Can anybody tell me what is the prescribed lubricant for the boot release? Shortly after I bought the car in 2013 the release started intermittently jamming open (i.e. the boot lid wouldn't stay shut). I sprayed it with lithium grease and it came good, but today the release seized well and truly. The grease had dried out totally and the plastic release mechanism was binding very badly. I removed the release from the car and degreased it completely, and was then able to free it up using engine oil as a lubricant.

I've put it back together lubed with engine oil, and it's working a treat, but I am pretty sure neither engine oil, and apparently not the Lithium grease, is the correct lubricant. At the moment I am thinking it may be a case of re-oiling the release at the same time I do an oil change on the car, but this is obviously not the way it is meant to be.

Any definitive guidance will be appreciated.

All my cars have had Silicon Spray only on boot, door, bonnet lock/hinge mechanisms, and no issues yet.

Sprayed at the annual detail a D Driver gets, or when I think of it, and that is scary now.

I will give the Silicone Spray a go, but may also put an octopus strap in the spare wheel well just in case .

Locksmiths use a graphite-based one. Whether for that specific lock I don't know.

+1