"difficult-to-reach bolts" ^ I've found using a piece of tape, masking, blue covering the socket to accomplish similar tasks.

I did this today when installing a small nut in difficult to reach threads.

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83 SD

84 CD

clever!

Does the tape stay on in oily situations?

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I've never had good luck with any kind of RTV in non-intended applications. It results in a mess, no adhesion, or falls off at the worst time. I guess I'm RTV challenged.
I use silicone grease in sockets to retain nuts for hard to reach places, I use Gummi Pflege to restore door, glass, and trunk seals, black Urethane as a glass adhesive. I have to say I rarely use black RTV. Mostly Blue for gaskets and copper for high heat applications... and white in my bathroom ;-)

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I don't know the same things that you don't know.

Shayne

85 W126 SD OM617.951
87 409D 650S OM617.913
93 E34 Touring M50B25TU
02 E46 Sport M54B30TU

Best recent use was Ultra-Black RTV to reseal the old lower pan-gasket on my non-turbo TD after the idiot parts-guy told me "They're all the same" and ordered me the wrong turbo pan-gasket.

Also repairs corroded/cratered mating surfaces on thermostat housings.

And a dollop of RTV is great for attaching those loose W123 plastic-chrome mirror-plates inside doors where the plate's brittle little plastic tit has snapped off.

It's also good for added insurance when re-sealing old exhaust flange connections, where a new gasket alone may not be enough because the flanges are warped and/or corroded.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I just did what's in the pics, this held the nut in so I could fish the socket to where it needed to go.

The tape adds material to "shrink" the socket, allowing the nut to friction fit snugly and not fall out. In this case, oily is not an issue.

Cheaper than buying a magnet insert or grip-tite sockets.

I do have some magnet inserts, but I needed an 8mm one and don't have anything that small.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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83 SD

84 CD

I use RTV to re-attach my Zebrano wood on the dash and console, as some of my metal backing was too bent to use (old owner was not too handy at removing things).

I repaired the cracks in my door seals, as well, and it has worked out perfectly, no wind noise, no leaks!!

There are types of RTV used in electronics applications, that do not have the acid in it,and will not causes rust and corrosion. This is much better for use on anything in contact with the body metal, like windshield seals.

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83 300TD "Nassau Jitney"

RTV is great for sealing vacuum hard lines to rubber lines. it adds peace of mind when lines have the ability to vibrate and wiggle from their female counterparts.

I used black RTV to seal up a 20" bike rim where the spokes poke through and installed a small valve stem to make a tubeless bike tire. It's great when you ride BMX and constantly pinch/blow out tubes.

The worst use is when a shade-tree mechanic rebuilds an engine using way too much RTV, and 6 months later the oil pump pickup screen is PLUGGED with bits of silicone. This results in loss of oil pressure, and ultimately spun rod bearings. Thankfully the crank bearings were OK and the block was saved.

PS: I took the motor apart after the fact, im not the one that rebuilt it.

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