CarCareTruth Score
Decent, but wear gloves and ventilate.
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The manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet classifies this product with one or more GHS Category 1 health hazards — the most severe tier. The hazard statements in quotes below are the verbatim GHS language from the SDS, as required by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. The line under each statement translates the GHS classification into plain language.
GHS Category 1 aspiration toxicity — thin, oily liquids can slip into the lungs if swallowed, causing chemical pneumonia.
GHS Category 1 germ-cell mutagenicity — classified as suspected of causing heritable genetic damage.
GHS Category 1 carcinogenicity — classified as suspected of causing cancer with repeated or prolonged exposure.
If swallowed, inhaled, or splashed in eyes:
Call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 (US, 24/7, free) and have the product container with you. Poison Control's standing guidance is to not induce vomiting after chemical exposure; they will direct first-aid steps based on the specific product.
About this product's hazards. This product's Safety Data Sheet uses signal word danger. Read the manufacturer's SDS and follow all safety instructions before use. CarCareTruth ratings translate the manufacturer's safety sheet. They do not replace the SDS or substitute for a hazard assessment specific to your task.
Health score is for adult use as intended, per the manufacturer's SDS. It does not model child ingestion, accidental spill cleanup, or off-label use. See the safety panel below for full hazard classification, and /disclaimer for the full editorial scope.
GHS hazard codes are quoted from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet. PPE tiers below translate those codes and the listed ingredient chemistry; they are not CarCareTruth recommendations.
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From the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
“SDS §2 does not list H319 or H318 at mixture level. Eye protection is situational for aerosol spray operations where incidental mist contact is possible.”
— Permatex
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
From the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
“No H315 or H317 at mixture level in SDS §2. Brief skin contact during application is the realistic pathway; wash off after use.”
— Permatex
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
From the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
“No H335, H330, or H331 in SDS §2. Lungs-recommended is the correct tier based on the aerosol petroleum-distillate carrier (15·40% combined), H340 and H350 CMR codes at mixture level, and the aerosol mist inhalation pathway in confined spaces. Basis is carrier chemistry and CMR classification, not a GHS inhalation H-code.”
— Permatex
U.S. regulatory standard
29 CFR 1910.1000; 1910.1200
“Each employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an inhalation concentration of any substance shown in Tables Z-1, Z-2, or Z-3 in excess of the limits in the tables.”
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
No PPE specified in published sources for ventilation. Absence does not imply “not needed” — consult the full Safety Data Sheet.
PPE tiers translate the manufacturer’s SDS and U.S. regulatory standards. Not professional safety advice. How we report safety.
Last reviewed June 12, 2026
TL;DR Stops squeaks on door hinges, garage tracks, and hood latches · community confirms it works, though the foam spray is messy. **DANGER signal word: germ cell mutagenicity (Cat 1B) and carcinogenicity (Cat 1B) at mixture level · health score 2.5 (Serious Hazard). Wear gloves; avoid inhaling the mist indoors.** California Prop 65 warning. A tube-format white lithium grease does the same job with much better health chemistry.
Permatex 81981 deposits a grease film on door hinges, hood and trunk latches, and garage door tracks. The foam sets in a minute or two and holds in vertical gaps. The extension straw reaches hinge gaps but doesn't lock; owners note foam splatter on surrounding surfaces and suggest spraying onto a rag for tight spots. Community reviews confirm reliable squeak elimination. No durability claim on the label; community data is positive but lacks documented reapplication timelines.
Suits garage door tracks, exterior door hinges, and hood or trunk latches · metal-on-metal under load where a stay-in-place grease beats thin sprays. Skip it on rubber seals and plastics (petroleum carrier degrades rubber; use silicone spray instead) and on electrical connectors (use dielectric grease). Anyone working regularly in a closed garage or concerned about the CMR chemistry should pick a tube-format white lithium grease.
DANGER from health codes: germ cell mutagenicity Cat 1B (H340) and carcinogenicity Cat 1B (H350) at mixture level, plus aspiration toxicity Cat 1 (H304) from the petroleum-distillate carrier. Lungs-recommended is based on CMR codes and carrier chemistry · H335 is absent from SDS §2. Wear gloves; eye protection situational for spray application; ventilate in enclosed spaces. California Prop 65 confirmed. Environment 5.5 (Average) · leave-on pathway softens the score, but aerosol propellant VOC and non-biodegradable petroleum base hold it back.
The Safety Data Sheet for Permatex 81981 White Lithium Grease, 11 oz. Aerosol Can carries a DANGER signal word, with classified hazards including H222 (extremely flammable aerosol); H225 (highly flammable liquid and vapour); H280 (contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated). The Amazon listing also carries a California Prop 65 warning. See the PPE breakdown above for use-case-specific guidance translated from the SDS hazard codes.
CarCareTruth scores Permatex 81981 White Lithium Grease, 11 oz. Aerosol Can at 5.8 out of 10 on the composite CCT score, with a health sub-score of 3.0/10. The CCT score blends real-world effectiveness, ingredient health impact pulled from the manufacturer's safety sheet, and environmental footprint against a published category rubric. See the methodology link on this page for the full scoring breakdown.
Per the Safety Data Sheet ingredient disclosure: Propane (CAS 74-98-6) 10·30%; Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light (CAS 64742-47-8) 10·30%; Naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated light (CAS 64742-49-0) 5·10%; Heptane (CAS 142-82-5) 1·5%; Zinc Oxide (CAS 1314-13-2) 0.1·1%. ~60.3% mixture composition proprietary (lithium soap thickener + grease base). Per Permatex SDS 81981 Rev 8, 31-May-2021.
Marketing copy from Permatex, via Amazon. Not editorial.
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