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power trim/tilt slow leak

C

camoto

Member
Hi,

I have a 1987 Merc 2.0.

I noticed today that my powertrim/tilt has a very slow leak at the base of the unit. It's leaking right at the bottom of the trim cylinder where it pivots. Looking at the parts breakdown, my guess is that it is one of those o-rings that are on the shaft that goes through where the bottom half of the cylinder pivots.

Before I waste a ton of time tearing it all apart just to replace a couple of o-rings I just wanted to check if anyone has seen something like this 'heal itself". I know that often times, especially after the cold, hydraulic seals will shrink/swell.

It leaks faster if I raise/lower the engine (1 drip every 3-5 minutes) but then slows to no drips at all.

I really don't want to waste my time with this if I don't have to.

Thanks for your input.
 
every thng being the same.. your shaft/seals, and all will increase and decrease at the same varialble, with regards to temperature, so with this in mind your orings are leaking, and most likeley due to age and wear.. probably wont fix themselvs, and more than likely your goiing to pour oil out into the water needlessly. i suggest you move to california.. they'd love you there
 
happy said:
every thng being the same.. your shaft/seals, and all will increase and decrease at the same varialble, with regards to temperature, so with this in mind your orings are leaking, and most likeley due to age and wear.. probably wont fix themselvs, and more than likely your goiing to pour oil out into the water needlessly. i suggest you move to california.. they'd love you there
Click to expand...
Very interesting. I didn't realize that rubber and plastic had the same thermal expansion and contraction as metal. I'll have to mark that one down next to "in California, 5 drips = 1 pour".
 
would you care to use a math equasion, or a real life equasion.. you did not mention the corrosion factor.. this has been an "issue with the " engineers, so then i ask to see the math.
 
<-- Wanna be engineer.

the actual equation for thermal expansion/contraction is:
Change in length = A*Temp change * Length of the piece
where A is a "coefficient of thermal expansion" This varies by material meaning that the rubber and metal contract differently. However, this variable for aluminium is 0.0000128 meaning that the actual contraction is very small especially in such a small scale. What does this mean to the thread starter? That the problem is most likely not due to thermal expansion/contraction. That trim system is the same age as I am things wear down over time, and with my limited knowledge I'd say they're not going to fix themselves.


*yes I know there are other factors involved in the expansion/contraction.
 
:sleep:

Fortunately for me and the fine residents of California, another forum instructed me to try some powersteering leak stop for my "pouring" leak and that appears to have fixed the issue.

Thankfully there are people out there who can see past the equations and environmental concerns and offer some real world advice.
 
Sadly they don't let me look past the equations yet....
But if power steering stop leak fixed the issue it looks like you were right on the money with the o-ring idea that stuff softens the oring and allows it to seal correctly.
Congrats on getting the problem fixed and thanks for adding to my knowledge bank.

*I appologize for putting you to sleep but everyone needs a good nap now and then.
 
When I was a kid I worked in an auto shop at night helping the mechanics, pumping gas and doing small repairs.

I would say the general consensus from the mechanics on power steering seal leak stopper products were that they were more trouble than they were worth. As it was explained to me on more than one occassion, basically how they work is, they cause the seals to soften and swell which temporarily stops the leak. But the stop leak doesn't play favourites, so it causes all the seals to swell and expand, as well as soften. The net result is that ALL the seals end up soft and oversized, so they tend to all wear out much faster. So now you really have some serious leaking.

So in the end, you fix the problem temporarily but end up with more repairs to do with the rack, power steering seals etc.

Whether in a trim system the results will be different as it's less complex? Heck if I know.

Perhaps it's a temporary fix that will wind up with the same seals needing replacing down the road.

Or perhaps not. Time will tell I suppose.
 
Seal leaks

An old Italian Mechanic "Sal" that worked at my fathers Car Dealership told me to use Brake Fluid to stop a rear main seal leak on one of my Opel's it's a Temp fix, but it lasted a few years.
 
a bad oring, is a bad oring, a seal leaking is a seal leaking.. if its bad, it needs to be replaced.. since your in the buying mood.. i have some radiator stop leak stuff.. supposed to fix your radiator in your car.. wil fix a hole up to at least a quarter of an inch.. my grandma's case had some hangover cure.. too ,, not sure what it is.. !!! but she drank it./.
 
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