Which is better and why? Price is not a concern. Genuine VW in black or red silicone made in Germany?
I don't think it matters all that much as long as it stays correctly seated when you refit the flywheel, which mine didn't and used to leak oil worse than Saddam Hussain in sommebody elses oilfield. I only found this out after it had been SORNED for 5 years and I removed the engine proir to selling the damn thing.
I don't have a leak, I'm looking for a thoughfull comparison between manufacturer, material quality and life expectancy.
Am wondering if the actual questions is this: Genuine VW (made by a 3rd party supplier wherever, but to VW specs) Red Silicone made in Germany (silicone is usually recognised as a better material then rubber, but might not be superior than rubber in this instance e.g. as @molteni_mike mentions - would silicon cause a deeper score due to it's hardness? If I give you an example - all these people changing suspension bushes over to silicone/teflon etc etc - not realising that the lack or elasticity in the bushes is probably cracking suspension and or body as shocks transmit straight through the sacrificial part of the assembly.
I am inclinded to agree if it was designed for rubber use rubber! I would go with VW spec rather than aftermarket silicone if it was me but then I like things stock?
Material quality and production methods have changed a lot over the years. As Moons correctly mentioned, is (3rd party) VW spec (made in ?) any better or worse than red silicon made in Germany? And is there any difference in the life expectancy?
Missing the grooves in the flywheel if any, and pushing it in far enough to avoid the shoulder on the nose of the flywheel is probably more important. My regular aircooled guy fits red silicone as he says its a better material than the original.
