New use for Pinaud Clubman Talc

**Monkeydad** · 04-14-2011, 08:08 AM

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing, but a fellow member on a Ford Taurus forum I'm on (I just bought one, learning what I need to about the car) spoke about a new use for Pinaud Clubman Talc powder. Caught me completely off-guard on a car forum!

The thread was about stopping a squeaky belt.

So instead of working on my final project for school, I did a full tune-up and trans-service on my wife's 77,000 mile 2007 Taurus SE. The finishing touch was to wash inside and out and engine compartment. After gingerly washing the engine compartment, I noticed a horrible chirp coming from the engine and it had all the signs of belt noise. I tried different things to no avail until I tried Pinaud Clubman talc and viola. Thanks you really saved me a lot of work.

Wait...are you here, man?

**R.A.D** · 04-14-2011, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Monkeydad

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing, but a fellow member on a Ford Taurus forum I'm on (I just bought one, learning what I need to about the car) spoke about a new use for Pinaud Clubman Talc powder. Caught me completely off-guard on a car forum!

The thread was about stopping a squeaky belt.

Wait...are you here, man?

I wonder what his thought process was to even think about doing that?

**Monkeydad** · 04-14-2011, 08:28 AM

I suppose because water caused the squeak...powder would dry it out?

If he IS one of us, we should not be surprised by the thought process.

I told him his engine is going to smell awesome now!

**Absolute Mustard** · 04-14-2011, 08:40 AM

Im sure the alcohol will wear out the rubber

Edit: powder, never mind

**EL Alamein** · 04-14-2011, 10:29 AM

Talc is a dry lubricant. It stops the squeaking by lubricating the portion of the belt that is rubbing on the metal. Depending on the cause of the rubbing (mal-alignment or whatever) the fix with powder may be temporary because it may eventually rub off.

Chris

**Monkeydad** · 04-14-2011, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by EL Alamein

Talc is a dry lubricant. It stops the squeaking by lubricating the portion of the belt that is rubbing on the metal. Depending on the cause of the rubbing (mal-alignment or whatever) the fix with powder may be temporary because it may eventually rub off.

Chris

But, the squeak but likely also temporary because it was caused by washing the engine bay.

I guess it would do the job.

**inspiringK** · 04-14-2011, 11:36 AM

Talc is used inside of lectric razors for the metal abrasion, so there are mechanical uses for it. Our car has a belt that chirps every so often (not because of wear), I'll try this!

Just don't throw any into the air vents!

**TheVez2** · 04-14-2011, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by inspiringK

Just don't throw any into the air vents!

Why not? That'll give it that "Old Fashioned" car smell! Who really likes that "new" car smell anyway?

**probesport** · 04-14-2011, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by TheVez2

Why not? That'll give it that "Old Fashioned" car smell! Who really likes that "new" car smell anyway?

Because the hair dryer is better...

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFBFVVouDB8&NR=1[/YOUTUBE]

**oc_in_fw** · 04-14-2011, 12:38 PM

Bikers have used the talc trick for a long time. If you can't identify exactly where a leak is coming from, wash the whole area down, then spray on some talc. Run the engine for a minute and shut off. Works pretty good.

**Monkeydad** · 04-15-2011, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by inspiringK

Talc is used inside of lectric razors for the metal abrasion, so there are mechanical uses for it. Our car has a belt that chirps every so often (not because of wear), I'll try this!

Just don't throw any into the air vents!

Wife's car. Thanks for the idea.

**jkingrph** · 04-15-2011, 12:38 PM

A light dusting, and spread around on my tablesaw will let large sheets of plywood slide across much easier.

**medicevans** · 04-15-2011, 01:03 PM

I about fell out of my chair when I watched the video! Holy cow that's awesome. My wife would KILL me. Also, in talc-uses-urelated to shaving, if you sprinkle some on wood floors and then sweep it in, it will take some or all of the squeak away.

**Telecaster52** · 04-15-2011, 01:07 PM

also, an old mechanic's trick, hold a bar of soap against the belt while the car is running, it does the same thing

**CptBlueBear** · 04-15-2011, 01:52 PM

The talc acts as a dry lubricant in all the uses above. It's a lot cheaper than graphite powder. Old trick. Probably younger than talc by about 5 minutes. I'm more surprised that so many people were surprised by it.

**Monkeydad** · 04-18-2011, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Telecaster52

also, an old mechanic's trick, hold a bar of soap against the belt while the car is running, it does the same thing

Just watch the fingers.

One thing to NEVER use on a squeaky belt is WD-40. It will eat it.

**binowatch** · 04-18-2011, 09:42 AM

French talc was used for years by furniture makers to lubricate draws and eliminate squeeks, rubbing of one wood surfaceon another.

**probesport** · 04-18-2011, 09:50 AM

The best mechanic's trick is to actually fix the problem....

**malocchio** · 04-18-2011, 10:17 AM

I always use a cheap can of belt lubricant !,,,but a trick I learned awhile back (half a century) is to rub talc between the slats of a squeeky hardwood floor ,I thought I was being suckered for a few laughs , but the damn trick works great !

**Monkeydad** · 04-18-2011, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by malocchio

I always use a cheap can of belt lubricant !,,,but a trick I learned awhile back (half a century) is to rub talc between the slats of a squeeky hardwood floor ,I thought I was being suckered for a few laughs , but the damn trick works great !

Man, when I finally get around to removing the carpet from my house to replace with wood flooring, I'm dumping a case of Clubman talc on the subfloors of the entire upstairs...squeaks everywhere.