The causes for oil discharging from a mixer muffler may include the following: the oil jar was overfilled, the unit has been tipped, or most commonly, the unit has been purged too long (unit should be run after each use for one minute). What should you do to prevent this from occurring and what should you do if it does?
The pump area that contains the vanes and the rotor needs to be well lubricated for proper function, but when too much oil is present it can released out of the top of the muffler. This is can create an unwanted (and unpleasant) oil mess.
The most obvious requirement is to fill the oil jar to the fill line, but not beyond. Going beyond that line can saturate the felt filters in the jar, over-lubricate the pump area, and cause the excess oil to seep out of the muffler. The wick should extend below the fill line, so that when the unit is in use, the oil will be drawn into the vacuum mixer and will maintain sufficient unit lubrication.
Another issue that can create an oily mess is when the mixer is turned on its side. Oil can end up pouring out directly into the top of the unit. It can saturate the pump. If this should happen, remove the top endplate with the vanes and wipe out any excess oil.
But one of the most common reasons for oil splatter is purging the pump too long. However, the act of purging the mixer is an important one.It should be accomplished after the vacuum mixing process and without tubing connections attached to a bowl. Running the unit for 1 minute after each use (without being connected to a mixing bowl) not only “purges” water vapor out of the pump, but it re-lubricates the entire pump. Failing to purge regularly can lead to loss of vacuum and even cause the rotor to stop moving. While many people are diligent about doing this after each usage, if it is done too long, oil can be directed into the pump. It has nowhere to go except out of the muffler. Purging is good, but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.
If this does happen, the end plate should be removed and the excess oil wiped out. Also, once the pump is cleaned out, the muffler can be unscrewed and blown out from the bottom with compressed air. (Be sure to place the top of the muffler in a paper tower to catch any excess oil.) If the muffler is too saturated with oil, it may be necessary to replace it. The mess that can be minimized by placing a paper towel over the muffler and securing it with a rubber band.
Ultimately, oil leaking down the side of the unit can make its way to the lower housing and possibly even short out the toggle switch. Balancing the oil flow into your vacuum mixers without saturating the system is a key to the smooth operation of your Vacuum Power Mixer Plus and Combination Unit. The suggested maintenance tip also applies to our vintage units such as the Vac-U-Vestor and Alginate Mixer.
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