Hey Josh,
Thanks for your great comments. It was the hydraulic repair shop that
mentioned changing over to biodegradable fluid. The shop owner said the
eco-friendly stuff still makes a rainbow if it leaks, but deteriorates over
time, and you can always show the product bottle as a way to placate getting
fined by authorities.
When my backstay ram developed a leak, a few drops caused a huge rainbow behind
my boat before I discovered it and capped the hose and the ram fitting. A
friend suggested I spray the slick with a bio-friendly degreaser like
"Spray-Nine" or "Purple Power".
I am considering using Green Marine Hydraulic Fluid from West Marine,
Cabella's, and Bass Pro Shop. The manufacturer states that this deteriorates
in water after thirty days, which satisfies my needs as it is also ISO 32 (#10
non-detergent):
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/power-pole--green-marine-iso32-hydraulic-fluid-1-qt--14275143?msclkid=1fd583240fd01824854ce1edfe8890c1
Chuck Scheaffer, Resolute 1989 C&C 34R
> On 07/09/2022 3:53 PM Josh via CnC-List wrote:
>
>
> I'm not sure being biodegradable makes it an upgrade. When I was getting
> Lew Townsend's input, as I recall he had said to use an oil that was ISO 32
> synthetic. I use Amsoil where I can in all my equipment. Amsoil didn't
> specifically have a hydraulic fluid labeled as ISO 32 but working with their
> technical service rep they found a product that was close (enough for me).
> It's their multi vehicle synthetic power steering fluid.
>
> https://www.amsoil.com/p/multi-vehicle-synthetic-power-steering-fluid-psf/
>
> There are environmentally critical applications where the use of
> biodegradable fluid might be important. Large quantity of oil, high
> pressure, continuous pump, hidden pipes/fittings where leaks would be hard to
> detect, used in marine habitats like aquariums and live tanks - just a few
> examples. I remember an episode of Deadliest Catch where a hydraulic line
> that passed through a crab tank began leaking. They pumped oil into that
> tank for hours! The captain was quite concerned about losing the crab. For
> us, the overall quantity of oil is relatively small and since the pump is
> manual, a leak is only enough quantity to release the pressure - a few ounces
> at most. If a fitting ruptured we'd know it immediately. Most of our leaks
> amount to some weapage around the piston shaft. We generally care about it
> more because of the gelcoat stain than because of the environmental
> impact...I'm not sure those type of leaks ever even make it to the
> environment.
>
> I remember seeing a JP5 hose rupture during an underway replenishment.
> Each one of those four hoses had to be at least 4 inches in diameter and the
> offload was supposed to be multiple tens of thousands of gallons. It seemed
> like an eternity before someone who knew what to do took action to stop the
> fountain of jet diesel that was being discharged directly into the Atlantic.
>
> Where I work, we have equipment with massive drive chains that rotate
> deep into the bay water. 24 of these units run periodically throughout the
> day every day of the year. Weekly maintenance amounts to using what looks
> like a carwash brush and mop bucket to slop grease on the chains as they
> rotate. It would appear as though the chains have never been greased let
> alone greased only a week ago. I've been told the grease is environmentally
> approved (whatever that means) but it looks like any standard moly grease
> I've ever seen. Just a few examples which give perspective to being
> environmentally conscious.
>
> Josh Muckley
> S/V Sea Hawk
> 1989 C&C 37+
> Solomons, MD
>
>
> Jul 9, 2022 13:33:22 CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List
> :
>
> > > Anyone switched to biodegradable hydraulic fluid?
> >
> > I have a Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster in the shop for new
> > seals and thinking of upgrading the fluid.
> >
> > Chuck Scheaffer Resolute 1989 C&C 34R
> >
> >
> > >
