General: o-rings

[Bashy]

Hi folks.

Are Volvo o-rings specific to volvo tolerances or can i buy myself a box of assorted ones?

[Brendan W]

There are special o rings and not necessarily by any car makers choosing. More likely a decision by the manufacturer of a sub assembly.
What rings are you thinking about?
In my limited experience the mixed box has only ever two of the ones you need and it sits gathering dust for years and is unfindable when you want to rummage and you end up trying out a ring that is close to the original

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by Brendan W

There are special o rings and not necessarily by any car makers choosing. More likely a decision by the manufacturer of a sub assembly.
What rings are you thinking about?
In my limited experience the mixed box has only ever two of the ones you need and it sits gathering dust for years and is unfindable when you want to rummage and you end up trying out a ring that is close to the original

Hi, for example, gearbox fill plug and level plug (same o-rings) and PWS pipes into rack, with volvo there about 10-12 quid there, could have bought many more assorted ones for that price

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Bashy

Hi, for example, gearbox fill plug and level plug (same o-rings) and PWS pipes into rack, with volvo there about 10-12 quid there, could have bought many more assorted ones for that price

Are they actually "O" rings or are they Dowty seals?



Sample pic of a Dowty seal, they have an assortment of names but i've always known them as that. Basically an "O" ring bonded into a washer with an internal "skirt" that literally screws onto the thread of the filler/level/drain plug.

I have a bag full of M14 Dowty seals as they are used on my Rover for the engine and gearbox drain plugs and the I'D of the skirt is in fact about 12mm so is quite tight on the M14 thread of the plugs.

If extreme heat (120+C) is likely to be a problem, Viton Dowty seals are available, if not, the standard nitrile rubber (same as most normal "O" rings are made from) Dowty seals are more than adequate for filler plugs. Less likely to leak than copper or aluminium crush washers as well!

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Are they actually "O" rings or are they Dowty seals?



Sample pic of a Dowty seal, they have an assortment of names but i've always known them as that. Basically an "O" ring bonded into a washer with an internal "skirt" that literally screws onto the thread of the filler/level/drain plug.

I have a bag full of M14 Dowty seals as they are used on my Rover for the engine and gearbox drain plugs and the I'D of the skirt is in fact about 12mm so is quite tight on the M14 thread of the plugs.

If extreme heat (120+C) is likely to be a problem, Viton Dowty seals are available, if not, the standard nitrile rubber (same as most normal "O" rings are made from) Dowty seals are more than adequate for filler plugs. Less likely to leak than copper or aluminium crush washers as well!

Not seen one like that before even the aluminum washers for the g/box drain plug and the engine sump plug are just washers with no rubber...

Long story shortened, just rubber lol

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Bashy

Not seen one like that before even the aluminum washers for the g/box drain plug and the engine sump plug are just washers with no rubber...

Long story shortened, just rubber lol

You might think about changing the aluminium crush washers for Dowty seals as an upgrade. On the 7/9xx cars, Saab use the same type of fuel filter but insist on Dowty seals instead of the copper crush washers on the banjo fittings.

The aluminium crush washers will do the job obviously but there's a reason certain manufacturers specify them.