How can you lubricate the lock so as not to freeze How to lubricate the lock so that it does not freeze in winter and does not creak

The harsh Russian winters often bring many unpleasant surprises. Sharp temperature changes, high atmospheric humidity can play a cruel joke. Each of the living people has many keys to the locks, protecting their property from outside encroachment. However, keys do not always help to gain access to the desired object, and this is due to the low temperature.

The problem of a frozen castle is always sudden and unexpected. The world in constant motion requires punctuality from every person. But what if being late for work is associated with such an unpleasant trifle as a frozen castle?

Having discovered that the car door does not lend itself to opening, it is necessary to get rid of the temptation to search for an exit with the use of sudden movements, emotional twitching and the application of physical force. Since most car keys have a plastic base, attempts to unscrew the lock mechanism in severe frost can result in a banal key break.

It must be remembered that the freezing of the castle is a consequence of the accumulation of moisture. It will be very difficult to extract water that has passed into a solid state from a small mechanism by jerks or warm breath.

You should not turn to the help of boiling water. One of the irreparable consequences of a spontaneous decision to beat cold with hot is paint damage. In addition, the boiling water will cool down and turn into an additional ice obstacle, which can only exacerbate the problem.

Among the effective ways to deal with a frozen car lock are:

Silicone Sprays... Specialized sprays contain substances that prevent freezing at the lowest temperatures - alcohol, hygroscopic solvents, silicone, butane. When the product hits the ice surface, the dissolution process takes place. After injecting, place the key in the well, and slowly develop the mechanism, not exceeding the available rotation threshold. In the future, the action of the spray is of a preventive nature - the silicone included in the product envelops the metal surfaces of the interior of the lock and prevents the accumulation of condensate.

Brake fluid... It is used with a syringe that promotes the effect of metered injection in the absence of specialized tools.

Any liquid containing alcohol (for example, eau de toilette or alcohol). The effectiveness of such a tool is questioned and directly depends on the indicator of the thermometer, but with shallow icing it will quite cope with the task.

Having opened the lock, you should pay attention to the door seal, as it can also freeze. If the door won't budge, don't panic. It is enough to lightly knock on the perimeter of the seal. This will break up the thin ice film without further injury to the vehicle.

To prevent an unpleasant situation, you should turn to some preventive measures:

• Treatment of a car seal with a water-repellent substance before the onset of low temperatures.
• Thorough drying of the car after washing and cleaning the interior.
• If possible, store the car in a garage or under a canopy roof.

Mortise lock

Mortise locks also often fail in frosts, both in heated rooms - private houses, and in cold ones - garages, warehouses, sheds. The reason for the freezing of the front door lock is considered to be the improper design and installation of the mechanism, which is exposed to cold external and warm internal temperatures. This difference in atmospheres contributes to the accumulation of condensate and subsequent freezing. Since the front door is an expensive household accessory that cannot be exposed to rough mechanical stress, the measures for opening should be as follows:

• If the problem has caught a person inside the room, the solution is to use a hair dryer, fan heater or other electrical device that can give off a sufficient amount of heat.
• Anti-freezing from the outside is accomplished by using alcohol-based liquids or silicone sprays injected into the mechanism.
• Heating keychains are gaining popularity - small mechanisms capable of heating metal surfaces when placed in a keyhole.

The problem of access to the garage in winter arises before every owner at least once. Autumn rains, cellar vapors, along with a sharp drop in temperature, can paralyze the mechanism of the castle that is not protected by preventive measures. It is easier to warm a mortise lock of a non-residential premises than a home one:

• Use of open fire. As a rule, a few burning newspaper sheets, a lighter, or a gas burner rolled into tubes are enough. When using this method, it is necessary to exclude preliminary attempts to open the lock with flammable alcohol-containing liquids.
• In some cases, a car exhaust pipe is used if there is a hose that matches the distance from the pipe to the keyhole.
• Antifreeze is an effective remedy to combat a frozen mechanism. A generous and thorough injection inside and a few minutes of waiting is enough.

Freezing padlock

Padlocks are not as popular in the modern world as their more sophisticated siblings. However, utility rooms and gates are still protected by this simple guard mechanism. Since the use of locks of this kind is most often associated with outdoor conditions, the accumulation of liquid and its subsequent freezing is a frequent phenomenon. To quickly open the lock, all the methods that were considered above are suitable - the use of open fire, alcohol-containing liquids, but the specificity of the padlock mechanism requires careful attention not only to the keyhole that is affected, but also to the attachment points of the temples.

The padlock is the only one for which hot water can be used. Once removed, it is wise to move it to a warm, dry place and dry thoroughly, taking care to apply a lubricant to prevent rust and re-freezing.

Measures to prevent freezing of locks

Forewarned is forearmed. Making simple preparations for the winter means you don't have to worry about the unpleasant surprises associated with accessing your own property.

Car locks

When preparing a car for the winter period, you should stock up on specialized fluids. The ideal companion for a motorist is WD-40 silicone grease, or its domestic counterparts. The seal, previously cleaned of dust and dirt, is covered with a thin layer of grease, which is able to prevent the accumulation of unwanted liquid until the very onset of spring. It is believed that treating an automotive seal with silicone annually has a beneficial effect on its useful life.

The well of the lock is also processed - the substance is applied to the key, which is turned several times in the mechanism.

A good way to protect yourself in the winter is to buy a heating keychain with a probe that goes into the key slot. A simple device is capable of heating up to 150 degrees, providing quick and efficient heating of the structure.

Mortise garage lock

In order to predict possible problems with freezing of a mortise lock, it is necessary to take care of its functionality in advance. First and foremost, the lock must be installed in an appropriate manner, with at least basic protection measures against direct exposure to rain and snow. When it comes to non-residential premises, a weld-on pad, which covers the keyhole after the mechanism is closed, most often helps to avoid the formation of ice. The escutcheon is driven by a simple door hinge, which is welded to a garage door or wicket.

An excellent preventive measure is the annual removal of the mortise lock and subsequent disassembly. The most reliable locks, which have served their owners regularly for many years, accumulate metal dust and atmospheric pollution. Together with old grease, such impurities lead to the formation of an accumulation of unwanted fluid in the winter. To eliminate such consequences, it is advisable to disassemble the lock, thoroughly clean it and apply a layer of silicone grease to all elements driving the mechanism.

Front door mortise lock

The specificity of the freezing of the door lock of the front door of a private house is caused by the direct contact of the mechanism with the surrounding atmospheric conditions, which is excluded when living in an apartment building with an entrance.

The best way to prevent an entrance door lock from freezing is to design the exit correctly from the beginning, as well as choosing a lock designed for outdoor use. Locks that are technically suitable for such purposes have a design capable of creating a sufficient level of tightness. This condition is necessary when the border mechanism is located between atmospheric low and domestic high temperatures, which contributes to the formation of condensation water.

Operation of the front door mortise lock presupposes the obligatory presence of grease, which must be carried out every 3-4 months, as well as annual cleaning of the mechanism.

Lubrication with used machine oil, grease and other methods from the past is not the best option for modern locks.

A specialized spray based on silicone will not only provide high-quality operation of the lock, but also prolong it, protecting against troubles with fluctuations in humidity and low winter temperatures.

Padlocks

Padlocks need winter preparation no less than their counterparts. In the past, they have been kept in containers with waste to prevent rust and provide reliable lubrication. However, the use of such means in the modern world is simply inconvenient, because every time the door is locked, the owner of the lock will stain not only his hands, but also the pocket in which the key is stored. In addition, engine oil and grease, with the accumulation of dust and dirt in the lock mechanism, can become an independent obstacle to operation even before the onset of frost.

To exclude such troubles, the lock should be cleaned with WD-40 liquid, dried thoroughly and applied silicone grease not only to the keyhole area, but also to the temple attachment points. The thin film will prevent the accumulation of liquid and will repel dust particles of other impurities from the metal surfaces of the mechanism. An additional measure of protection for the padlock is a regular plastic bottle, which is cut off and used as a dome, through which not a drop of rain seeps.

Any lock requires maintenance, then it will serve you longer and without any jamming. The mechanism on the front door requires special attention, since it is directly exposed to the environment. Let's consider which lubricant is best for locks and how to apply it correctly.

Why do you need a lubricant?

Keyholes are encountered on our way every day - this is the front door, and the doors of the garage or utility rooms. If any lock stops functioning, it will cause a lot of inconvenience. To avoid this, you should lubricate it in time.

As a preventive measure, experts advise doing the treatment once a year. This method will remove unwanted dust and dirt and improve the turning ability of the closures.

Lubricants are used for several purposes:

• For improved key turning.
• To remove trapped dust.
• To increase the life of the lock.
• To prevent the formation of rust inside the mechanism.

Reasons for jamming locks

The most common cause of a jammed locking mechanism is dust. Over time, the dust is compressed together with small particles of metal shavings and blocks the rotation of the key and the bolts.

The second reason for seizing is the abrasion of parts of the mechanism. This is the result of lack of care or poor performance. In the process of work, the parts gradually rub against each other, provoking the formation of metal chips, which eventually leads to complete wear of the parts.

The next reason is the formation of rust inside the mechanism. This is mainly a problem of external locks, which under the influence of weather conditions become unusable. If you prevent moisture from entering the mechanism itself, breakdowns and jamming during operation can be avoided.

And another common reason is a violation of the sliding of the moving parts of the mechanism. This is a consequence of the lack of lubrication, so regular lubrication of the mechanism and its cleaning will significantly extend the life of the device without complaints from the owner of the house or garage.

Preventing seizing and freezing

The frequency of preventive measures depends on where the locking mechanism is located:

• if it is a lock installed on the street, it needs maintenance at least 1 time in 2 months;
• if it is a lock on the front door of an apartment located at the entrance, then maintenance and lubrication can be carried out once every 6 months;
• if it is a lock on an interior door, then lubrication of the mechanism can be done once a year. Although it all depends on the load on the mechanism, if it is operated often, then maintenance should be carried out more often.

At the same time, the prevention of contamination will not allow freezing of the mechanism, because freezing occurs in several cases:

• With direct contact with moisture.
• If the locking mechanism is not designed for outdoor use.
• If there is dirt inside the device.

Moisture protection cover

To avoid thickening of the grease, it is better to use a special spray. Consider how to process the device before the onset of cold weather.

Tip: door hinges also require periodic processing, which are responsible for the correct operation of the canvas.

After we have sorted out the main causes of breakdowns of the locking mechanism, found out how often preventive measures need to be taken, we will analyze what types of lubricants are suitable for the care of locks of different types.

A type of lubricant

If you are wondering how to lubricate the lock to prevent the formation of rust and freezing due to accumulated dirt, then you can use various tools that will do this task well:

1. 1. "Run-off" is a lubricant that is obtained from used machine oil. This option is suitable for standard models and will help to save car owners on the purchase of special products.
   2. Silicone - this lubricant is suitable for cylinders, providing full sliding of elements, protection against corrosion.
   3. Graphite dust - if you lubricate the lever lock with this product, it will last much longer.
   4. Sunflower oil - you can clean it in this way only in the most extreme cases, if there is nothing at hand, and you need to lubricate the lock urgently.
   5. Melted fat is not the most successful lubricant, and gives only a one-time effect, and over time will only make it worse for the mechanism.
   6. WD is a popular anti-rust lubricant. It can be used to lubricate the door lock cylinder and other elements to prevent corrosion.

1. Solid oil - often used to lubricate locks and various elements.
2. Litol is a water-resistant grease, more often used for bearings, but can be treated with it.
3. Carbonaceous - the liquid looks like a dark, fluid substance that can be easily washed off with water.

If you are planning to buy a professional lubricant from a store, then give preference to aerosols, as they are easier to apply. You can also buy a tool such as hinge lubricant separately.

Important! The funds should not be applied with cotton wool, which will only clog the lock more.

How to apply lubricant

When you have decided how to lubricate the door lock, proceed to the very process of applying the product. To avoid further harm, follow the rules for applying grease.

1. First you need to clean the well. To do this, pour a special cleaning liquid into it. It will remove dust, dirt or other particles from the lock.
2. Moisten the device with enough liquid so that it pours out. Just make sure that the door leaf itself does not get wet.
3. To remove all debris from the hole, rotate the key several times, removing any dirt from the key in between.
4. Now you inject or pour the grease into the keyhole. Wipe off the excess with a napkin or cotton cloth.
5. Wait a while, remove the key and wipe dry. First check if everything is working correctly now.
6. If you are processing a lever lock, then you should first remove it from the canvas and open the lock. Then sand with graphite powder and put back.

You can pour grease separately into the larva

If you carry out preventive maintenance regularly, then the question of how to defrost a device that is frozen due to accumulated dirt will not arise.

To make it clearer for you how the door lock lubrication process takes place, watch the video:

How to prevent freezing in cold weather

In addition to clean content, in order to avoid freezing, two more conditions must be met:

• Choose a model that is not affected by aggressive environments.
• Do not allow moisture or condensation to enter.

To prevent the garage lock from freezing, it is better to install a lever lock. Moreover, in the cold, structures with rigid springs on levers behave well.

Also, the correct choice of the canvas itself will save your door from freezing. If you install a door with an additional layer of thermal insulation, this will eliminate the formation of condensation on the structure, and, therefore, will save you in the cold.

And do not forget to control the process of direct ingress of moisture, that is, the door must be under the visor. If you want to secure your garage door, then mount a small canopy.

Most often, automobile mechanisms are exposed to cold, which subsequently have to be defrosted.

How to defrost a car lock

As already mentioned, absolutely any species, including rack and pinion, can freeze. Even an electromechanical or combination lock with a sharp drop in temperature can malfunction, although it will not physically freeze through, as it is inside the canvas. But what if the lock on the car door is frozen?

Defrosting with a hot key

If your car door lock is frozen, do the following:

1. Heat the key. While hot, insert into the keyhole. Wait a bit and try to open the door.
2. Open the hood of the car. Dip the key into the brake fluid or non-freeze. Insert the key into the lock cylinder and wait for the ice to melt.
3. If you have a hair dryer, it will quickly warm the area you need.
4. You can ask for help from a nearby motorist, and heat the lock with exhaust gases. To do this, you need to select a hose of the right size and connect one end to the exhaust pipe, and attach the other to the lock.
5. You can pour pure alcohol, only pure alcohol. He can handle the ice.

So that you do not have to resort to all these methods, it is necessary to carry out an anti-freeze treatment.

To avoid freezing of the front door lock, it is necessary to carry out preventive maintenance, keep it clean and ensure that it is free from moisture. You can decide what is the best way to lubricate the mechanism in winter, and you can use improvised means or lubricants purchased in the store.

Choose from the whole variety of greases the one that suits your particular device and carry out preventive maintenance at least once a year. Then you will not be faced with the need to defrost.

And also take into account the peculiarities of buying a lock for the entrance block and take care of the visor to avoid moisture settling inside.

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Circumstances may develop so that after leaving the house and trying to open the door of your car, they will remain closed. And such a failure can befall any inexperienced driver. And you will have to go about your own business by public transport, worst of all, if because of this you have to be late for work.

Of course, in this situation the owner of the car is to blame, without taking care of lubricating the door lock and rubber door seals in advance. But this situation can be avoided. To do this, it was only necessary to prepare the car for winter operation. Like how to lubricate the door locks of the car in winter from freezing, we will analyze in the article in order.

Preparing your iron horse for winter, and no matter what year the car was produced, the duty of each car owner. At the same time, in addition to replacing rubber, coolant, maintenance, special attention is paid to rubber seals, door and trunk locks.

Water or moisture can easily enter the keyhole, which will freeze at negative air temperatures, as a result, blocking the mechanism. There is also a high probability of corrosion in the lock mechanism.

We recommend that before winter it is mandatory to lubricate not only the lock mechanism, but also the door hinges. Parts that constantly touch and rub. Regular contact with snow, moisture, salt in winter leads to problems with unlocking doors and extraneous squeaks. To prevent this, we will further consider how to lubricate car door locks in winter.

The locking mechanism is constantly exposed to the external environment: negative temperature, moisture, snow, dirt. Lack of lubricant in the lock leads to accelerated wear of the mechanism and jamming of the lock at an unexpected moment. Lubrication of the locking mechanism helps protect it in frost.

How to lubricate door locks car in winter, which lubricant is suitable for this purpose? The lubricant must have the following properties:

1. Resistant to washing off.
2. Anti-corrosion properties.
3. Heat resistance.
4. Low coefficient of friction.
5. High performance properties.

Main properties that affect the quality of lubrication and the effect of the application.

The lubricant is applied as preventive action... If the lock in your car is frozen, how to open the door, read further in the article.

Polymer greases

Silicone-based lubricants are especially popular among drivers. They can withstand both high and low temperatures (even at -50 degrees), wash off quite hard, and withstand high loads. Due to its high adhesive characteristics, it quickly adheres to the treated surface.

The silicone grease forms a film on the surface, protecting it from corrosion. We recommend using an aerosol lubricant, it is better to spray it, especially if these are hard-to-reach places.

If you choose the right lubricant, then you will definitely not need a lock defroster. Consider how to lubricate car door locks in winter.

Multipurpose synthetic aerosol spray lubricant. Spraying it inside the keyhole, even if there is moisture there, due to its properties, it will displace it and provide high-quality lubrication of the internal mechanisms. Retains its properties even when temperature -40 degrees.

Features of the lubricant:

• It is highly resistant to washing off with water, detergents and disinfectants.
• High antiwear properties.
• Not susceptible to sudden changes in temperature. Excellent frost resistance.
• Good anti-corrosion properties, allows you to protect the lock mechanisms from destruction.
• Long service life.

This grease is compatible with plastic and rubber. Therefore, it can be used to lubricate rubber seals on car doors. Allows to solve the problem of destruction of plastic and rubber parts under the influence of negative temperatures. Disadvantage This lubricant is only in its price, it is quite high.

Silicone grease manufactured by the brand Liqui moly, has a high thermal stability. After spraying, it adheres perfectly to the surface, forming a thick layer. It is not possible to wash off even under a powerful stream of water.

Excellent performance properties, long service life. Retains its properties for 2 seasons... Specially formulated grease for lubricating constantly rubbing mechanisms.

Wear resistant grease... It is used to lubricate parts, assemblies and mechanisms subject to constant friction. It can easily seep into the smallest gaps and thicken quickly. Does not lose its properties even when temperature -35 degrees.

Features of the lubricant:

• Excellent penetration characteristics. It thickens long enough. It is used in a situation where liquid lubricants cannot guarantee high lubricating properties, and the use of greases would lead to the dismantling of the mechanism.
• Excellent adhesive properties. Rapid evaporation of the solvent allows the lubricant to adhere reliably to the treated surface.
• Resistant to abrasion and washing off from the surface under the highest loads.

Eliminates the possibility of adhesion of adjoining parts to each other.

Spray grease only on a clean, dry surface. When lubricating the lock of a door or trunk of a car, try to spray spray not only into the lock cylinder, but also on the mechanism itself. If you have a VAZ car, it is better to remove the lock and thoroughly lubricate all the contacting parts. In foreign cars, the lock is of a more complex design, so lubricate only accessible places, this will be enough.

Mineral lubricants

In terms of their properties, mineral lubricants are similar to polymericbut they are more resistant to washout. For this reason, many motorists prefer grease compounds. they have a longer lasting result.

Lithium-based mineral lubricants are an excellent option. For instance, Litol-24, from a domestic manufacturer, or any other analogs.

Benefits:

1. Lithium-based greases provide excellent surface protection.
2. Reduces frictional force.
3. Effectively repels moisture.
4. Resistant to washout.
5. High temperature resistance.

WD-40

Please note that you should not lubricate the lock with WD-40 spray. Many deludedconsidering that WD-40 has lubricating properties. The principle of operation is similar to kerosene. Cleans the part of old grease and eventually evaporates.

It is mainly used to displace and remove moisture, as well as to remove rust, but not in lubrication and to protect parts from wear. Using as a lubricant, you risk damaging the door lock mechanism, which will lead to its replacement. In addition, WD-40 is not wash-resistant.

The seals protect against dust and dirt from entering the passenger compartment. At negative temperatures, rubber can lose its properties, becoming rigid. The water that gets on the seals freezes, gradually destroying them. And besides, they can freeze to the metal of the body, which will cause certain difficulties in opening the door.

How to lubricate car door locks in winter we figured it out. With regard to rubber seals, we recommend that before the air temperature drops below zero, lubricate them with a special frost-resistant silicone grease.

It will form a thin silicone film that repels water and prevents the rubber seals from breaking down. In addition, it protects the door from freezing.

The disadvantage of polymer grease is that it is washed out under running water at the sink, especially if it is a cheap and economical option. The best option would be to use a mineral lubricant with a longer lasting effect and resistance to washout.

Freezing the castle in frost - a normal occurrence and a common situation for those who did not take care of lubricating the keyhole of the door in advance.

The door lock often freezes after washing. Moisture that gets into the locking mechanism freezes. As a result, there is a problem with opening the car door.

There are two ways out of this situation:

1. Apply a defroster to the locks. You can buy it at any auto parts store. Just don't store it in the trunk, the tailgate lock can freeze too.
2. If you smoke, a lighter will come to the rescue, because with its help, you can warm up the key and insert it into the lock, thus melting the ice. But here you have to be extremely careful, if a chip is built into the key, then you can spoil it. If you warm up the key, then only a spare one and without a built-in chip.

How not to open a frozen castle:

• In no case do not heat the lock with fire, the handles are made of plastic, you will only make it worse.
• Do not pour boiling water over the castle, in case of frost your situation will worsen, and the water will freeze anyway in the end. In addition, spoil the paint and varnish of the car, due to sudden changes in temperature.

Often, the rubber door seals freeze through, and even if the lock is in good condition, the door cannot be opened. An assistant in this situation will be a defroster.

Be sure to then treat the seals with silicone grease, so you will protect the door from freezing to the car body.

Finally…

It is necessary to take care of your car, especially with the onset of winter, to protect it, in return it will not let you down on the road. All units and parts of the car require attention, even such as rubber seals, hinges, door lock, if you take care of them, they will not cause you discomfort. Now you know, how to lubricate car door locks in winter from freezing.

Since you are reading this material, it means that winter is already in the yard. Well, or just about it will come.
Yes, friends, our country is very cold, if not everything, then at least a lot of things freeze into it. Therefore, today's topic, which is called castles and frosts, is relevant almost all year round.

You know, like in that joke ...
At one of the resorts of Sochi, two men communicate, one is an aboriginal, the other is from the north of the country.

So the first one asks him:
- What do you have there in Murmansk, summer was not at all?
And he replies:
- Yes, what was it, only I was on watch that day.

Today we will talk about why locks freeze, what to do to keep them from freezing, and we will separately touch on the topic of freezing car locks.

Reasons for freezing locks

Locks freeze for three reasons: moisture, dirt, or grease inside. And it often happens that all of the above is mixed in the castle.

If the lock, its components and moving elements are in a perfectly clean condition, the vast majority of modern locks will work perfectly in any frost, including strong enough.

But, alas, we do not live in an ideal world. The presence of waste metal even in a fairly new lock is a natural phenomenon. And we will never be able to avoid moisture getting into the keyhole, since water molecules are always present in the air.
So let's dig deeper.

It has been noticed that locks with one type of mechanism behave better in cold weather when working in aggressive outdoor environments, and worse with another. What does it depend on?
From design features!

For example, cylinder locks have increased manufacturing precision. The code elements in these mechanisms are negligible, there is practically no weight in them, and they are often made with great accuracy (up to tenths and hundredths of a millimeter). Therefore, it is literally a grain of sand that can disable locks with this type of mechanism. As a result, locks with this type of mechanism work disgustingly on the street. Meager code elements, loaded with the force of funny springs, stick to each other in the cold. And just a drop of water gets here, that's all - write "lost".

Lever locks, on the other hand, work better in cold weather and in an aggressive outdoor environment. The code elements in mechanisms of this type are rather large flat plates, loaded with the force of sufficiently powerful springs. Therefore, it is easier for lever locks to deal with dirt and moisture. But even among the lever locks, there are models that work better or worse on the street. This is already related to the structure of a particular castle model.

A few words about lubrication.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, grease harms the correct operation of the lock, including at low temperatures. The grease collects dirt, waste and thickens in the cold. Therefore, it should not be used in locks at all.

We talked in more detail about grease in door locks.

So, let's summarize why locks freeze.
Firstly, because their structure and design are not adapted for use in cold weather or outdoors.
And secondly, because dirt, working off, grease or moisture has accumulated in the lock mechanism. And maybe even all taken together.

So what can you do to keep the locks from freezing?

Choose locks that are designed for outdoor use. As mentioned above, it is better to pay attention to locks with a lever type mechanism. It is even better if the lever type mechanism has a closed key window type. This is when the key, when turning, contacts the lever with both barbs.

In addition, practice has shown that in the cold, lever locks with more or less rigid springs on the levers behave well.

In order for the castle not to freeze, it is necessary to exclude the direct ingress of moisture. No matter how super-seated the castle is, but if it is raining and snowing, it will freeze in any case.

Another unpleasant situation of indirect ingress of moisture on the lock and its mechanism is condensation. If there is a minus in the street, but in your garage there is a plus, and in an open cellar potatoes "breathe" - the castle will be covered with frost and will freeze.

If your front door to a private house is installed on the border of temperature environments. That is, it is cold outside the door, but immediately warm on the inside, the door lock will be a cold bridge in this structure, covered with frost and freeze. In this case, nothing can help, you had to think about locks in advance when designing a particular room.

The specialists of our company periodically have the task of installing a lock on the street gate of a private house. We will tell you how in this case we solve the problem. Not cheap, but high quality.

Having chosen a lock, we make a pocket for it before installation. The pocket is a metal box, welded from all sides. Only one face of the parallelepiped is open, the one where the lock is mounted. And already the pocket is welded into the base of the gate.

As a result, we get a lock, which, although not hermetically sealed, at the same time, is qualitatively closed from all sides. In winter, it will work perfectly, despite the fact that the gate of a private house is open to all winds and hardships.

If you want to keep your outdoor castle from freezing, not only can it not be oiled, but must also be kept clean. Periodically clean out waste and dirt from it. All this will certainly accumulate in the mechanism of the castle, which is operated on the street.

Here are three simple conditions that you need to adhere to to keep the castle from freezing.

1. It should be originally designed for street use.
2. Moisture should not get into it
3. He must be clean. It should be free of dirt, grease and waste.

Freezing car locks

As you already understood, all car locks have a cylinder type of secrecy mechanism, that is, one that is least adapted for use on the street. Manufacturers are trying to protect them with curtains, but they are far from sealed. And therefore, in fact, car door locks are always the dirtiest of all.

In addition, the cores of all car locks, from frets to infinity, are made of silumin. If you do not use them for years (which often happens after installing an alarm), silumin oxidizes and decomposes - the lock stops working by itself

If, five years after the moment of buying the car, the battery in your key or key fob runs out. Don't be surprised if you can't open the car door through the lock. Most likely it is in a sour, semi-decomposed state.

It is for these two reasons: because of the design of the mechanism and because of immobility, with car locks, there are only troubles, and not only in winter.

So if you want to keep your car locks from freezing. If you want the door to open from the lock in emergency situations, for example, when the battery in the key runs out, you need to adhere to several rules.

1. Once a year, car locks must be flushed with a large amount of solvent; liquefied kerosene VD-40 can also be used. Now open and close the locks several times with a key to prevent acidification. And then blow the lock clean with compressed air.
2. After a car wash, the door locks should always be blown out with high quality compressed air.
3. Car locks are never lubricated. No. Your favorite vedashka is hygroscopic, that is, over time, after drying, it will attract moisture, which, as you understand, will not have the best effect on the operation of locks in the winter. Therefore, it is recommended to use it only in the mode described above.

Well, and the last tip, which we urge you to follow. If you have any emergency situation with locks - contact the specialists. You do not need to collective farms and make attempts to fix the joint if you don’t understand a damn thing about the topic. If you have a toothache, will you treat it yourself? Will you consult about the treatment with the handy neighbor Nikolai, who lays tiles and repairs toilets? Of course not - if there is still something healthy and reasonable in you, you will immediately run to a doctor, a dental specialist. And with locks you need to do the same. Moreover, in most cases, you will receive a consultation free of charge.

All new cars come with well-oiled door locks - usually a thick grease used in an assembly plant or dealership.

Hinges are handled in a similar way, as they are also a moving mechanism subject to accelerated wear. However, after a while, the grease is washed out of the car doors, which leads to unpleasant consequences.

A few months of driving with unlubricated locks and hinges guarantee their complete wear and tear and destruction under the influence of corrosion, and moisture ingress in winter will lead to the fact that the doors simply stop opening. Therefore, every car owner should know the best way to lubricate the locks and hinges of the car doors.

Polymer greases

The best option for processing car hinges and locks is silicone grease, which is produced by many well-known companies, including XADO, Forsters, TurtleWax and others. The main advantage of the silicone base of such a product is the ability to withstand high loads without loss of properties and the ability to operate at any temperature, starting from -50 degrees. It is also recommended to lubricate door locks with this composition because of its durability - due to its high adhesive properties, it instantly adheres to the surface of metal parts. The resulting film remains on the surface of hinges and other parts for 1-2 seasons with careful use.

It is supplied in the form of a spray, which makes it as easy to use as possible. It should handle car locks and other moving parts when the layer of the existing lubricant becomes thinner, as well as immediately after washing in winter. To do this, you need to take paper napkins or a special cleaning material - they should be used to wipe the hinges and door locks, removing the remaining moisture from them. Then you should spray the lubricant from a can on the moving joints of the car, opening and closing the door several times in order to evenly distribute it. Silicone grease can be supplied in the form of a paste in tubes, which is typical for domestic manufacturers - it is recommended to apply it with gloves, carefully rubbing into each part of the lock or loop protruding on the surface.

There is also an improved version of silicone grease. Liqui Moly produces a product called HAFTSCHMIER SPRAY - a complex of synthetic oils and is added to it. The result of using the modified agent is a decrease in friction in hinges and car locks, and the duration of this effect is quite long. In addition, after evaporation of the solvent contained in this multi-component grease, it forms a thick layer that adheres to metal parts and is not washed off even under the influence of a jet of water. Thanks to this, the grease protects the hinges and door locks of the car for two seasons, if it is not intentionally removed from moving parts.

The lowest-quality type of polymer grease for car doors is technical petroleum jelly. It also forms a protective film that reduces the wear rate of metal parts and repels moisture, but its service life is limited to 2-3 weeks or one wash. In addition, such a product, which is usually used for the preservation of certain parts of the car, is supplied only in tubes, which makes it inconvenient to apply.

Mineral lubricants

Despite the fact that polymer greases protect car locks and door hinges well against wear and moisture, they have little resistance to washout and destruction under the influence of strong heat. Therefore, some experts recommend lubricating moving parts with greases that allow you to get a longer lasting effect. They are advised to lay them, since it is at this time that there is the greatest risk of moisture getting into the mechanisms - it precipitates in the form of condensate when the car interior cools down.

Lithium-based formulations are the best option for lubricating doors in a car. They are represented by domestic Litol-24, as well as several foreign analogues, among which Castrol LMXLI-KOMPLEXFETT 2 should be especially highlighted. Lithium greases significantly reduce the friction force and effectively repel moisture. However, their anti-corrosion properties are sometimes questioned, since moisture still flushes out such a product and in the places where it is applied with the thinnest layer, rust spots may appear after a while. Therefore, if you prefer to use just such funds, then you should give preference to complex formulations like the aforementioned Castrol lubricant.

In addition, car door hinges and locks can be treated with molybdenum disulfide products. This metal salt is found in numerous products suitable for protecting:

• Engines;
• Transmissions;
• SHRUS;
• Bearings.

Such a lubricant will effectively protect door locks from moisture and accelerated wear due to friction of metal parts. However, it also has its drawbacks - in particular, when the air is very dusty, solid particles entering the product can significantly change its properties, therefore, such a lubricant is not recommended to be used for treating SUV locks. In addition, molybdenum disulphide products can leave greasy stains on clothes, so they should be applied with extreme care.

The best option would be to purchase a lubricant produced by Liqui Moly or Castrol - as a rule, special antiwear and adhesive additives are added to the products of these companies, which significantly improve its properties. Among the budget options, one can especially highlight the domestic funds SHRUS-4 and Fiol-8, which contain a fairly large amount of molybdenum disulfide. As in previous cases, it is possible to lubricate the car hinges only after preliminary removal of moisture with a paper towel or cleaning material. In this case, ice crystals will not form on the surface of the hinges or locks, destroying the lubricant itself and the surface of metal parts.

In extreme cases, you can use graphite lubricant. It contains a lot of abrasive particles, so there is no need to talk about protection against wear - such a lubricant will contribute to the appearance of production on the hinges and door locks in the car. Its main purpose is to preserve the car for a long time and prevent the spread of corrosion along the surface of the hinges or car locks. Graphite grease is usually chosen because of its cheapness, but it should be discarded if possible to purchase a better protective agent.

Be careful!

Quite often on the forums, car owners recommend processing car hinges using WD-40 universal grease or a tool called a "liquid key". It is worth remembering that the main purpose of such a composition is to displace moisture and dissolve rust, but not to long-term protection of parts from wear. can damage the surface of the hinges and locks of the car, which will lead to the need to replace them in the near future. In addition, it is washed out very quickly, therefore, already a few days after processing, moving parts will remain unprotected.

It is also not recommended to handle auto loops with solid oil or its analogues. This grease has increased plasticity, so it can spread too much over the door surface, leaving black or brown spots on the painted surface. For the same reason, the grease is quickly washed out, which leads to an increased rate of wear of moving joints. Solid oil well absorbs dust and other contaminants - this causes a rapid change in the properties of such a lubricant.

Finally, spindle oil or similar liquid compounds that can be used in other parts or assemblies of the car are not suitable for treating doors. They spread quite quickly, which causes moisture to appear on the surface of moving parts after a few days. These oils can be used to treat the internal mechanisms of locks when they do not work well or when doors are jammed, but not the outer surfaces.

A similar approach should be used in relation to products of unknown origin - if you do not know anything about the composition and properties of the lubricant, it is not worth applying it to the doors of the car, as this can cause significant problems in the future.

Ideal for door protection

If you do not want your car doors to stop opening one winter morning, you should use a special agent for treating the outer surfaces of locks and hinges. A versatile option is silicone grease, which forms a thin polymer film that repels water and reduces wear by reducing friction.