Sound off on your best use of black silicone caulk (other colored caulk allowed too) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ChrisArnt · #1 03-02-2011, 09:31 PM

I have many uses for black silicone caulk, but my all time favorite is:

Heres my contribution:
To rejuvenate dry, cracked, high pitched whistling door seals on a 30 year old MB
Step 1: Find old car with dried out seals.
Step 2: apply a bead of black silicone caulk to both sides of the door seal, one section at a time
Step 3: Spit on your thumb and fore finger pinched together (water also works, but spittle has more lubricity)
Step 4: Gently position your thumb and forefinger on both sides of the seal and run along the length of the seal, simultaneously squeezing the black silicone caulk into the dried cracked seal and pushing away the excess. (if you do this right it will actually replace missing bits of the seal)
Step 5: let dry more than completely with the doors wide open.
Step 6: gently rub off excess with your finger
Step 7: Drive the car for another 5 years without having to replace the damn seals.

layback40 · #2 03-02-2011, 09:45 PM

Great thread Chris !! Hope it doesnt become like an "oil thread".

I have on a few occasions used silicone to make rubber parts that were no longer obtainable. I have even used the lump of silicone in the bottom of a cartridge by sculpturing it into a required part.

The beer fridge in the shed (1954 Frigidaire) has a door seal held together with silicone. there is a couple of bits of the seal missing that are just all silicone.

I have used it to plug holes in a boat hull.
It is good to fill cracks in tractor tires so that dirt doesnt get in & further damage the tire cord.

Best I stop & let some one else make some suggestions !!

toecutter · #3 03-02-2011, 09:57 PM

black rtv is the way to seal a two-stroke expansion chamber to the flange. it seems to take a lot of heat in stride.

1977busman · #4 03-02-2011, 09:57 PM

Massive hunk of very old bondo fell off the rumble seat of dads 1929 model A. We siliconed the hunk of bondo back on and then used silicone that was cream colored that very clossely matched the car to fill in the cracks....And no she is not a rotted old mess, but doesnt look as good at 2ft compared to 15ft.

vstech · #5 03-02-2011, 10:05 PM

the third brake light on my 97 suburban had a missing/damaged seal... black silicone replaced the seal... no water in my cabin in 7 years... I'm sure, it's bad for the steel of the truck though...

I've squirted some clear into a bag, and made a cool superball...

R Leo · #6 03-02-2011, 10:14 PM

Used RTV to seal the non-working sunroof on Sybil, the car of many personalities.

ChrisArnt · #7 03-02-2011, 10:17 PM

#4

Today, 09:57 PM
1977busman

Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: circleville ohio
Posts: 209

Massive hunk of very old bondo fell off the rumble seat of dads 1929 model A. We siliconed the hunk of bondo back on and then used silicone that was cream colored that very clossely matched the car to fill in the cracks....And no she is not a rotted old mess, but doesnt look as good at 2ft compared to 15ft.

Thats incredible.

charmalu · #8 03-03-2011, 12:01 AM

Last night I was using some black RTV to Seal the seam on a silver tarp.

I have a couple Costco tube/tarp 10X20 garages end on end. have them covered with silver tarps, 24X18 and bungee`d down good. where the seams are sealed from the factory, I noticed in the last rain storm, the seal was starting to drip in about 15 places. so last night with a blue nitral glove, I was running a smear of RTV along the seam.

A coincidence you bring this up. I was tossing around the idea of fixing a couple places on the 240`s door gasket, and wondering if it would work.

I used some on a pair of rubber boots that slip over work boots with the buckles. I smeared it into the cracks on the sides, and a big one up the rear. works good. I just did this last week, had to go down into the creek to dig out the culvert under the driveway.

I have even used RTV on rain pants and coat a time or two.

Charlie

hockeyboysomers · #9 03-03-2011, 09:32 AM

When I was in the US Air Force I glued on the patches and stripes on my uniform, with clear RTV. The patches would stay on indefinitly, through laundering and ironing. It is an amazing product.

SirNik84 · #10 03-03-2011, 11:41 AM

Used Tub-n-Tile on the thermostat housing on my Toyota! My friend was borrowing the car and called me because it had some kind of leak... it was the thermostat housing. I asked him if he had RTV and he said no, but he had Tub-n-Tile. Its been 5 years now, and now leaks!

turbobenz · #11 03-03-2011, 01:47 PM

RTV is my main man

panZZer · #12 03-03-2011, 02:13 PM

Fix sneakers with it, glue headers on funny cars with it.....

tbomachines · #13 03-03-2011, 02:38 PM

I sealed up speaker boxes with it, works perfectly giving a bit of flex but still holds together. Last year I blew a water pump seal. I ended up resealing it all with RTV (and a new gasket), driven 15,000 miles without a drop lost. I've sealed up windows with it and replenished door seals too, RTV is some great stuff!

toomany MBZ · #14 03-03-2011, 07:30 PM

I had to replace a couple of glow plugs, one of which, when I loosened the 8mm wire hold nut loosened the gp as well spinning the short heavy pig tail wire and breaking part of the insulation.

The wires (multistrand) were not compromised, as I could see a small section. Used black RTV to seal up the bare section so water and contaminants can't corrode anything.

jt20 · #15 03-03-2011, 07:45 PM

cover the holes of rail pins (this still an MB forum right?)

make gaskets

cover small, difficult-to-reach bolts in it so they stay inside the socket when removed