Vasoline for small hydralic leak

[rScotty]

O rings swelling up depends on what the O ring is made of. Some O ring materials definitely do swell up in different types of oil or fuel. Every mechanic has seen that happen. It is common to take something apart - usually its a carburetor or hydraulic component - and find the wrong O rings were used and have swelled up & turned to goo.

I don't have the slightest idea if vaseline would do what your mechanic says or not. I've never heard that. If it were my shop I might be curious enough to put some O rings in some vaseline for a month and see what happens. It could work for awhile. Unfortunately when a fluid swells an O ring it tends to also soften it so it doesn't last long.

A new O ring is a simple job & that works too. But it has to be the right material. An O ring from the hardware store may not answer.

But basically your mechanic is on the right path. There are different o-ring materials & some will swell up if they see the wrong fluid so it is important to use the right one. Hydraulic oils are a known problem. Some of the older types are super aggressive on some O-ring materials and even on the rubber soles of shoes. Gasoline and some of the alcohols/glycols are aggressive on other materials.

At the JD dealership they check the serial number for O-ring compatibility on our 310SG every time before changing the trans/hydraulic oil. There are two different recommended oils depending on which O rings it was manufactured with in the hydraulic and transmission.
rScotty

 

[ArlyA]

Vaseline is inert. I have a small heard of cattle FS today and I'll let them go for a low, low price. You can't see them because they are in a very southern state* but if you give me cash now, I'll sell for a great price. Awaiting my check..

* Antarctica

 

[rScotty]

What?? Cows? Antarctica? Sometimes I just don't get it.

 

[mikester]

What?? Cows? Antarctica? Sometimes I just don't get it.

Upper peninsula...

 

[Fatcows]

Not a problem. I'll have my rich uncle send you the money from Nigeria. You'll just have to pay the delivery fee of course...

 

[Industrial Toys]

If you can use it on your hoo haw, I don't think it's gonna swell any seals.

I will never forget an old appliance man that came to install my Maytag washer. He imparted this great secret of how he applies vaseline to the hose washers. He asked me for MY vaseline and related a story of some "old maid" that got all flustered when he asked for her vaseline. Makes me wonder, now as I think about it, why if that was his tried and true "method" why didn't he carry his own?

Thought maybe I would take the time to mention to newbies the danger of Hydraulic Oil under pressure injected under the skin. Can lead to necessary amputation.

 

[finn1]

Find a new mechanic to get advise from.

 

[ning]

Vaseline isn't inert to everything; it'll eventually disolve natural rubber.

It's highly unlikely that your o-rings are made of natural rubber, of course...

 

[oosik]

If you have a hydraulic leak that vaseline will seal - you don't really have a hydraulic leak. Look elsewhere.....

 

[CoyPatton]

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.

Which side is the wrong side of the pressure? Most external cylinders have pressure on both sides.
I do not believe Vaseline will help seal anything, but the only hydraulic cylinder on my tractor that does not have ‘pressure’ on both sides is the internal 3ph lift cylinder. It has no down-pressure other weight of the 3ph and implement.