Sillicone types?

[JAmos]

I get confused when it comes to picking the right kind of sillicone for various truck repairs. Can someone elaborate of the differences and whats best to use where?



Jordan

 

[PToombs]

I don't usually pick and choose RTV for different jobs. I know Dodge (D-C) has RTV for transmissions, differentials, etc.

I just use Permatex brand Ultra Copper for everything. It has a high resistance to gas and fuels, high temp resistance, and is a pretty color! :-laf

I use on water pumps, engine gaskets, axle gaskets, holes in the body, (not where they can be seen), and just about any other place you would use RTV. It seems to hold up good too.

 

[JAmos]

Well, that works. That way I don't have to keep several different types. Just one kind to fix all sounds great.



Jordan

 

[nickleinonen]

i use ultra copper at work on everything. . works real good.

another good silicone is dow corning 832. at work we use it on the ge traction motor gear cases. . once it has glued itself to the case and the axle seals, we have to use the overhead crane to separate them [sometimes the traction motor combo will begin to lift before the silicone gives - combo weighs ±10,000lbs]

 

[PToombs]

Sounds like the 832 is good for glueing on a head gasket! :-laf

 

[nickleinonen]

Sounds like the 832 is good for glueing on a head gasket! :-laf

832 doesn't like the heat so much...
http://www.dowcorning.com/content/publishedlit/80-3258.pdf

 

[rbattelle]

Ironically, the only sealant I've ever had that actually sealed things is Mopar brand RTV. Love the stuff.

Every other product I've ever used (haven't tried Ultra Copper yet) has leaked on every application I've ever tried. But my record with Mopar RTV is pretty good.

Alas, leaks are my curse. I'm learning to live with it.

Ryan

 

[nickleinonen]

i've put ultracopper on pipe threads before. . it works ok, but i have had great luck with plain plumbers pipe dope so i use that 99% of the time. i do like ultracopper for black iron unions that have damaged brass seats. . great for making the quick repair instead of doing lots of work to tear apart piping to get access to a union in a bad location.

 

[rbattelle]

but i have had great luck with plain plumbers pipe dope so i use that 99% of the time.

Do you mean plumbers putty? The stuff that's made from clay?



That's what I've been using on household water connections lately (plumbers putty). I mentioned it to a real plumber once and he looked at me like I had lobsters coming out of my ears. But so far every threaded water connection I've used plumbers putty on has been totally leak free.



Ryan

 

[JAmos]

Bought some more copper gasket spray. I love this stuff for holding gaskets in place while assembling things. Its not very messy, gets tacky, and doesn't stick hard enough to tear a gasket if it has to come apart for some reason. Plus its supposed to fill imperfections in the gasket, says its an antisieze for threaded fittings, and is specially designed for exhaust manifolds, cylinder heads, and turbo flanges.



Jordan

 

[nickleinonen]

Do you mean plumbers putty? The stuff that's made from clay?

nope, it is some teflon paste stuff that comes in a can with a brush in the lid. . most big box hardware stores have it on the shelf where the pipe & black iron fittings are. . [the brand i use is "masters"]

 

[PToombs]

Nick, yup, that's just pipe dope. The plumbers putty is what I was told to use on a sink drain, smear some on the piece, put in the sink, tighten it up. I wasn't really impressed. I was having a problem with the water not staying in the sink with the drain closed. It was leaking between the sink and drain pipe.

 

[rbattelle]

Something I just remembered - storing RTV.

I've always had problems with my RTV drying out. Then I was at a factory recently and they stored their RTV in a refrigerator.

Brilliant! RTV = Room Temperature Vulcanizing. Keep it chilled, it and it won't dry!

Sometimes the most obvious things never occur to you because they're so obvious.

Ryan

 

[PToombs]

Is that what that stands for? NS! That explains why mine is ok in the winter, about 40 in the garage, not in summer. :-laf

 

[cap-n-cray]

Plumbers putty is a seating compound. Usually used between porcelain and metal. It does not work for high pressure only on the drain side.



Cary

 

[rbattelle]

Plumbers putty is a seating compound. Usually used between porcelain and metal.

I know, but it's the ONLY thing that has worked consistently for me sealing threaded fittings in my house plumbing. And I swear to you I've tried everything else on Earth.



It's just clay, basically.



Ryan

 

[PToombs]

Plumbers putty is a seating compound. Usually used between porcelain and metal.

Cary

That's exactly where I used it. I thought it sucked! Just MHO.

 

[tgordon]

PT, the two main problems I have seen with it is not putting enough on the area, and not tightening the nut enough. I don't have the actual tool, so I just use a screw driver and a hammer to tighten the nut:-laf.



The reason there are so many has been touched upon here. Some need to handle the temp, others need to handle certain chemicals. Deere doesn't even sell seals for the final drive axle housings anymore, just use anerobic sealer. We never had a problem with it drying out as one tube would do about one tractor, and usually if you did one side the other was done also.

 

[PToombs]

tg, Case is the same way. Trans and finals use grape jelly (trade name ) Anerobic sealant. I haven't seen it dry out yet. I've got a tube in the truck over a year old.





edit, thanks, maybe I didn't use enough putty!

 

[tgordon]

tg, Case is the same way. Trans and finals use grape jelly (trade name ) Anerobic sealant. I haven't seen it dry out yet. I've got a tube in the truck over a year old.





edit, thanks, maybe I didn't use enough putty!

If you didn't have to wipe up the extra you didn't put enough on there, or tighten it down enough. I had this discussion with my father, and after he failed I put what he called "way to much" and it never had a problem with leaking:-laf