Vasoline for small hydralic leak

[Fatcows]

Hey guys,

New to the forum here. I have a buddy that fancies himself to be a hotshot mechanic, but I'm not sure I trust everything that comes out of his mouht. Ever heard of using vasoline on a hydraulic cylinder to stop a minor hydraulic leak? He claims that it makes the gasket swell just slightly, and usually enough to seal the imperfection.

 

[suburbanfarmer]

Sorry a newbie to hydraulics myself but never heard that one. Too much pressure in those cylinders

 

[Zebrafive]

I use Vasoline to hold O-rings in place, during assembly, not to stop leaks

 

[CobyRupert]

So, does petroleum jelly makes rings swell, damage them, or have no long term effects?
Depends what the ring is made out of I suppose.

 

[4570Man]

You might use the vasoline to smear on the cylinder rod to prevent rust in storage but that’s about all it’s going to do.

 

[WranglerX]

Think vasoline is pretty inert for almost any application....... Its just those foam air cleaner filter that I hit with carb cleaner and they swell up the bothers me....

Dale

 

[mcfarmall]

I think your mechanic buddy is full of bull shoney.

 

[crazyal]

So hydraulic oil doesn't make the seal expand but vasoline does? I'm not even sure how you would get the vasoline past the wiper on the end of the gland nut. Even then it's on the wrong side of the pressure. Finally every cylinder seal I've replaced is a plastic like material. I'm sure some old ones may be some rubber like material but I have to believe that those compounds haven't been used for decades.

 

[Fatcows]

Thanks for the replies. I'm skeptical, but guess I'll give it a shot. If for nothing more than to raz my friend about his mechanic skills when it causes the seals to melt...

 

[4570Man]

Thanks for the replies. I'm skeptical, but guess I'll give it a shot. If for nothing more than to raz my friend about his mechanic skills when it causes the seals to melt...

It’s not going to make the seal melt. It’s going to do absolutely nothing. You’d need something much nastier like possibly brake cleaner or acetone to have any chance of melting the seal but even that’s probably not going to work.