Mineral oil for Shimano disc brakes

[Cassie]

This question is for all the oil barons /guru's out there...

 

JB + GoLefty.....and the like (you guys impressed me with your knowledge of fork oils etc etc.)

 

My shimano disc brakes needs to bleed and I'm quite alergic to pay LBS prices for Shimano brand mineral oil.

 

I presume any mineral oil will do (as long as it is not the DOT4 /5  oils)?

 

So, in my quest to find mineral oil (15:00 on a public holiday...) I phoned a friend.....he have me more than enough SHELL Carnea oil 22....

Can I use this?  It's a nice and light straw colour and quite thin as well.

 

What is the worst that can happen? I know that DOT oil in my system will totally bugger it up...but this mineral oil is just waiting to be used!!!

 

So, how about it?

 

[TooManyMatts]

I have used Pentosin CHF 7.1 in my XT system before. It was cheap cheap compared to Shimano's liquid gold. I think it was something like R136 a liter. You can get it from BMW dealerships.

 

 

 

It worked perfectly and I had no problems with it. After about 6 months my bike was in the LBS and had my brakes bled whilst it was there. The mechanic was shocked and horrified that I had used this "green poison" in my brakes. He insisted that I never use it again because shimano states clearly that nothing but their oil should be used. Well, they would say that...

 

 

 

I intend to carry on using my green CHF 7.1 when my brakes need another bleed. Shimano scares people by saying the brake seals will be corroded if any other oil is used. I stand to be corrected here but I think the dire warnings in the shimano manuals are most probably a way to make sure people by their disgustingly expensive mineral oil.

[GoLefty!!]

I suspect Shimano uses Shell Tellus S 22 as its mineral oil brake fluid.

 

Carnes 22 is possible but I don't think its available anylonger except at a reseller as old stock.

 

[Hog_]

I've heard of people bleeding their Magura HS33's with baby oil or even water. The water does eventually destroy the seals, but then they just replace the seals and life goes on.

 

I'm sure the brakes won't mind you using a different oil, as long as it's mineral oil and the thickness is similar.

 

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

Pentosin CHF 7.1 is the perfect alternative to Shimano liquid gold. It is used in some cars as power steering fluid. Note, not all cars, just some, especially some of the fancier cars. Like in my Bently and my Audi R8. I?m not sure what is in my Merc?s power steering, I haven?t topped it up yet. Pentosin also makes a synthetic hydraulic fluid that is said not to be compatible with brake use. I have no idea why. The same is said for the float fluid in suspension forks. However, I'm now run ning a Reba with synthetic gear oil as float fluid and I see no deterioration of anything....anything being the little O-ring on the air piston. The alu stanchion and nylon piston itself don't care if there is cat pee in there.

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Pentosin is greenish, as was pointed out, whereas Shimano fluid is pinkish. Don?t let that bother you, it is irrelevant. I also won?t be afraid of mixing the two either.

The seals used in most brake systems are pretty inpervious to most fluids. I won't be worried about using a diffent type of oil in an oil based system.

 

If it works, it works.

 

 

[tabasco]

the difference between brake fluid and mineral oil systems is the rubber that they use to make the seals. Mineral oil works well with Nitrile Rubber(NBR). Brake fluid and NBR are not compatible and vice versa. You need to have seals made from Ethylene Propylene (EPDM) for brake fluid. NBR Seals used in brake fluid swell and become soft and snotty. Mineral oil is mineral oil, just make sure that the thickness (viscocity) is consitant to the original product. it should not have any effect on the seals of a mineral oil based system. Dont use mineral oil in a brake fluid system. Mineral oil is better to use then brake fluid and is not corrosive like brake fluid and far sfaer and easier to work with.

[Cassie]

Thanks Guys

 

Just called BMW garage here in Stellenbosch:

1L Pentosin CHF = R209 -33

 

Dunno if that is a good price or not???

 

Should I also try some motrobike shops? I guess they will only stock brake fluid and not mineral haydraulic fluids....

 

[Hog_]

 

Thanks Guys

 

Just called BMW garage here in Stellenbosch:

1L Pentosin CHF = R209 -33

 

Dunno if that is a good price or not???

 

Should I also try some motrobike shops? I guess they will only stock brake fluid and not mineral haydraulic fluids....

 

 

That's pretty good. 1L Shimano fluid on CRC costs the same, so it's okay. That's a LOT of brake fluid though.

 

 

 

[tabasco]

Honestly, all this trouble to save like R50.00 Thats tight. Buy the time you go through all the hassel you might as well have just bought the correct oil. For the extra R50.00 you getting peace of mind. I don't think thats a bad deal. This to me is like driving 200 km for a R500 discount, just does not make sense.

[Cassie]

Tabasco...welcome to The Hub!!!

 

You'll see many a discussion on what is a good price and what's not....after a while you can stash the VASELINE AWAY...because you'll be forewarned if a certain price is good or if it needs a bit of lubbrication to go with the crewing your gonna get!!

 

Driving 200km to save R500...in my books it might just be worth it....my DIESEL bakkie gives me 11km/L = that equates to ~20L of diesel to save R500.

 

You keep on stimulating our ailing economy...I've done it enough times!!

 

 

[Free]

Someone always needs to go against the flow. Just buy the bloody shimano fluid.  My shop charge me R50 to bleed both breaks incl shimano oil. Why would I know want to take a chance and use something else..of wich I must buy a litre?

[tabasco]

Thanks Cassie<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Exactly, it?s called discussion/forum everyone is entitled to there own opinion. All views are valid and appreciated in my book. Good and bad are welcome.

 

It is the diversity and opposing views in a forum that help us make a more informed decision. Without both sides of the coin there would be no point of the forum. As for the economy, we all have to put food on the table and how we do it is well how we do it.

 

I really do hope you find the right oil.

[Cassie]

......

.

 

I really do hope you find the right oil.

 

Sure did!!!

 

I phoned my LBS in Somerset west and they quoted me  R120 for 125ml of mineral oil....(Cyclo's product).

So, i thought OK, I'll drop by after work and collect.

Then just for kicks, i phoned another LBS in Stellenbosch (where I work)....and guess what...R40 for 125ml....

 

Swung by and on the way back stopped at the Animal hospital to collect 2x syringes as well.

 

All set for big bleed tonight!!

 

I'm still looking for a 5L can of suitable mineral oil and once I've found it....I'm giving it away for free to all Hubbers who are willing to pay postage & packaging (My good deed for the year!!)

 

 

 

 

[Hog_]

 

All set for big bleed tonight!!

 

You're setting yourself up for disappointment. It's normally so quick and easy to do that it's a total anticlimax.

 

 

 

[Cassie]

All set for big bleed tonight!!

You're setting yourself up for disappointment. It's normally so quick and easy to do that it's a total anticlimax.

 Will I race better /faster...if I start bleeding my brakes every month???

[Hog_]

 

All set for big bleed tonight!!

 

You're setting yourself up for disappointment. It's normally so quick and easy to do that it's a total anticlimax.

 

 

 Will I race better /faster...if I start bleeding my brakes every month???

 

If your brakes need to be bled every month, you have much bigger problems.