TheSamba.com :: View topic - Withdrawing my recommendation for NAPA body seam sealer

Fri May 18, 2018 8:49 pm

About 3 years ago I had the Van repainted its gorgeous yellow. I did all the body prep and the seams myself. Beautiful dry and rustfree Georgia body. Cleaned out the seams, prepped the metal with self etching primer, then a primer, then filled the seams with NAPA grey seam sealer in a tube.

Then the van went to a very high end professional paint shop where they shot it with white primer, then several yellow coats and baked it. Beautiful job.

I've been happy with the NAPA seam sealer for 2 years and mentioned it on Samba threads about seams when it came up.

However, I'm withdrawing that as it is now drying, shrinking and cracking after only 3 years. Really disappointed as I don't live in a harsh, hot or sunny climate and the van is under cover or in the garage about half the year. The failure is clearly shrinkage of the material itself, not prep or paint.

I don't think I'm going to do anything about it, because I don't live in a salty climate and only put about 3000 miles a year on it. But I wanted others to know.

Regards,
Doug

Fri May 18, 2018 9:18 pm

Very sorry to hear that.

Need Pics of the failed seam !!
And the guilty product’s tradename. Is this Martin Senour MS4313?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MSR4313

Fri May 18, 2018 10:14 pm

3m man! Always use 3m.

Sat May 19, 2018 3:25 am

Doug, even though your conditions aren't "harsh", don't leave your seams open.

I would use a clear seam sealer, just the tiniest smear to seal those cracks.

3M Flexiclear 08405

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-prod...amp;rt=rud

Dave

Sat May 19, 2018 6:49 am

IdahoDoug wrote: ... it is now drying, shrinking and cracking after only 3 years...

Sounds like whatever VW used in the first place.

Thanks for the tip on the 3M clear.

Sat May 19, 2018 7:33 am

I've never been impressed with NAPA, especially with their house brand parts.

Go with the factory recommendation vendors or 3M.

Sat May 19, 2018 7:39 am

Well that's frustrating, sorry to hear, Doug! :roll: