Most of what Ballistol does on a vehicle is preventive: small jobs that take a minute and save a frozen lock at 7am or a flat battery after a cold snap.
Winter jobs
Locks
Spray door, boot and fuel-cap locks with Ballistol in autumn. It displaces the water inside the lock, which is what freezes.
Door and boot seals
Rubber seals freeze to the body overnight and can tear when you yank the door. Wipe them with silicone oil, which is gentle on rubber, and they'll release cleanly.
Road salt
Wipe a thin film of oil over exposed chrome, bare metal brackets, bike chains and motorbike fasteners to slow salt corrosion. Wash the salt off first wherever you can.
Battery terminals
White or green crusty build-up on terminals is corrosion, and it can stop a car starting. Disconnect the battery (negative first), clean the terminals with a brush, refit them (positive first), then wipe a thin coat of oil over the outside of the clamps.
Seized nuts, bolts and fixings
Ballistol creeps into threads and loosens rust. For a full method, see our guide to freeing seized bolts.
Cleaning
- Tar spots and bug splatter on paintwork come off with a little oil on a microfibre cloth. Wash the area afterwards.
- Sticker and tax-disc residue on glass and paint: see removing sticker residue.
- Wheels: rim cleaner lifts brake dust without scrubbing.
- Interior plastics: Universal and Plastic Cleaner.
Motorbikes
For chains, use a dedicated chain lube such as Bike X Lube. For laying a bike up over winter, see motorbike winter storage.
Brakes and tyres: never spray oil near brake discs, pads, drums or tyre treads. If any gets on them, clean the discs with brake and parts cleaner before riding or driving.
