Gauges leaking glycerin

[Joekrooz]

Noticed both gauges on regulator are leaking liquid, I think glycerin?  There's an o ring on bottom of gauge that it's leaking around.  Should I be concerned?

[Bentong]

Both gauges on regulator leaking installed on what? Glycerin is used on gauges to protect from vibration and temp. If that THING is subjected to vibration and extreme temp it's bound to fail. If it's leaking other than the rubber tab behind the gauge then that liquid could also be migrating to where it is connected.

[Motorhead]

Having lost several cheap glycerin damped gauges ( harbor freight China stuff ) among a few others, if or when bourbon tube fails even slightly ... the air that leaks out pressurizes the internal gauge space.  Either the housings rubber safety plug blows out, or it just weeps enough the glycerin is forced out threw any gap in it's containment within housing be it around the safety plug or other places.

[tracker1955]

Time for a gauge, just replaced mine for the same reason, squirted glycerin clear across my living room wall and floor. Wife wasn't to happy either.

[Joekrooz]

Two gauges on regulator used to tether gun to carbon fiber tank.  Liquid is leaking from bottom of both gauges.  Is the glycerin really necessary for it to operate.  No vibration or extreme temperature involved.  Looks like o ring is only thing keeping liquid in gauge.

http://airtanksforsale.com/NitroDinRegAssy.jpg

Maybe I'll just call JoeB to see what he says, it's his gauges.  Thanks for the replies!

[Taso1000]

I recently bought two liquid filled Wika gauges.  The gauges have the rubber plug but they also have a yellow vent valve.  The instructions that came with the gauges state that to get accurate readings the sealed part of the gauge needs to be vented to equalize the pressure with atmosphere often.  I tried on one of them but it just oozed the liquid and I closed the vent.  I know that temperature difference can also affect the pressure inside the gauge.

The main purposes of the liquid is to dampen vibration and keep out moisture. 

Taso

[rcontrera]

The plugs leak from time to time.  I had three of them leak on the shelf in my store room because my air conditioning was off and it got hot.  Just filled them back up and replaced the plugs and no problem ever since.

[BountyHunter1976]

I recently bought a larger filled gauge off of Ebay to replace the one on my Airforce pump. It's much larger and easy to read, but as soon as I got it installed and started using it there was a problem. By the time I got to around 2200psi I noticed bubbles forming in the top edge of the gauge and before I could let the pressure off, it blew the rubber plug out and sprayed the glycerin about 5 feet including on my computer monitor. I took it off and did not use again. I may be wrong, but isn't it a safety factor when that happens??

[Stikman]

Install a new dry gauge and your leaking days will be over. Liquid filled gauges are for high vibration environments to dampen needle oscillations which also reduces wear on the internal mechanism. Just sayin...

[pbansen]

You can buy gauges from McMaster-Carr or Grainger for very reasonable prices.

Here's a steel cased, 2 1/2" dial, 0 - 5,000 psi dry gauge with a protective cover  - https://www.mcmaster.com/#2201t45/=175z1xr  $23.43
Same gauge without protective housing - https://www.mcmaster.com/#3846k6/=175z2oc - $10.15

Steel-cased, 2" dial, 0 - 5,000 psi, dry gauge, protective cover https://www.mcmaster.com/#2201t43/=175z3kw - $22.67

Accurate to ± 2%