Well, I may stand corrected.
I was remembering this article regarding tires and silicone.
I do believe most rubber has a wax that is removed when you use silicone on
it.  I checked the lexol site and vinylex also has silicone, I have had VERY
bad luck with armor all on everything I have used it on.

http://www.autoswalk.com/tirexrubandv.html

----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon Reinhardt" <simon@farrside.net>
To: "Doug in Calif" <vanagon@astound.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: Original poptop and window seals leave trails of black residue
after rain on my white 91 MV

> Really? Like how? I've never noticed any sort of issue; quite the
> opposite.
>
> -Simon
>
>
> On Jul 14, 2004, at 11:09 AM, Doug in Calif wrote:
>
> > Lexol makes a non silicone rubber and vinyl conditioner.
> > SILICONE IS BAD FOR RUBBER
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Simon Reinhardt" <simon@FARRSIDE.NET>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 9:03 AM
> > Subject: Re: Original poptop and window seals leave trails of black
> > residue
> > after rain on my white 91 MV
> >
> >
> >> I use silicone spray lube on a shop towel to recondition the seals
> >> every 6 months to a year or so. Seems to work nicely.
> >> The problem w/most ArmorAll and related products is they don't really
> >> do much more than lock you into... using ArmorAll. I saw some article
> >> or study once, that indicated that ArmorAll seemed to actually dry out
> >> the surfaces it was applied to. Can't remember where I read that now.
> >> Of course, you could shell out the relatively larger bucks and find
> >> someone who sells Zymol. That's supposed to be THE stuff for rubber.
> >>
> >> -Simon
> >>
> >>
> >> On Jul 14, 2004, at 5:40 AM, Tom DeMarcus wrote:
> >>
> >>> The seals are otherwise in very good condition.  Is there a proven
> >>> product that will recondition and "seal the seals?"   I know that I
> >>> can
> >>> replace the poptop seals fairly easily (although not cheaply), but
> >>> the
> >>> window seals are another matter.
> >>>
> >>> I have used armoral-type products regularly over the 14 years I've
> >>> owned the van.
> >>>
> >>> Any suggestions?
> >>>
> >>> Tom, Atlanta
> >>>
> >