Easy vehicle sump repair

If you have that nagging car that keeps dripping oil and messing up your garage, you can take some time off this festive season to seal it off.

Pratley has a wide range of versatile and cost-effective DIY adhesive products for a range of quick, on-the-spot automotive repairs, said the company’s marketing director Eldon Kruger.
Kruger said the products are ideal for areas where engineering workshops are sometimes unavailable, such as in rural towns or villages.

Below is an easy step-by-step guide to repair a vehicle sump using these products.

What you need:

• Pratley Safety Cleaner,
• Pratley Quickset®,
  Putty Quickset® Putty features:
• Can be shaped and moulded
• Withstands most chemicals such as oil and petrol
• Reaches 75 per cent strength after about four hours
• Can be sanded and painted.

Step-by-Step instructions:
Step 1

Remove any dirt, rust, or oil. Use Pratley Safety Cleaner to flush out any remaining oil or grease. Remove any oil, grease, or dirt on the outside of the sump. Ideally, use Pratley Safety Cleaner to flush out any remaining oil or grease. Industrial-grade acetone can also be used.

Step 2

Sand the area around the crack to assist with the adhesion of Pratley Quickset® Putty. Clean the surface after sanding to further assist with adhesion.

Step 3

Drill two small holes on either side of the crack to prevent it from spreading further.
Step 4

Carefully read the packaged instructions before using Pratley Quickset® Putty. For convenience, the instructions are provided in isiZulu, Sesotho, English, Afrikaans, Portuguese and French.
Step 5

As per the instructions, cut equal parts of each stick and roll the parts together into a sausage form and then roll it into a ball. Repeat the process until there is a uniform cream colour throughout, with no streaks.
Step 6

Knead and wipe the putty onto the surface around and over the crack. Build up with additional putty until the surface is covered.
Step 7

Smooth off the putty with a wet finger and wipe off excess with a damp cloth. Repeat this process for the outside of the sump.
Step 8

Pratley Quickset® Putty will reach 75 per cent strength in about four hours. Once set, it can be sanded smooth or painted to match any required colour (if required).