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[cyco1450]

What is a good lubricant for a rubber gasket that won't dry it out? Vaseline?

[phato1]

The use of any "lubricant" on an O-Ring depends on the application the O-Ring in used for. Some seals are intended to be dry, others not... on any fuel system use I personally would install them dry due to fear of possible contamination of the system. On electrical I would use something non conductive if I was concerned about the seal drying out, but I install these dry also. Those in the oil system, it's simply a matter of applying a small amount of the oil on the ring.
I imagine you could use a product like DOW 111 which looks like vasoline but is formulated differently - we use this on nitrile O-Rings at work and the stuff seems to NEVER dry out, and a little goes a looong way.

[grc]

What is a good lubricant for a rubber gasket that won't dry it out? Vaseline?

It depends on the gasket material and application, as phato1 noted above.  There are many different types of "rubber" used in gaskets and O-rings, and what might work well on one type may cause early deterioration on other types.  Give us more detail as to what kind of gasket and what it's being used on.

Jerry

[Para Bellum]

Vaseline (aka petroleum jelly) is terrible for natural rubber, but silicone grease (aka dielectric grease) works well.  Problem here is we don't know if it's actually rubber, or something else.  As stated above, more info is needed.  Check this chart for compatibility:  http://www.cmrubber.com/pdf/elastomer_compatibility_chart.pdf

[cyco1450]

Very good points. It's actually not that technical...I bought a "stash tube" for one of my bikes to keep the registration and insurance card in. The cap has a rubber gasket to keep it water tight.  However, it's quite difficult to open by hand. Looking for something that will keep it from essentially seizing up.

[cyco1450]

I actually just remembered...I have this rubber lube that is made by AC Delco. I bought it to lube the A-pillar rubber gaskets on my corvette convertible...the mechanic told me about it.  That will probably do the trick?

[skratch]

i used this on my last car.  can't really tell you about 'long term' results cause i don't have the car any more, but it seemed to work pretty good while i had it....

https://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-rubber-seal-protectant

[FLY-DOG]

I always use a NAPA product called Ru-GLYDE.

[CVODON]

If your lid screws on, you need anti-seize and not rubber lube, The threaded are will corrode and the top will be hard to open. You can buy small tubes of anti-seize and die-electric grease. Just make sure you buy products that are acceptable to use on aluminum. Should tell on label.

[cyco1450]

If your lid screws on, you need anti-seize and not rubber lube, The threaded are will corrode and the top will be hard to open. You can buy small tubes of anti-seize and die-electric grease. Just make sure you buy products that are acceptable to use on aluminum. Should tell on label.

....no. It's machined out of aluminum. It's the rubber gasket in the lid to keep it water tight, that "sticks" when it get real warm out.

[Para Bellum]

I actually just remembered...I have this rubber lube that is made by AC Delco. I bought it to lube the A-pillar rubber gaskets on my corvette convertible...the mechanic told me about it.  That will probably do the trick?

I'm not familiar with that product, and couldn't find any info on it (maybe discontinued?), but if it worked on your car, it should be fine.

I always use a NAPA product called Ru-GLYDE.

That sounded familiar, so I looked at the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for it.  I wouldn't want to be in constant contact with that stuff, but it shouldn't be a problem in this application.  Cheap, too; $13 for a gallon (about a century's worth at the rate you'll use it for the tube     )

[grc]

I was under the impression that Ru-Glyde was a tire mounting lubricant.  If it's the same stuff I think it is, it doesn't remain slippery once it dries.  Just the opposite.  Think about it, would you want your tires to constantly spin on the rims?

Any good silicone based lubricant should work just fine for this stuff tube gasket.  I would definitely avoid anything petroleum based.

Jerry