What do I do if my gear pump is leaking product or air?

The compression nut is a hexagonal nut behind the pump head, after the stuffing box. This compression nut provides the compression on the packing material to make a tight seal between the rotor and the gear box of the pump.

If this is not properly tightened, either product can leak out on the feed pump, air can leak in on the residue or distillate pumps, or white oil can be consumed at an excessive rate.

Proper tightening of the compression nut will ensure a tight seal, but take care to not overtighten the compression nut, as this can compromise the packing material.