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Oil Sight Glass FAQ
Oil Sight Glass FAQ
The best way to clean is with soap and warm water. Commercial cleaning products containing alcohol or ammonia (including Windex) should be avoided, as they may cause crazing that can expedite staining and/or compromise the bond strength.
Under normal operating conditions, the life spans of the 3-D BullsEye, Oil Sight Glass, and Oil Level Indicator are not limited. Repeated exposure to caustic chemicals can cause staining and small surface cracks called crazes, which can lead to larger cracks and bonding failure. Environmental factors such as long periods of direct sunlight and radical swings in temperature can expedite staining or crazing. Designed to withstand normal industrial lubrication applications, Esco’s product line can work for years without failure or degradation, but operators should watch for staining, crazing or microscopic oil seepage that may arise and replace the unit immediately to insure safe and effective oil management.
The 3-D BullsEye is machined from one solid piece of impact resistant, high strength, stain-resistant cast acrylic. It has excellent resistance to hydrocarbon and petroleum-based products, hydraulic fluids, most silicone fluids, and fuels. A detailed chemical resistance chart is available upon request.
Installers should apply pipe dope or Teflon tape to the threads of the 3-D BullsEye. The 3-D BullsEye should be hand tightened and then turned ¼ turn with a chain wrench or arc joint pliers. If there is any evidence of oil leakage, tighten ¼ turn and re-inspect. Continue the ¼ turn followed by inspection until there is no oil leakage. When installed properly, the 3-D BullsEye can withstand equipment vibration.
The material that the 3-D BullsEye is made of can withstand exceedingly low temperatures and temperatures as high as 230°F (110°C) at atmospheric pressure.
Although Esco only currently stocks Metric and American standard NPTs, most thread sizes can be machined to meet customer specifications. Contact us today with your requirement.
Polishing is not necessary for the interior walls of the 3-D BullsEye. Once installed and lubricating fluid is introduced, the view will become crystal clear and the cloudiness will disappear.
The old style vented sight towers are made of regular glass that is prone to breakage. The brass housing provides some protection, but creates the problem of low to no visibility of the oil color, quality and level. The Esco Oil Level Indicator is made of strong cast acrylic that provides 360° of oil level viewing. Operators can visually monitor the oil for dirt and debris and take appropriate preventive action.
Use an elbow to install the OLI at the drain port. It can be installed with the optional breather at the top ½” NPT port. If you require a closed loop, the ½” NPT can be used as a connector port to feed back into the system. For units longer than 12”, use a support bracket for stability.
For many systems the 1 oz. Oil Sight Glass is adequate. The 3 oz. OSG provides additional volume and should be used when the condensation or water spillover is excessive. Esco also offers 16 oz. and 32 oz. Oil Sight Glasses for special applications that require the ability to accumulate substantial volumes of water due to large oil reservoirs, high condensation problems or excessive water spillover. Even larger sizes and unique configurations are available for special applications.
We recommend installing the Oil Sight Glass and Oil Sight Glass Level Monitor at the lowest point of the oil reservoir; typically the drain port. Water contamination will separate from high quality oils and migrate to the OSG where it can be purged from the system. Unwanted sediment and particles are visible in the OSG. Upon inspection, the user can determine the appropriate action to initiate.
The Horizontal Oil Sight Glass is designed to be installed on equipment that has restricted vertical clearance in the area the OSG is mounted. The design has the mounting nipple and drain valve eccentrically machined and oriented 180° apart. This provides the same ability to discharge any accumulated water.
The oil sight glass is manufactured from strong, stain-resistant cast acrylic. The drain valve is made from brass with a vulcanized rubber seal. Both materials have excellent resistance to hydrocarbon and petroleum-based products, hydraulic fluids, most silicone fluids, and fuels. A detailed chemical resistance chart is available upon request.
The brass hardware will provide excellent performance for most applications; however, 304 stainless steel hardware is available for environments that cannot accept brass.
The strong pull from this rare earth magnet will attract and hold microscopic ferrous particles. Further analysis of these particles can help determine what component is failing for replacement. The Magnet Drain Valve is easily interchanged with the standard drain valve on any OSG or OSGL.
When oil operating temperatures or radiant heat from adjacent equipment exceeds or is continually at or near the operating range upper limits, you should consider utilizing the Esco High Temperature Oil Sight Glass.
When seeing and maintaining the level of oil in your reservoir is critical, the Oil Sight Glass and Level Monitor (OSGL) provides all the benefits of the OSG plus the ability to constantly monitor the level of the reservoir oil. The dual port model has a second 3/8” NPT thread at 180° to allow the installation of a drain valve or access to the oil reservoir utilizing a pitot tube and a pitot sample adapter. This all-in-one product provides continuous monitoring of the clarity, color, sediment, water contamination and level of the oil.
The materials used can withstand temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C). It is important that the water accumulation in the Oil Sight Glass is managed to prohibit it from completely displacing all of the oil. As little as a tablespoon (1/4” linear volume) of oil in the chamber will provide for the volumetric expansion required when the water freezes. If enough water accumulates to displace all of the oil from the chamber, the expansion that occurs when it freezes can fracture the OSG. Although Oil Sight Glasses are a valuable, dependable and safe tool to use in extremely cold environments, it is important that they are regularly monitored to avoid excess water accumulation. We do not recommend the installation of OSGs in hard to see places on equipment in freezing environments.