Mobil Vactra #2 Shortage??

[Milland]

Not sure if it was mentioned in the thread (haven't gone through the whole thing), but there was a period where Vactra #2 was having solids settle out (paraffins coming out of solution), and it actually caused some damage to machines due to lube metering/tubing blockage.

Anyone else remember this, and have a more solid reference? I actually had some 5gal pails that had solids evident when they were nearly empty. FWIW, I will probably look for alternatives when my current stock runs out.

 

[jhov]

Was it just #2 that was short? If so and it happens again, just buy two pails close to equidistant in viscosity from 68 and mix your own. I use VG32, 68 and 220 way oils so I just buy 32 and 220 and mix them to make 68, which is #2.

 

[Milland]

Was it just #2 that was short? If so and it happens again, just buy two pails close to equidistant in viscosity from 68 and mix your own. I use VG32, 68 and 220 way oils so I just buy 32 and 220 and mix them to make 68, which is #2.

I think there's more to it than that, among other things way oil has "tackifiers" that help it stay on vertical surfaces. Or at least, that's my recollection...

 

[gustafson]

I think there's more to it than that, among other things way oil has "tackifiers" that help it stay on vertical surfaces. Or at least, that's my recollection...

yeah but they are all at the bottom of your pail....

 

[jhov]

I think there's more to it than that, among other things way oil has "tackifiers" that help it stay on vertical surfaces. Or at least, that's my recollection...

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend mixing VG220 way oil with VG32 hydraulic oil for that reason, but I would think that mixing two way oils from the same manufacturer (Vactra #1 and #4) is close enough.