Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm repairing some Ebara Optima pumps I was given (faulty capacitor) and notice that the pump would have originally had oil in it. Does anyone know what sort of oil should be used as the pumps had no oil in them when I got them?

Cheers
Matt

AFAIK... the Optima didn't have oil... (looks like thay might have)...

Ring the Ebara peeps... http://www.ebara.com.au/company_details

Yeah - I think they do Rup - Werdna found oil in his

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1409&p=308201&hilit=ebara#p308201

There seems to be an oily residue in the can section that comes off first after undoing the 4 inner SS screws. It would serve the impellor end bearing and possibly shaft and othe bearing as well. I found a drawing here:

http://www.ebara.com.au/uploads/257/7/O ... _09-12.pdf

that cites in '260; 40cc of Esso Marcol 172 oil. Wonder if that is fish safe and where I could get some...

Ha -just spoke with Ebara - can't say I was that impressed - they just said go and get some paraffin oil! never mind the food safe side of things. They didn't know of any suppliers - guess they don't service their own pumps...

Think I will just restrict the pump to greywater duties and keep it out of the FT!

You can get food grade mineral oil which will do the job then.
Small amounts have a laxative effect, so you will know if it has a leak pretty quick

Give it a whirl with vege oil or something.

I would have thought any pump with oil would be less than desirable with fish anyway....

No, vegie oil is the wrong consistency.
Mineral oil should be available at a pharmacy.

Its sole purpose is to stop water getting past the seal.

I used food grade silicon oil on one that is still running.

But if it does leak into the water wont that cause all sorts of grief for fish gills?

Not the small amount we are talking about in the pump.
It is only about 20ml

Ahh yeah fair enough mate

You can get various viscosity vegetable oils. Rock oil used in the mining industry can be up to a 300W (weight) which has the consistency of honey. Its used in the air system for drill rigs. Because the oil becomes atomised as it is released from the rock drill it becomes a health concern, hence why we dont use mineral oils for this application.

20ml of mineral oil in your Ft may not be a concern but I personally wouldnt risk it. Household vegetable oil may be too thin (around 10W@100deg) and produce high heat levels and shorten bearing/pump life but Id put my money on that before any mineral based oils.

+1 there.