Is Silicone Sealant the same thing as a Silicon Sealant/Adhesive (RTV, clear)? The "Adhesive" part is throwing me off, i don't want to permanently adhere the taillights to the body in case i decide to switch back to the OEM lights.

So are these the same or should i go get something else?

Thanks.

 

From your post, I don't think you've taken your lights out yet. If you have, you probably noticed that they are a pain to take out since they are stuck in place, more or less, by the adhesive / sealant that's there (the black stuff that looks kind of like roofing tar). This is on there from the factory and what you are referring to.

It is not the same stuff as RTV or the stuff that comes in tubes you use a gun to put on. The stuff you need is black, comes in a roll, and looks sort of like weatherstripping plus it is sticky and gummy when it is applied. It goes around the light where it makes contact with the body. The reason it is there is two fold: 1) to keep out moisture, dirt, dust, etc and 2) to keep the lights in place (which I guess the screws don't do?).

Were you not to put it on, as you suggest you may not want to do, bad things could happen if water were to get in there. The light itself does not make a perfect seal around the body lines and does not have any sort of protection. This is the reason for the sealant.

The good news is this; it is not permanent (only semi-permanent). While it does adhere the taillights, it does not attach them like glue. Once you remove your old lights, you'll see what I am describing and understand what's there a bit better.

As for RTV, I think that wouldn't be thick enough and wouldn't provide a good seal. It may work just fine but I would be concerned with water getting into the housing. Then again, RTV gaskets work wonders, but the distance between the body and the light may be too great in some places for RTV to really work.

Hope this helps and good luck!