Corn oil as hull valve lubricant

northern

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2007
3,515
Anacortes Washington
Boat Info
380 Aft Cabin 1989 Charts Timezero radar Furuno
Engines
Twin 454 strait shaft
All our threw hulls get opened and closed a few times a year. I assume the seals in them are Buna. Looking up Buna it is not effected by corn oil #4 on compatible scale 1 to 4.
I used to work in the oil business and saw the effect of oil on Buna. It swells. So do not want o lubricate with oil based product.
Question
Our boat is stored on land when not in use. I was thinking of closing threw hull valve and pouring corn oil down the piping to the valve then working the valve open/close to lubricate the valve.
Dumb idea? At least I would be using a non contaminating lubricant.
Does any know the material used in marine valves?
Is there a product made specially for marine valves?
 
I exercise mine with silicone and it seems to work well. I gather it’s safe for rubber and they work more freely than they ever did before.
 
Am I mistaken... I thought the seals were teflon?
 
Teflon could be the seat material but the stem seals are probably Buna. Has any one taken a threw hull valve apart to see what they are?
How do you get the silicon to the valve face?
 
I removed the drain plugs and replaced them with standard grease fittings then grease then with silicone grease every other month or so.

But......I am in Florida and we use our boat 12 months a year. If you haul out in the winter or winterize in the water, you might need to leave your seacocks where with can drain the water out of them when you winterize.
 
Thanks for drawing
Looks like the only parts that could be Buna are the stem seals. The seats are probably Teflon and so are the stem seals based on specification.
Good idea about pulling drain plug and putting grease fitting.
 
I removed the drain plugs and replaced them with standard grease fittings then grease then with silicone grease every other month or so.

But......I am in Florida and we use our boat 12 months a year. If you haul out in the winter or winterize in the water, you might need to leave your seacocks where with can drain the water out of them when you winterize.

Frank,
Do you have a particular brand and name of the silicone grease you use.
Always appreciate your input.
Eddie
 
This is what I use. I have replaced the drain plugs with stainless steel grease fittings and I keep this in a grease gun in my dock box. It is expensiove in 14 oz cartridges, but with grease fittings it make it super easy to keep the seacocks working right. It is also available in smaller put ups.

https://www.amazon.com/Jet-Lube-73550-Dielectric-Cartridge-Translucent/dp/B007IBAC9S
LOL!! I use the same grease at work in a hot melt glue pot for book binding! Good stuff!!!
 

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