Caulking???

[UfoTofU]

I am partially confused with how this seam caulking works.

I know you use it to fill in gaps in the body panels.

How then do you access any part of your car? Hood, doors, and trunk? Do you get in and out Dukes Of Hazzard style? Do you have to re-caulk any time you open your hood or trunk?

Anyone have pictures and explanations of their caulk?

Haha! I just realized how that last line sounds but I am going to leave it 'cause it's too funny.

[zpiloto]

I think that basjoos was the first with the caulk and that he used a razor blade to split the caulk so that he could open panels ect. I'm sure he'll chime in. I've been using scotch tape. Works like a champ and if you need to open something just peel and stick more on when your done.

[thisisntjared]

with the scotch tape, dont you worry about that sticky crap that it leaves behind?

[krousdb]

On my car, the sticky crap looks better than what is underneath.

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by thisisntjared

with the scotch tape, dont you worry about that sticky crap that it leaves behind?

It has a good coat of wax on it and I've had no problems with the sticky stuff it comes off clean.

[MetroMPG]

Zpiloto & krousdb: you scotch tape your seams? I must be becoming lazy to find that surprising.

[kickflipjr]

I a similar subject. I use clear packing tape for a grill block on my car (it has little grill openings). I does look a bit ghetto. But does do a good job of filling small holes and cracks.

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Zpiloto & krousdb: you scotch tape your seams? I must be becoming lazy to find that surprising.

Everything except the hood. I have that open just about everyday tinkering with something.

[The Toecutter]

If you want the car to actually look decent, you could use bondo, sand it down, and re-paint. Then it won't look as if it were tacked on. Use an exacto knife to cut a small enough gap to open the hood/doors/ect, while preventing any significant disturbance to attached airflow.

[MetroMPG]

Anybody have any data on the potential gain from minimizing gaps? Could you rank it along side other improvements?

[thisisntjared]

Originally Posted by The Toecutter

If you want the car to actually look decent, you could use bondo, sand it down, and re-paint. Then it won't look as if it were tacked on. Use an exacto knife to cut a small enough gap to open the hood/doors/ect, while preventing any significant disturbance to attached airflow.

it will crack.

[psyshack]

Aint nobody, caulking, taping, lathering bondo on my Hondas. Good Grief!!!

Must set on the front porch and guard nice cars from the aero mod mad men... lolol

[krousdb]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Zpiloto & krousdb: you scotch tape your seams? I must be becoming lazy to find that surprising.

No, just commenting that if I did, the sticky stuff would look better than my paint.

[basjoos]

I just caulked the seams, then waited for a day or two for the caulk to dry and then used a razor blade to slit a line down the caulk so I could open things that needed to be opened (doors, hood, gas cover, etc.). If you are careful with the razor work, the slit is completely invisible until you open the door, etc. Fortunately my car's color is white and matches the color of white caulk. The total FE improvement due to caulking the seams is probably minimal, but every little bit helps.

[JanGeo]

slice the caulk at an angle (under cut) and you end up with no gap - are you allowing for flexing of the body? If you tape over a gap with the adhesive only on the upwind side then you can still open everything. Make the tape a flap. I think teflon wax would help more . . . seems to work for airplanes.