Water gets everywhere, you don't just have to get it into the linkages, you can stick surfaces together, get it into hinges etc.etc. Even by just chucking a bucket over it.
You simply never ever use water in an attempt to de-ice an aircraft. This isn't a debateable point really. There is too much history in this game to prove that it's an appalling idea.
De-icing fluid was designed for a reason, so use that! It's not cheap, but then again, what is in aviation?
I would suggest that you spray the stuff everywhere, especially into hinges and linkages. Aircraft de-icing fluid is designed not to damage aircraft. It's not got chloride salts in it for example. So just spray the aircraft and if it concerns you, then get it cleaned.
If you are worried about linkages getting blasted clean by hoses etc, then don't fly through any rain... If you were using a jet wash directly on the greased parts, then that would be stupid, but an ordinary hose pipe will do naff all. The linkages are greased regularly anyway to combat this sort of problem.
I'd be more worried about potential icing issues than a bit of grease being perhaps washed away anyway. A dry coupling will wear out quicker and cause problems over a period of time. Icing can simply kill you fast. It's a far more serious problem.
As for grease freezing up, it does happen, but was the grease used the correct one? Or was it just whatever happened to be in the workshop at the time? In cold conditions, then different lubrication should be used to help prevent issues like that. -20 isn't really that cold in aircraft terms, but using summer time lubricants at that temperature is asking for trouble.
I do hope you gave the company that did the annual a rocket for not using the right stuff.
Last edited by Say again s l o w l y; 27th November 2010 at 23:11.