3M Silicone Lubricant – The Difference Between Wet Lubricant and Dry Lubricant

One of our best-selling 3M products is 3M’s Silicone Lubricant which comes in a wet version and a dry version. But what is the difference between them? And what the heck is a dry lubricant? Luckily, it’s a relatively simple explanation. Speaking in general terms, applied specifically to bike chains, internet experts explain basically that wet lubricant is best for wet conditions and dry, well, is best for dry conditions. There’s more to it than that of course, but that’s a general understanding that can help you out. Are you going to need this lubricant in wet conditions, or dry?

Continuing with the example of bike chains, a wet lubricant is used in wet conditions simply because it won’t wash off when you’re riding in wet conditions through puddles or in the rain. They’re also said to protect against salt corrosion for those foolhardy enough to ride in winter areas that have snow. A wet lubricant will also protect for a longer period of time, lasting for rides up to 100 miles. The drawback to using a wet lubricant is that it can attract dirt, so regular cleaning and re-lubricating is a must. If you don’t, that dirt will cause as many problems or more than not lubricating in the first place. 

Dry lubricants on the other hand are generally a lighter lubricant, wax-based in many instances, is much less prone to attracting dirt making them better suited to dry conditions or where dirt and dust are more prevalent. Like a bike ride on a dusty trail. The downside is that dry lubricant will wash off with the slightest drizzle of rain.

Of course, the 3M silicone lubricant isn’t specifically for bike chains, but there are several uses that 3M recommends for each type of lubricant. 3M recommends using the dry lubricant for lubricating plastic dash parts, weather strips on doors, lubricating window channels and for door locks. 3M’s wet lubricant is designed for lubricating doors, parts of cars like the sun roof, “T” tops, hatchbacks, and the weather stripping of a trunk, protecting rubber parts and sealing moisture. There are many customer reviews on various websites, one of the most popular uses seems to be for fixing sticky windows.

Depending on where you’re using it, the environmental factors related to that and what you’re lubricating, 3M silicone lubricant will solve a lot of your minor problems of sticky or hard to move pieces as well as protect and preserve plastic or vinyl. These are some of our best-selling lubricants so they’re usually in stock and ready to ship!