After many years, I am starting to fire up a stationary steam plant. The heart of it is a Stuart “Score”, which is a horizontal twin version of the Stuart “Ten”.
The steam line has a displacement lubricator filled with steam oil.
The exhaust goes into an air-cooled “condenser”, which was designed for steam launches to avoid leaving an oily sheen on the lake. The hope is that it condenses the oil, and passes the residual steam up the chimney. The intention is that it enables me to operate the plant in the house, whilst maintaining domestic harmony. But it may make it harder to detect how much oil is in the exhaust.
My problem is to know how to adjust the regulator valve on the lubricator so as to have enough oil to keep the engine sweet, without wasting oil or making a mess.
I could adopt the policy of reducing it until I run into trouble. But that reminds me of the story of the man who thought he could train his dog to eat less by gradually reducing the amount he gave it. He had just got it to zero, when the dog died!
So I have two questions:-

1. Can anyone advise me how to judge the correct amount of oil?

OR

2. Can anyone with experience tell me how many turns of the regulator are needed to give about the correct amount of oil?