Silicone or not to silicone

[michele19]

I purchased marine silicone to reseal leaking vents and what ever else i find thats leaking....I am reading here on the forums that silicone is bad for aluminum. I did not open anything yet...what is Vulcum sealer

[InsideOut]

Don't use silicone or as I call it..."%#$@*! silicone". We had tons of it on our trailer when we got it and it's a PITA to remove.

It etchs the aluminum, doesn't "stay stuck" (which it what it's supposed to do in order to fix leaks!) and it leaves a nasty film when you try to remove it so nothing else will stick right without major effort to remove every last trace of the silicone.

Use Vulkem (now called Trempro) for large gaps &/or seams and Parbond for smaller ones. Both can be obtained at Vintage Trailer Supply or other places locally, but VTS ships fast & there's no running around.

Shari

[idroba]

No silicone, no, no, no, none! Please, for your own sake and any one who becomes a subsequent owner of your Airstream, no silicone. The post above tells why, and gives the proper alternatives.