Lubricator Sight Glass filler - Fluorinert fluid

[Mfoxchicago]

Happy New Year Captains & Crews:

Getting to know my boat really well this holiday season. Have an old Madison-Kipp SV Box Lubricator. The Madison-Kipp line of lubricator parts is now owned by Graco Inc. (http://www.graco.com). I have learned that my lubricator sight glasses are supposed to be filled in a clear product called FLUORINET (heavier than the lube), allowing a single drop of lube oil rise up through it to feed in to the lubrication line to my main cylinder & my vacuum pumps cylinders. The Graco CS Rep said these use to be filled with a glycerin type fluid in the past. The FLUORINET (4oz. btl) costs just under $100. for even that very small amount.

Can anyone suggest a "more affordable" alternative or a comparable product to the glycerin that was used in the past?

Thanks guys!

[barts]

What's wrong w/ water?

- Bart

[Jack Innes]

Maybe the concern with water is freezing??

Glycerine is available at Wal-Mart for $4.95 for a 3.4 oz bottle - probably less in the USA.
http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/rougier-gly ... aQodkqMAnA

Ethylene Glycol antifreeze is a glycerine derivative & might work in its undiluted form.

Jack

[Mfoxchicago]

Wow Bart, Jack....such speedy replies. My Steamboating Brothers never cease to amaze me.

[Lopez Mike]

I agree with Bart. I have two lubricators of such a design. Mind you, they date from about a hundred years ago well before anyone heard of fluorine compounds. They use water. It's cool to watch the drops of oil emerge from teh nozzle and rise through the water. Sort of like a lava lamp.

That stuff they are trying to sell you sounds like a rip off. Surprised they aren't selling you Dihydrous Oxide. Dangerous stuff when heated in a closed container.

[Mfoxchicago]

Noticed Walmart sells a vegetable derived Glycerine product for around $5.00 a bottle.