Silicone sealant

[thermidorthelobster]

Can anybody tell me if white silicone sealant sold in big tubes cheaply for home plumbing jobs is different in any way from black silicone sealant sold in small tubes expensively for automotive use?

I need to seal up the air hoses and air box drain valve on the Disco for wading purposes, and I don't want to go out and buy ever more sealant from the motor factors at great expense if I can use the stuff that's already in the garage!

Thanks.

[George]

IMHO Silicone sealant is silicone sealant.

Motor factors just like riping you off because they know you're only going

to need a little bit, but still charge you full whack, and then some. ](*,)

[Thrasher]

I used the common stuff in a big tube ... nothings fallen off yet ;-)

[muddysteve]

I've found that the black stuff sold for auto use tends to be polyurethane sealant, very good for car stuff sorkels etc (is what i used) if you need some i can get standard gun sized tubes of black polyU for nowt

Steve

[thermidorthelobster]

I've found that the black stuff sold for auto use tends to be polyurethane sealant

That's interesting - maybe that's why the black stuff is slightly less obnoxious to work with than the bathroom stuff.

[ibexman]

Some types of the automotive RTV (room temperature vulcanising) sealant you can paint over - sikaflex for example.  Ordinary bathroom silicon sealant you cant.
dom

[Hightower]

if you need some i can get standard gun sized tubes of black polyU for nowt

Be careful, you'll probably have a few takers on that offer . . . .  

[laser_jock99]

Can anybody tell me if white silicone sealant sold in big tubes cheaply for home plumbing jobs is different in any way from black silicone sealant sold in small tubes expensively for automotive use?

I need to seal up the air hoses and air box drain valve on the Disco for wading purposes, and I don't want to go out and buy ever more sealant from the motor factors at great expense if I can use the stuff that's already in the garage!

Thanks.

DIY bathroom stuff will contain acetic acid cure- be wary of using it on or near metals as it may cause rust (don't use it around your windscreen for instance!!)

Dow Corning make low outgassing, non-acidic cure RTV's which can be safely used on ferrous metals. Some specialist auto sealants will be of this type- and hence more expensive.

If it smells of vinigar- don't use it near metal. Normal 'bathroom' silcone will be okay on plastics though.

Nevillef

[muky-kid.]

:D DPG is in the motor trade ( mostly bodywork ) and he uses Sikerflex which is a very strong bonding agent like silicone sealant but much stronger, and is safe to use againgst metals etc. Be ideal for blocking a phew holes up on plastic as its dry to the touch but still retains some flexability so wont crack or fall off.
Just a thought....  :D

[thermidorthelobster]

if you need some i can get standard gun sized tubes of black polyU for nowt

By the way - yes please!

[muddysteve]

i'll grab a few tubes next week

Steve

[Wanderer]

I recently contacted Solvol to check that their silicon was Ok with oil and their technical support people said no it's not compatible with oil.

They may have been beeing over cautious.

It's worth checking if you're using it around oil.

Ed