What would happen if you used a round o-ring where there is supposed to be a square one?

Can you figure out what I'm thinking about doing?

I want to buy some bulk silicon/viton cord stock and make my own coolant o-rings. I think the only way that I can get a compound that will take higher temps is to get round instead of square stock.

Since silicon/ viton are softer than the stock seals would there be a problem with sealing? The stock ones are pretty hard, especially the inner seals.

Comments? ideas? lets here em.

 

My specialty is high performance piston type engines. Us piston guys use the viton material for valve seals on high temperature applications, like turbocharged or supercharged aplications. As long as the cord isn't to thick it shouldn't split or rip. Other than that it sounds like a good idea.

 

Im not too sure if I would do that. I would rather just spend the money to make sure you are doing the right thing rather than tearing the engine down to replace the seal that didn't work.

 

I swear there is a site that just started selling sealing rings made out of that material. When I get off work I'll look thru my bookmarks for it. They advertized it as a new product of theirs. Seems your on the right track, perhaps.

 

I was wrong in the above post. The company is Hayes Rotary engineering and its a teflon encapusling silicon. Its about the first thing you see in their performance parts and accessorites catalog. Its www.hayesrotary.com might be worth looking at.