Hydraulic brakes mineral oil

[marshace]

Hi hubbers

 

So what is the difference between motor vehicle disk brake fluid (SAE 10)  and the Shimano mineral oil sold by LBS ?

 

Price for sure !!! 

 

Is there any reason why can I not use motor vehicle disk brake fluid in my Shimano hydraulic brakes ?

Have had to do so in an emergency over the weekend and it seems to work fine.

Any posssible long term negative effects that anyone knows of ?

 

 

[Vetseun]

Just DONT do it

[divernick]

You should not use DOT fluid in a mineral oil system as it will destroy the seals and other internals.

 

Best you flush the system with proper mineral oil ASAP or you'll be buying new brakes.

[rouxtjie]

Eish eish eish

 

Did you use Dot in mineral brakes....I am afraid you have just compromised your seals in the calipers.

Edited November 3, 2014 by rouxtjie

[rudi-h]

as the others have said, mineral oil seals don't gel too well with synthetics and vice versa, but I don't have enough knowledge of the specific oil types to know whether it will be a big deal or not.

 

on the bright side, the reaction between the oil and the seals does not happen overnight, so I am guessing that you should be able to avoid any long term damage by correcting ASAP

[MrJacques]

If you want a cheaper alternative to the Shimano mineral oil you can use Castrol LHM+ I think I paid about R100 or so at Midas for 500ml - enough to bleed a few brake sets

[fanievb]

By using DOT you stuffed up your brakes, I suggest you start shopping for new ones, the DOT will eat away the seals in your brakes.

 

You should have used this R150 / L from midas

 

http://www.e-autoteile.pl/rysunki/sklep/658_804b.jpg

[Boerklong]

Baby oil?

[fanievb]

Baby oil?

 

I once read somewhere that Cooking Oil will work in an emergency 

[Grebel]

I have a set of brakes in a box on the "rainy day projects shelf" as a result of this..... Mixed Hayes (DOT) levers with Shimano Calipers (Mineral). Bled them with DOT fluid and everything was great for a few days. Then nothing. Bleed that DOT fluid out ASAP (It might already be too late...)

[rouxtjie]

I once read somewhere that Cooking Oil will work in an emergency

Once used cooking oil for hydraulics in a friend's matric car(old moertoe citroen)

 

lets just say the results were spectacular...it made those bouncy gangsta cars look like chumps...

[Morwa]

By using DOT you stuffed up your brakes, I suggest you start shopping for new ones, the DOT will eat away the seals in your brakes.

 

You should have used this R150 / L from midas

 

http://www.e-autoteile.pl/rysunki/sklep/658_804b.jpg

 

Yip.... tried these as well.  Works very well!  R150 for a litre compared to 150ml Shimano oil for R175....  Nuff said!

[Boerklong]

Mineral oil is a hydrocarbon compound also known as paraffin oil, liquid petrolatum, white mineral oil and Nujol. The only difference between baby oil and mineral oil in general is that baby oil has added fragrance. http://www.livestrong.com/article/219339-mineral-oil-vs-baby-oil/#page=1

[Boerklong]

I used it in my KTM. Hydraulic clutch which used Mineral oil

[droo]

Mineral oil is a hydrocarbon compound also known as paraffin oil, liquid petrolatum, white mineral oil and Nujol. The only difference between baby oil and mineral oil in general is that baby oil has added fragrance. http://www.livestrong.com/article/219339-mineral-oil-vs-baby-oil/#page=1

 

Nope.

 

The stuff you get from a chemist is way too thick and has far too low a viscosity index. Too thick means the brakes will be far less responsive and may jam, and low VI means that you'll get terrible brake fade as the oil heats up on even a moderately long descent.

 

Shimano mineral oil, LHM or a very light (Shimano is rated at about 10cSt) HVI suspension fluid can work, but the Shimano stuff is the best. Buy it by the litre - it's about R 300 - and split it with your mates.

 

As has been said already, DOT fluid will swell the seals in mineral oil systems and your brakes will be toast. Which is unfortunate because Shimano can't be rebuilt, you'll have to toss them and get new ones.

[Guest notmyname]

Nope.

 

The stuff you get from a chemist is way too thick and has far too low a viscosity index. Too thick means the brakes will be far less responsive and may jam, and low VI means that you'll get terrible brake fade as the oil heats up on even a moderately long descent.

 

Shimano mineral oil, LHM or a very light (Shimano is rated at about 10cSt) HVI suspension fluid can work, but the Shimano stuff is the best. Buy it by the litre - it's about R 300 - and split it with your mates.

 

As has been said already, DOT fluid will swell the seals in mineral oil systems and your brakes will be toast. Which is unfortunate because Shimano can't be rebuilt, you'll have to toss them and get new ones.

Ouch OP.