Mineral Oil Brake Fluid

in-too-deep · Feb 5, 2020

We have a European made compact wheel loader that calls for mineral oil for the brake master cylinder. Can I use plain old mineral oil from the drugstore or online? Might even have some left over from treating cows. The stuff labeled specifically for brakes is very expensive and hard to find. Will any old mineral oil work? Thank you.

Bruce from Can. · Feb 5, 2020

New Holland dealer should have Mineral brake fluid. My old 5640 Ford got to wear it drank a bottle a month.

Bob · Feb 5, 2020

Use what the mfg. recommends (surprised you didn't post that little tidbit of info as to the mfg.).

It's all abut what the seals are compatible with and the viscosity.

Using the wrong stuff could get REAL expensive if not compatible with the seals or the ambient temperature.

That being said, I have a CIH/David Brown "1494" and "mineral oil brake fluid" is specified because if there's any leakage from the slave cylinders it dumps into the transmission/hydraulic oil.

I suspect your unit may require "mineral oil brake fluid" for a similar reason.

paul · Feb 6, 2020

New holland dealer should have 2 versions available.

Might not be the cheapest option tho.

Paul

Brown Swiss · Feb 6, 2020

I bet most dealers have it on the shelves! Our 399 Massey Ferguson takes that kind and all the Massey dealers I've been to I've seen it on the shelves!

MarkB_MI · Feb 6, 2020

I suspect it's not too critical what you use, as long as it's not automotive (glycol-based) brake fluid. I imagine it needs to be pretty thin, say maybe automotive transmission fluid?

showcrop · Feb 6, 2020

I suspect that as Bob said it could get real expensive to use the wrong fluid.

Determined · Feb 6, 2020

When people hear mineral oil the first thing many think of is the stuff you rub on a cutting board or the jug you grab when you go to lube up the end of a stomach tube to treat a calf.

The word mineral when used to classify an oil covers probably 90% of the products out there.

In your case they are using the term to let you know that you can not put automotive style DOT rated fluid into the system as it is not compatible with the seals in the system.

Common every day mineral based oils;

Engine oil

Hydraulic oil

Tractor hydraulic fluid

ATF

Jack oil...

Any of these would be a better choice over drug store mineral oil.

Mineral Oil Brake Fluid

in-too-deep

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Bruce from Can.

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Bob

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paul

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Brown Swiss

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MarkB_MI

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showcrop

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Determined

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