Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuriken_57
Hi, how did you lubricate your thermostat O-rings?
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The defacto lubricant for all O-rings is a silicone grease. You can get this stuff specifically formulated for O-rings, but I think it's just a matter of its viscosity. Any silicone grease will be fine. If you don't have silicone to hand, what lube to use depends very much on the type of 'rubber' the rings are made from. Viton and Nitrile rings are OK with petroleum jelly/Vaseline. Rings made from other polymers may not be tolerant to hydrocarbons, so Veseline or lithium grease for example may be unsuitable and may eventually cause the rings to swell/distort. Any supplier worth his salt will tell you what polymer they are. You can then check lubricant compatibility using on-line rubber compatibility charts. Since engines have replaceable O-rings all over the place, it's best to buy a small tube/tub of a silicone based O-ring Lubricant or a vegetable oil based 'Rubber Lubricant'. It'll last you longer than the engine.
TC