Oil in Water Sight Glass?

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newboydave

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I have an Accucraft "Lawley" (2005 model) which has suddenly started to show signs of oil in the sight glass - still runs OK, but of course now I can not see the actual water level. I have tried cleaning the inide of the glass, but next time I run, the oil appears again. Any suggestions on possible causes, or remedies to correct this situation would be appreciated.
 
Please describe the nature of the oil you are seeing...You ARE using the correct grade of steam oil, right? I've never seen this occurrence in forty-something years of steaming. Accucraft locos like #460 weight.

Roundhouse prefer the lighter grade, so I'm told.

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newboydave said:
I have an Accucraft "Lawley" (2005 model) which has suddenly started to show signs of oil in the sight glass - still runs OK, but of course now I can not see the actual water level. I have tried cleaning the inide of the glass, but next time I run, the oil appears again. Any suggestions on possible causes, or remedies to correct this situation would be appreciated.
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Unfortunately it means you have oil in the boiler, just cleaning the sight glass's won't help, I'm afraid. It may not harm the running of your loco yet, but if it builds up it will start to clog the pipework. Using white spirit or white vinegar will shift it,, but it's not easy. Fill the boiler with the spirit and shake the engine, it will take a long time to get it out.
It's caused by the steam oil getting siphoned back into the boiler water when the engine cools and the regulator is still open. Accucraft locos who's speed is controlled by the reverser are prone to it as its easy to forget to close the regulator after a run.
Others may have better advice, as there's always more than one way to cook a goose
 
Paul M said:
It's caused by the steam oil getting siphoned back into the boiler water when the engine cools and the regulator is still open.
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Interesting, I was expressly told to leave the regulator open at the end of the session. But that's Regner, so it may have to do with differences in builds.
 
Don't stress over it! It's steam oil, so is meant to be fed into your pipework and is not likely to clog things up - though it won't look nice in your sight glass. As Paul M says, it's being sucked back from the lubricator at the end of a run.
Ignore it. If you do clean it out, you'll just end up doing it over and over again.
My Lawley is the same and it does no harm.
Regards Tom
 
Jasper said:
Interesting, I was expressly told to leave the regulator open at the end of the session. But that's Regner, so it may have to do with differences in builds.
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Not sure whether the Regner speed is controlled by its regulator, or by the reversing thingy as my Accucraft. Or, it may be I've got it wrong. Again
 
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