Can generic silicone be used to seal a roof channel seam against a water leak? - Toyota Yaris Forums

RMcG · 05-12-2021, 01:00 AM

QUESTION: Can a more generic form of silicone rubber sealant, such as GE Advanced Silicone for Window & Door projects, see Amazon link be effectively used to seal a roof channel seam. Picture of a short segment of a roof channel at the front of the car roof is attached (this is not my car, it is taken from another post on this forum). According to the package, this GE product has a service temperature from - 60 degrees F to + 400 degrees F and it is often used on roofs (they probably mean house roofs). The product is supposed to be shrink and crack proof. And I think it is UV light proof as well based on reading

There is a similar clear 3M silicone sealant that is specifically made for auto bodies, see link, but this formulation seems to be for professional auto body shops. And I cannot find it in auto parts stores.

I plan to use the sealant on the base of the roof channel, then use the sealant to adhere the rubber strip to the base of the channel and then run a bead of the sealant along both sides of the rubber strip and smooth the bead with a gloved finger so there is an impervious water barrier between each edge of the channel and the rubber strip.

QUESTION: Does this sound like an effective strategy? Any other comments will be welcomed.

Thanks,

R.

YarisLeakRoofChannel.jpg

05-12-2021, 01:00 AM	#1
RMcG Drives: 2008 Yaris Base Hatchback Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 248	Can generic silicone be used to seal a roof channel seam against a water leak? QUESTION: Can a more generic form of silicone rubber sealant, such as GE Advanced Silicone for Window & Door projects, see Amazon link be effectively used to seal a roof channel seam. Picture of a short segment of a roof channel at the front of the car roof is attached (this is not my car, it is taken from another post on this forum). According to the package, this GE product has a service temperature from - 60 degrees F to + 400 degrees F and it is often used on roofs (they probably mean house roofs). The product is supposed to be shrink and crack proof. And I think it is UV light proof as well based on reading There is a similar clear 3M silicone sealant that is specifically made for auto bodies, see link, but this formulation seems to be for professional auto body shops. And I cannot find it in auto parts stores. I plan to use the sealant on the base of the roof channel, then use the sealant to adhere the rubber strip to the base of the channel and then run a bead of the sealant along both sides of the rubber strip and smooth the bead with a gloved finger so there is an impervious water barrier between each edge of the channel and the rubber strip. QUESTION: Does this sound like an effective strategy? Any other comments will be welcomed. Thanks, R. YarisLeakRoofChannel.jpg Last edited by RMcG; 05-12-2021 at 01:13 AM.