only downside is the cost.

 

[KASPAR]

Cheap on Amazon. Lasts years. Did 5 roadsters all seals at a day out at Thruxton earlier in the year.

 

[CamperManLez]

The rubberised seals on the side sliding door on my PVC are sticking to the door paintwork internally. After a few days of non use the door can only be opened by pushing from inside to break the adhesion.

I could clean with say methylated spirits and then apply silicon spray, but would the silicon then simply acquire more gunge?

Any suggestions please?

I use a Silicone Grease Lubricant I got via Amazon. It does not attack the Seal and is a simple wipe on using a microfibre cloth. I do this each winter before the layup to avoid the door sticking and tearing the seal. Its very easy to wipe back to very thin film. Give your door steel sealing area a clean as well.

 

[John745]

Try this it's dry so no grunge sticks to it.