Are petro-based oils bad for Digi-Q tanks?
 

I'm no expert but for some reason I don't think it's a good idea to put petroleum based lubricants on plastic because of the possibility of slowly softening the plastic. I want to find a good lube to put in the gearbox of my Digi-Qtanks but don't want to risk damaging the gears. I've used graphite so far but I don't think graphite works well on gears. It's better on axles and surfaces that are constantly in contact.

Does anyone have expertise in this area?

I used multi-purpose white lithium grease. The same stuff I spray on the hinges of my car. I just sprayed it into a cup and then applied it with a small brush. My tanks are quiet now and after 6 weeks, no problem.

I know some lubes like PB Blaster that would be bad news. Spray it on a styofoam cup and it melts it in the blink of an eye. You are correct to be concerned about what petro chems are safe. You could always save the plastic tree that the small parts come on and use it to test any chemicals. That is what I did.

Testing it on the tree is a good idea. I thought of using lithium or silicone grease.

is wd-4o pertol based?

What is pertol? Do you maybe mean petro, as in petroleum?

like gasoline... thats what they call it over seas.. (i think thats what they are taliking about..

JTM, WD-40 is petro based. The thing I don't like about WD-40 for this application is that it will migrate to areas you don't want it to, i.e. motors. I guess that used in small amounts it would be OK. I know a few of you have used it with good results. I used lithium grease and that worked too. Remember, the only reason anyone put any kind of lube in their tanks was just to make them run quiet (for the most part)... Just my two cents.

im gettin my tanks on moooooooooooondaaaaaaaaay.. i can barely wait, so im doing all my research now (since they are used) so when they arrive and if there is something silly, i can easily fix them.