Question about Atomic Z2

[aaron9876]

I have an Atomic Z2 with an environmentally sealed 1st stage, and I noticed on a dive last weekend that a bunch of the grease had leaked out from behind the black band between the yoke valve fastening and the hose turret, and the band now has a depression running around its circumference (like its been sucked in slightly). However, I never had any problem breathing off the regulator even in this state (I noticed it when I came up from a dive with no problems, and I went back in the water and down a couple of feet as a test and had no problems then either). Is this a major problem that warrants immediate servicing, and what is causing this?

 

[Scared Silly]

That "grease" is more than likely Cristo Lube. This is normal. Usually the chamber is unfilled and water is free to enter and exit. This provides the ambient pressure differential. When it is environmentally sealed they just put a bunch of lube in there instead. This way the water does not enter the chamber but still provides the ambient pressure (i.e. the water pushes on the lube which pushes on the piston).

I have several M1s which are sealed and I see a bit of the Christo-Lube leaking out if I push on the seal hard enough.