Quote from Bud_Bent on Aug 9th, 2011, 4:53am:According to
this page on protecting car paint:
"Avoid silicone-based products as they are not beneficial to paint and can cause problems down the road."
No explanation was given by the auto painter author of the above statement as to what "problems" will be experienced down the road if silicone-based products are used on auto finishes. As a former auto painter, I think what he was talking about is the problems silicone-based products cause when a car is repainted. I have used silicon remover in preping the surfaces, before I repainted autos, and still experienced "fisheyes" in the finish. It's hard to remove.
Have used silicone-based garage door lubricant on the chains of a total of 12 recumbents I've owned, or now own. Never noticed any visual problems with the finishes. I try to protect them from overspray and immediately wipe off any little bit that happens to get on them. Everybody has their own chain lube preference. I happen to like the performance of the product I use as a combo cleaner/lubricant. Looks like I may get 10,000 miles out of the chain on my Carbent, using the product (If I live long enough
). The Carbent doesn't have any paint on it, so no worries there.
Something interesting I discovered while researching this subject - the chain lubricant I use contains dimethylpolysiloxane (silicone). McDonalds Chicken Mc Nuggets contain this same chemical. It's used as an anti-foaming agent (In the frying oil?). Dimethylpolysiloxane is also used in Silly Putty. Remember this the next time you're eating McNuggets.