Lithium On A Screw Drive Garage

[jacob_coulter]

On the house I bought, I have two screw-drive garage doors. The hardware store sells a tube of grease made specifically for screwdrives, and using it in the past, it seems like it's just a tube of white lithium grease to me.

Is it alright to use a white lithium spray on the screw drive, or will this gum it up? Should I stick with the special, overpriced tube of lubricant?

 

[pattenp]

I believe the special grease is a low tempature lithium. Any lubricant that does not attract and hold a lot of dirt and get stiff in cold weather should do ok. Silicone or Teflon spray will do; that's what I use with no problems.

 

[Phatsub]

"Silicone or Teflon spray". Some examples please. I'd like to find something for this use as well. Thanks.

 

[georgiadave]

A teflon spray would be Superlube.

 

[pattenp]

"Silicone or Teflon spray". Some examples please. I'd like to find something for this use as well. Thanks.

I bought it at Lowes.

 

[Phatsub]

Thank you.

 

[nova65ss]

I would use the low temp grease in the tube not the spray.

 

[jacob_coulter]

I would use the low temp grease in the tube not the spray.

Why do you say that? I'd like to hear your opinion since you work in this industry. Would regular lithium grease like the kind in a spray be bad for the screwdrive motor?

My problem with the tubes is they charge around $6.00 for a tiny tube of the stuff that barely has enough to finish the door on one application. It seems like it's just plain lithium grease to me.

I've found out several times that manufacturers like to scare consumers with the old, "only our brand will work, and anything else will ruin it" type of propaganda. As an example, I was helping a friend work on a newer Porsche. Porsche charges close to $100 for one bottle of antifreeze at the dealership, and they tell people any other antifreeze will ruin the cooling system. It turns out the same manufacturer makes the same stuff and labels it Texaco Dex-Cool that you can find for $15 at NAPA.

Most people don't challenge these claims, and just pay up. I just don't like getting ripped off if I don't have to. If the grease really is something special, I'd love to know what it is and why it's so expensive.

Thanks

 

[wot sales]

My garage door opener is an Alliance Genie, 50 years old screw drive. Had an old guy here a year ago to ‘tune it up’. He’s been installing and repairing doors and openers for 40 years, and does nothing else. He used spray white lithium grease on the screw. Door works great, just like new, and worked great thru last winter too.

 

[nova65ss]

I just say that because the spray does not seem to last very long. Not to mention it gets everywhere and makes a huge mess, the tube stuff you can apply directly to the screw.

 

[nissan_crawler]

It's a garage door opener, not a Ferrari. Smear some slippery stuff on it.

 

[pattenp]

It's a garage door opener, not a Ferrari. Smear some slippery stuff on it.

That advice can apply in other areas.