Inclinometer Fluid & Fix

[sinjin]

Stupid question. I'm in the middle of swapping out my cracked center console on my 96 L400. While I have the console off, I'd like to fix my pitch/yaw ball gauge, as it wasn't moving when I bought the vehicle a couple of weeks back. I see the ball sits inside a clear globe, likely meant to be filled with some sort of fluid, as there is a port on its underside. The thing that plugs up the port seems to be old and dried out, and I could very easily peel off an orange-ish waxy bit on the plug. It seems whatever was inside leaked out at some point. Any suggestions on proper fluid and how best to plug this thing appropriately so that it'll work again?

[sinjin]

Sorry, found a few posts on this topic after posting. Some people say silicone oil, others glycerine (or glycerine/water mix to keep more fluid in feezing temps). Any specific suggestions for our cold canadian climate? Obviously expansion and contraction is the enemy here, causing many to spring a leak or crack.

[Big-Bird]

The fluid is mineral oil and it doesnt freeze. Other fluids will only damage the paint on the ball.

The expansion is managed by leaving a small air bubble which is done during the filling stage.

There is also an alignment pin (metal) that sometimes breaks free which allows the ball to move in all directions.

THE FACTORY plug is the most common reason for leakage but a crack in the seal that joins the 2 halves can also fail. There are good how to"s on Youtube.

They call it a binnacle ball in the factory manual.