Re: Water in trans, backyard Alfas

["Paul Bayly" <thebaylys@domain.elided>]

I've a couple of observations after reading a few responses on the subject
problem.

WD-40 or similar will displace the water off a surface, but it will not mix
with the water as it is an oil based product.   Lacquer thinners won't mix
with water either (I just tried it) and is fraught with danger as I believe
it would be detrimental to the seals.

Kerosene or white spirit is all I'd use for cleaning purposes, but neither
would help much inside the gearbox, except to thin the oil.

I thought about the heating idea, but the problem is venting the 'box to get
rid of the evaporated moisture.   If the 'box was heated and a constant
source of compressed air (shop air or from a reverse vacuum cleaner) was
blown thru the box for quite a few hours (overnight) it would probably work.
 Adding an alcohol like methylated spirit, denatured alcohol, isopropyl
alcohol etc will mix with the water and posibly make the airflow method more
effective.

There will always be some water in the gearbox as the case is vented to
atmosphere.  When the gearbox cools it will draw moisture out of the air.
We mostly don't see the results of this moisture as the gearbox oil is
regularly turned over in use.

If you have the means, try the blow thru method (even without heating).
Although I think filling the gearbox with cheap oil, going for a quick drive
to mix the water thru then changing the oil, seems like the most effective
solution to me.

Beatle
Oz

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