dicer

Just wondering what everyone uses to protect weather stripping around the widows etc. ?

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

The only product that I know of specifically for rubber seals is the Einszett Gummi Pflege Stift Rubber Care Stick. Very easy to use.

jfelbab

Meguiars M40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner. Does a nice job of cleaning and leaves UV protection.

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Isn't this an overkill? I also don't like it staining the surrounding paint.

My 8+ year old car still have very good weather stripping and it has never been protected with anything.

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

The gummi pfledge stick does not stain anything. It simply nourishes and protects the seals.

Overkill? perhaps... but then again most people consider much of what we do to be overkill, so I guess it is all relative.

-Zach

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Sorry to disagree with you in this instance. Overkill in this case is that the weather stripping does not really need any protection and still able to survive so long 8+ years at least in my case. It does not change cosmetically nor functionally.

Detailing on paint is not overkill because without detailing, the car looks like crap and eventually lead to clear coat failure. The two examples are clearly different.

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

Just to make a comparison... I have seen cars that haven't been waxed in 8+ years and they still look "fine" to the owner... so again, everything is relative. The fact that we see swirls and get upset while 98% of car owners don't even know what swirl marks are would indicate that perhaps all of the time we spend on our exterior appearance is considered overkill by most.

If door seals never went bad, they wouldn't make replacements, yet you can find weather stripping at every auto parts store because it does happen. Who knows whether or not a protective type of product would have helped, but if someone wants to apply something to them... go for it! It literally takes 10 minutes to do and costs a few bucks, so it isn't really a big deal.

After all, detailing is all about doing what makes you feel good about your car. Some people just wash their car... others spend 40 hours perfecting it... it just depends on what you're after.

jfelbab

Weatherstripping on my 1991 MR2. This is a 24 year old car that served as my daily driver for over 12. The sun will take a toll on untreated rubber and vinyl. My trim looks darn near like new. I've seen lots of older MR2s and the trim usually looks like crap. If you don't own a car that you like enough to want to keep long term then don't worry about it.

dicer

Did you use the M40 stuff on it?

Overkill ? I guess if you think new replacement strip will always be available, and want to spend the time replacing it etc. I don't want to see my ls 's have rotten weather strips.

jfelbab

Yes. That has been my favorite exterior vinyl&rubber treatment product for many years.

PondScum

Have you ever looked at the weatherstripping on something other than a four door sedan?

Take a look at the window seals on a two door coupe or convertible, and tell me you don't think those need protecting. Without a window frame around the glass, the only thing keeping the elements out is the pressure of the glass against seal. Plus, those seals are a whole lot bigger and more exposed than those on a car with frames around the glass.

Jbreezie

So true! haha

Jbreezie

I used Perl on my All-fit lip recently.

pewterss

I would definitely protect them otherwise after years they will start fading and cracking. I use pain old simple white lithium grease and take off any excess. And is real cheap to.

Joe166

I thought grease was bad for rubber. Wrong?