[raises hand] Yo!
I've replaced the thrust washers in my two 815-PLs every 1-2 years since I bought them forever ago (2004 maybe?)
I recirculate ~150°F PBW solution through my 3v2p single tier rig for a good half hour at least and it definitely does thin down the thrust washers...
Cheers!
I can accept that. I still wonder if that's general wear from use and if any other cleaner (or no cleaner) run through it would have done the same.
Maybe PBW attacks Teflon, but (from my experience with medical products, surface treatments and coatings including teflon) I've found it incredibly difficult to do much to it, outside of some hard core vacuum plasma treatments and even then it recovers over time.
Hmm maybe I'll have to give it a try. It wouldn't be the first time homebrewing experience has crossed over into my work, as a process idea.