Vaseline

[Gafferbill]

Hi

I hear the advice about not using Vaseline on caravans and understand the scientific theory about being a petrol based product.

The thing is, I use it all the time to lubricate the toilet sliding valve and the Whale pump connector ( not at the same time).

I find it does a good job and has not caused any damage to my 13 year old van.

I will continue to use it and keep the van, just to find out at what point this damage will occur!!

I post this with my tongue slightly in cheek!!

 

[Parksy]

It's up to you Bill, etto but Thetford make a point of advising against Vaseline or any vegetable oil on the rubber blade seal

http://www.thetford-europe.com/web/show/id=43155/langid=42

 

[SteveW77]

Whale also advise against the use of petroleum products on the water inlets.

Steve W

 

[Bigfoot]

I made the mistake of using Vaseline. The seal wrinkled and perished in a matter of weeks. I use a silicone based rubber lubricant now.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi,

Vaseline (and maintenance sprays such as WD40) is a petroleum based product and will dissolve itself into the rubber seals, O-rings and so on - causing them to swell and become "tight"

But if your caravan is 13 years old, the seals are probably "dry", the rubber "old", and so Vaseline might not cause the seals to swell as fast as it would on new rubber. And you'll certainly need to reapply the Vaseline almost every trip out - it won't last long on a rubber surface...

But you'd still do better using a Silicone oil based product - these have better, longer lasting lubricating properties and protect the rubber surface from ageing - usually for between six months and a year with reach application.

Robert

 

[Gafferbill]

Thanks for posts so far.......

As always Robert gives the prescribed wisdom but it has not been my experience.

I am very meticulous about the fresh water supply and do not like silicone sprays for taste reasons.

I only use a light film of Vaseline a couple of times a year, on the Whale socket. I do not cake the O rings.

Likewise the lightest smear on the toilet blade.

I use my winterised van all year.

Just to add my van is a 1995 Swift Challenger 440 SE.

It has had no falts at all since buying new.

The window seals have had to be renewed(no I did not apply Vaseline), any other problems have been due to wear and tear, and have been minor.

It has been towed for some 36000 miles.

 

[RayS]

Try the silicone lubricant used for plumbing push-in fittings (from Screwfix or any builders merchant). Most of these are approved for drinking (potable) water fittings and should therefore be tasteless, but also compatable with modern rubbers.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Bill,

Silicone spray? I certainly agree with you that this would cause an "interesting" taint in potable water - it's a light Silicone oil carried by LPG as a propellant - and it's not recommended for use on drinking (potable) water connections - and it's the residual propellant you can taste - or just possibly an odour added at the factory to make the spray smell "high-tech".

Some of the water based Silicone sprays (these use a hand pump sprayer not pressurised gas) also have a fragrance added - and again I wouldn't use those on a drinking water system

I'd be tempted to look for a Silicone grease (or thick Silicone oil) that has a similar viscosity to Vaseline and the merest smear of this on the O-rings will do the job. Silicone greases are approved for use on drinking water connections - and shouldn't have any taste at all

But if you are only adding the merest smear of Vaseline - then you may be at the happy point where you're replacing the plasticiser lost from the "old" rubber seals due to natural losses - but that's really down to chance rather than design...

Robert

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Hi Guys

All good advise give here only one comment from me , that is Ive always used he thetford product for the loo seal and also around the window rubber to stop them sticking No problem on our vans at all

Regards Sir Roger

 

[gary]

My attitude is, knowing that Vaseline is ideal for chapped lips or other similar skin problems, I would not think to use Silicone grease instead

 

[ChrisUK]

For reference I got my silicon grease ( more like a very thick oil) from a diving suppliers. This works well on O rings. I have also got a thicker di-electric silicon grease (for 7 pin sockets) from e bay.