seam sealer preservation

[slowbus]

I'm pretty lucky, in that my seams are all in good nick with no signs of rusting, but i've been reading that part of the problem with our buses, is that the seam sealer drys and shrinks. Does anyone have any tips for avoiding this. Is there some magic moisturizer sitting on my wife's dresser i can rub into the sealer to help preserve it , more seriously though, is there a special product out there in the market place
Cheers
John

[Plasticman]

sorry but nothing to do with the factory sealant shrinking. the damage will be happening 100% as we speak from the inside, by the time its visible externally its time for work
mm

[slowbus]

Thanks for that Mm.
Hopefully, I'll have a while to wait before getting the angle grinder out

[billy739]

sometimes a good polish or a little wd spray around the seams slows the outward in moisture

the sealer doesent just shrink , driving your van will twist the body shell cracking the sealer as the panel joins move.

[slowbus]

Thanks Billy

[Zündfolge 1-4-3-2]

Hi,
Some say it always gets you from behind, some say it comes from the front and its former favourite food is Vauxhall Crestas, all we know is its changed its diet and its called Seam Rash..........

Prevention: Consider
• If inside storage not an option, (outside = British climate = steel dissolves in the end) maybe a cover. Juries out on covers, some say these are a bad idea, but others sell them and say it’s better than nothing and you are in the middle etc.
• If not a daily driver / you don’t mind some dirt pick up: a layer of Waxoil, or Fenwicks over-winter, which comes off easily with their FS1. Was going to get some of that my-self in a give it a whirl kinda way. Wash it off when using van.
• IIRC I’d seen a Buit Hamner polish or similar claiming a enhanced sealing performance as well but it was pricy, but if it works may be worth a try. Dorkishley can’t find the link right now.

Once seam rash / embuggeration is evident....................Consider Proposal:–, in each case conditions / situations can vary, nothing can be discounted, maybe:
• From back: rust from back of seam and whilst not showing that much at front. When you find out extent can be unpleasantness.
• From front: Seam seal showing signs of parting in the middle giving weather access to panel joint whilst little rust evident / visible. if left end game as above, only you see it happening. As others have said seam-seal affected by body flex, age embrittlement, conditions at the time of application, base metal contaminants, old repairs etc...
• From back and front: Chicken and egg – which started first, was it simultaneous who knows who cares, its seam rash.
Whatever the state of play your still looking down the barrel of checking front (easy) and Back (not so always) and rectification as covered by others on the site
• Wire-wheel out loose rust front / back seam, treat, paint system then an exciting wait to see if you got it all.
• Cut out, replace panel treat, paint system as money / time / skill allow.
Think this kinda comes with the territory, is not limited to V.W looking about the place. However, my Dad used to say about his ‘59 beetle when IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-were-a-lad in the ‘70s, different paint, temporary measures’ full cure or what-ever rectification, can we agree anything’s better than rust?

[slowbus]

Thanks Zundfolge, that's a lot to be thinking about.
sorry it took so long to read your reply, but work has been taking up all my time and i haven;t been on line for a while

[Zündfolge 1-4-3-2]

S'ok, I'm not a compete expert, but the thing is, I've seen this ''parting in the middle seam sealer' on vans. Figure it can't help. Rust from back; why certainty Stanley, but maybe not exclusively. Anyway, I guess you end up looking at / protecting / repairing both sides of the seam as others have said. As for protection of whats good, I shall get back with that wax/sealer info if I find it. Seemed to claim protection as a feature, but is it smoke and mirrors? Maybees can't do any harm - and you can say you tried.

[slowbus]

Wax sealer sounds good. No harm in trying,

[Zündfolge 1-4-3-2]

Hi,

Finally Remembered I'd seen this Bilt Hamber stuff

...................auto-balm will seal capillary pores in paintwork and provide an anticorrosion barrier to stone-chips and other damaged sites on vehicle paintwork...........

Bit pricey, but used sparingly SEAMS it may go further than it you think, well where ever your van goes anyway...........

Z