Nylog, Oil? Where does it go? – Short #238

In this short podcast, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about Nylog, oil, and where you put them when you’re making flares.

Nylog is a thickened refrigerant oil (which is either POE for Nylog Blue or mineral oil for Nylog Red), and it’s miscible with the refrigerant and moves with it through the circuit. You don’t want to put excess Nylog on valves, but a small amount won’t do harm. There are a lot of concerns about Nylog voiding the warranty, but it doesn’t actually do that because it’s nearly impossible to prove that Nylog caused the issue.

Like oil, Nylog helps connections fit together (even threaded connections) and prevents galling. However, oil and Nylog also reduce friction, which will affect your torque specs when you use a torque wrench to tighten a connection. You don’t need to tighten it as much, as you risk overtightening otherwise.

When you apply Nylog, put a little bit on the front and back face of a flare (and the cone of the flaring block if you wish). You can put a small bead on the threads, but it’s not an issue as long as you stay aware of your adjusted torque specs (low range). In our experience at Kalos Services, Nylog is particularly useful under vacuum and has helped us make high-quality flares that last a long time. Remember: Nylog is NOT leak lock, and it’s not a traditional thread sealant.

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