Ester base stock question

[aquariuscsm]

Reading posts about high mileage oils,etc,made me curious. Seal swellers/conditioners are simply an ester,right? If someone had a leak and they ran an oci of Redline,would that *condition* the seals/gaskets just as a High Mileage oil would?

 

[MolaKule]

It depends on the condition of the seal. If the seal is mechanically, thermally, or chemically damaged, no amount of conditioner will heal it.

Most seal conditioners are ester, but they are di-esters.

Redline's esters are mostly POE's but will condition the seals somewhat over time.

Auto-RX is worth a try in terms of seal conditioners IF the seal is not terribly damaged.

 

[dparm]

I would try a High Mileage oil first and see what happens. I suspect a good High Mileage oil will do the same for the seals as a diester -- as MolaKule said, if they're in really bad shape no oil will truly fix it.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: MolaKule
If the seal is mechanically, thermally, or chemically damaged, no amount of conditioner will heal it.

What other kind of seal damage is there?

(not disagreeing, just curious)

 

[azsynthetic]

Cosmetically and aromatically damaged.

 

[285south]

I think 3 OCIs should be tried before saying "well this oil doesn't work". First should be with High Mileage oil.

This is what I am doing with mine. On the first jug of Mobil 1 10w30 at 2800 miles out of 5000. I would be posting my results when I finish the OCIs.

 

[MolaKule]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
If the seal is mechanically, thermally, or chemically damaged, no amount of conditioner will heal it.

What other kind of seal damage is there?

(not disagreeing, just curious)


That just about covers it.

I guess one could include installation damage but that is usually mechanical damage.


Quote:
Cosmetically and aromatically damaged.


Been out in the sun again?

I was out there coyote hunting a few months ago and got thoroughly baked at 4,000 ft.

 

[Coprolite]

Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
If the seal is mechanically, thermally, or chemically damaged, no amount of conditioner will heal it.

What other kind of seal damage is there?

(not disagreeing, just curious)


That just about covers it.

I guess one could include installation damage but that is usually mechanical damage.


Quote:
Cosmetically and aromatically damaged.


Been out in the sun again?

I was out there coyote hunting a few months ago and got thoroughly baked at 4,000 ft.


That is now legal in Colorado.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Reason I was inquiring,I have a tiny oil leak which looks like it's coming from the driver's side valve cover gasket. It's tiny,almost looks like it's *sweating* from that area. A friend of mine has a 94 300ZX which had a leak where the driveshaft connects to the manual transmission,and as soon as he installed MT90,the leak stopped and never returned. Made me wonder if I tried an oci of Redline,if it would swell/condition suspect gasket just the way it did my friend's transmission leak?

 

[INDYMAC]

Are the bolts loose? Have you tried re-torqueing them (4-5 ftlbs)?

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: INDYMAC
Are the bolts loose? Have you tried re-torqueing them (4-5 ftlbs)?


That`s something I hadn`t thought about,thanks!

 

[fpracha]

Originally Posted By: INDYMAC
Are the bolts loose? Have you tried re-torqueing them (4-5 ftlbs)?


Really excellent thinking!