The 8 Most Common Automotive Lubricants and Household Lubricants

Dry PTFE Lubricant

This is a “dry” lubricant, but it actually goes on wet. Once the solvent dries, the product leaves a thin film of dry polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-the same product used to make nonstick frying pans. The main advantage of dry PTFE is that dust doesn’t stick to it. That makes it a great lube for dirty environments like your garage or shop.

PTFE bonds to metal, wood, rubber and plastic. It’s a light-load lubricant, so it’s not the best lube for equipment that carries a heavy load or transmits high torque. And it doesn’t have any anticorrosive properties (although some manufacturers spike theirs with an antirust additive), so don’t use it on outdoor metal.

Dry PTFE lube is available in both aerosols and squeeze bottles. Check the label to make sure the solvent won’t harm the material you’re lubricating.

Note: Not all “dry” lubes are PTFE. Some are silicone, which is a different ball game.

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