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Just had a call from one of my friends. Seems he built a tank checker
utilizing an oil (glycerine?)filles pressure gauge, which he was assured was
o2 compatible (?)
He's been using it regularly to check his fills prior to departure for the
boat. This am he was checking his tanks, put the gauge on an o2 bottle at
around 2400psi. When he turned on the valve the gauge failed and seemingly
the blast of 2400psi o2 into the oil in the gauge ignited the oil. He now
has a hand full of copper shrapnel plus a load of burnt oil residue
splattered on him.
I've never seen a recommendation against oil filled gauges around o2 and
until now I've not worried about whether I was usind oil or air filles
gauges.   Under normal circumstances the o2 does not come in contact with
the oil so there should be no problem. However the consequences of the oil
filling if the gauge fails would seem to dictate against oil filles gauges
in this application.
Any thoughts?
Tony Phillips

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