SWT Water Treatment Tips
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Field Notes by Rusty Waters
“Unscientific notes from a collection of the greatest minds in water quality improvement.”
 
O-Ring Damage Caused by Hydrocarbon-Based Lubricants

The size increase shown in the picture below is due to the damaging effects of hydrocarbon-based lubricants such as Vaseline petroleum jelly. The o-ring has swollen and become soft—which caused a leak. Hydrocarbon-based lubricants can also damage all plastic components they come into contact with.
 
Original O-ring Damaged O-ring
Original o-ring Same o-ring damaged
by hydrocarbon-based lubricants
 
This same swelling can cause o-rings to roll, stretch, and get pinched.

INSTEAD PLEASE USE:
  • Dow Corning 7
  • PolySi PST-599
  • Chemplex 862
  • Molykote 111
  • Any other similar hydrocarbon-free lubricant
 
 
If you have an unscientific idea that you would like to share with your fellow water quality improvement professionals, by all means let us hear it so we can pass the information along. Design by experience and evolution can be more reliable than what the eggheads can do in the lab or on a computer. We here at SWT believe that knowledge is meant to be shared. We do not presume to know more than our customers, and we really enjoy the exchange of ideas. You may e-mail your idea(s) to us at fieldnotes@swtwater.com.
 
 
 
Safe Water Technologies, Inc.
996 Bluff City Boulevard
Elgin, IL 60120 USA
 
 
Telephone: +1.847.888.6900
Facsimile: +1.847.888.6924
E-mail: info@swtwater.com
https://www.swtwater.com

Last Updated: April 1, 2024