FAQs & Help

Some FAQs are below but if you have a question that is not answered on this page, please get in contact with us. We aim to respond quickly to all messages except for Saturday and Sunday.

Product selection help

AFC product selection guide.

Download & Print PDF version (coming soon)

SURFACE COMBINATIONS	Leather, PU, Vinyl or similar soft plastics	ABS and most hard plastics	Lacquered Metal or similar	Rubber, EPDM or similar (Foamed/Unfoamed Rubber)
Leather, PU, Vinyl or similar soft plastics	AFC 612 AFC PEOX TF AFC PEOX	AFC F27 AFC 612 AFC PEOX TF AFC PEOX	AFC F27 AFC PEOX TF AFC PEOX	AFC 612 AFC PEOX TF AFC 602
ABS and most hard plastics	AFC F27 AFC 612 AFC PEOX TF AFC PEOX	AFC F27 AFC PEOX TF AFC PEOX	AFC F27 AFC F27	AFC F27 AFC 602
Lacquered Metal or similar	AFC F27 AFC 612 AFC PEOX TF	AFC F27 AFC PEOX TF AFC PEOX AFC F27	DG 74 L*	AFC F27 AFC 602
Rubber, EPDM or similar (Foamed/Unfoamed Rubber)	AFC 602 AFC 612 AFC PEOX TF	AFC F27 AFC PEOX TF AFC PEOX AFC 602	AFC F27 AFC 602	AFC 602
Glass	AFC PEOX TF AFC PEOX	AFC F27	AFC F27	AFC 602

* DG 74 L is an odourless, colourless (in thin layers) synthetic damping grease and although it is not part of the AFC range, it is a product that we sell at our online shop from and is also part of our Squeaks & Rattles Kit.

The shelf life of the AFC products is one year from date of manufacture. Why such a short shelf life? It’s due to products being water based, it’s the water part of the formulation that results in a relatively short shelf life compared to synthetic lubricants. Important to note that shelf life should not be confused with functional life (next FAQ). A production date will be found on the AFC product container in the form of Month and Year. Depending what container type you have purchased, there will either be a manufacturing date sticker on the container or the manufacturing date will be printed directly on to the container.

The AFC products should be stored away from direct sunlight and avoid exposure to heat above 30°C (86°F); also the products should be stored at temperatures above 0°C (32°F). The storage conditions of the products are decided mostly due to the fact that the AFC range is water based.

No, shelf life is not the same as functional life. Shelf life is the period following the product manufacture during which it is deemed suitable for use. It’s the water carrier that gives the AFC a relatively short shelf life but once the product is applied and the water carrier disperses, what is left coating the surface is the desired formulation/product. Functional life is determined by durability or accelerated life testing of the product in a component under expected operating conditions. In most typical interior trim tasks we would expect functional life to last the lifetime of the part the product is applied to but this cannot be guaranteed as the variables involved are too much to calculate.

The short answer is yes, you can extend the shelf life but this is not a guarantee from the manufacturer as we do not know the storage conditions you have used for the product. Also, even if you informed us of the storage conditions for the product, how do we know this is correct unless we performed routine inspections, which of course is not realistic. So, you can extend the life of the product but we give the following advice.
The Antifriction Coatings (AFC) have a shelf life of one year from the date of manufacturing. If the following points can all be answered with yes, then this shelf-life can be extended at customer own risk:
Was the product stored away from direct sunlight, and not exposed to heat above 30°C or (86°F)?
Was the product stored at temperatures above 4°C (39°F)
Does shaking the bottle easily return the product to a homogenous state? (if a solid residue remains on the bottom the product is no longer ok)
Is the product free of lumps?
The product does not smell bad? (bad egg or sulphur-like).
If all the above points are OK then the shelf-life can be extended by up to 6 months but due to the variables involved, we cannot certify this, it has to be a decision made by you/the customer. After 18 months (from date of manufacture) the product has to be disposed of.

Take a look at the product selection guide below. You are also very welcome to message us us using the form on the Contact Us page. We respond as quick as possible but we try not to work at the weekends.

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can’t find your an answer?

You can message via the Contact Us page or at the email address peter@newgatesimms.com