The BritishV8 Pub

It's time to fill my wing cylinders and reservoirs. So I tried 0w20 oil and it was way too thick. As an experiment I tried kerosene and it was plenty thin enough but lacks lubricity. I just finished running some viscosity checks looking for something in between that might work. My test rig is a small funnel sitting on a collection cup, I fill the funnel to the top, start my timer and see how long it takes to empty.

For a baseline, water takes 2.8 seconds
kerosene takes 3s
Dot 5 silicone brake fluid = 18s
full synthetic ATF = 33s
0w20 synthetic oil = 63s

So the Dot 5 represents a x4 improvement over the 0w20 oil.

I would like to find something in about the 10sec range or less. Diesel fuel is not a real good choice since it can jell at cold temps but might work with the Lucas additive. It also might work as a thinning agent for the ATF if the ATF would eliminate the jelling concern. Silicon oils in lower viscosities are available but likely to be expensive and difficult to obtain. Volatility is somewhat of a concern in the event of a leak simply to lessen the risk of flammability.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Jim

Mineral oil?

What about shock oil Jim?
It's available from 0W to around 15w
The best stuff is available from the mountain bike guys.
We use it to tune stock shocks when we aren"t allowed adjustables.

Cheers
Fred

Kerosene lacks lubricity? Add some.

[fastexocet.co.uk]

Not sure of the viscosity, but what about coal oil?

Some serious reading on suspension fluids:

[www.peterverdone.com]

Looks like the RedLine Blue or Clear would be the best choices. I'll have to find a retailer for RedLine and check it's compatibility with hose materials.

Jim

Get Redline on Amazon. Coal oil is Kerosene. Isn't diesel fuel just kerosene with motor oil dissolved in it?

Coal oil and kerosene are not the same thing but typically can be used interchangeably. Diesel is a longer chain hydrocarbon and has more btu than Kerosene.

Yeah, but after a few they all start to taste the same.

LOL