Oil leak!

[recceranger]

Guys,

Never came across this before, but when I went into the shed tonight to move some kit I noticed that there is green coloured fluid (I presume it’s a type of lubricant) coming from my HEQ5.  It was working fine last time I used it.

I have attached some photos as a reference as a picture paints a thousand words!

[MarsG76]

did your shed get very hot??? maybe it is lubricant that liquefied due to temperature.

 

[knobby]

Never mind a picture paints a thousand words, what does it feel like ? 

[recceranger]

No definitely not hot! It got to below freezing point though!

[Doc]

The lithium grease used in mounts can separate and this can look like oil very similar to what your photo's look like.

 

 

 

[recceranger]

It feels like oil Knobby, no problem with movement etc

[recceranger]

Doc,

Is that something I should be concerned about mate?

[michael8554]

A bit of dew got into the works, froze, got discoloured and mixed a bit with the grease, thawed, and leaked out ?

Michael

[recceranger]

Cheers Michael - makes sense to me.  Now, back to the bourbon!???

[Zakalwe]

On 20/12/2017 at 21:11, michael8554 said:

A bit of dew got into the works, froze, got discoloured and mixed a bit with the grease, thawed, and leaked out ?

Michael

Oil and water doesn't mix.

 

It looks like some of the grease has started to break down, separating the lubricant from the soap. It can happen for a variety of reasons: it may have gotten physically hot over summer and is only now working it's way out, or more likely, the grease isn't very stable and has started to separate out due to low mixing and age.