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IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Benchtop Machines > Mini Lathe > Can I use brake fluid instead of SAE30 hyraulic oil?
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    113

    Can I use brake fluid instead of SAE30 hyraulic oil?

    I have a Sieg KX3 and it recommends being lubed up with SAE30 hydraulic fluid. I went to the hardware store and didn't see anything that said hydraulic fluid and the only sae30 oil was motor oil. I ended up buying SAEJ703 Dot3 brake fluid. Would this work as a substitute? If not, what should I look for when buying hydraulic fluid at a hardware store?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    695
    I don't think brake fluid will provide lubrication needed. Most auto parts stores sell it or a farm implement supply like Tractor Supply if you have them in Canada.
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    113
    I am actually in Jakarta Indonesia right now. I tried ace hardware but didn't see anything that said hydraulic fluid. Is there another name it goes by?

    Do I need to lube the T bracket etc? I took off all the red wax or what not with WD40

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    664
    don't use brake fluid , try atf

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    887
    3 in 1 oil or any other thin oils....... brake fluid is corrosive and will strip paint in a heart beat

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    113
    So auto transmission fluid will work? Any rating or label to look for? Is it safe to run for a few days without it? I just removed the red wax from the T base and the metal behind the slinky thing where the z axis moves up and down.

    Do I use the same ATF oil for the one shot lube system?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    664
    Quote Originally Posted by trialanderror View Post
    So auto transmission fluid will work? Any rating or label to look for? Is it safe to run for a few days without it? I just removed the red wax from the T base and the metal behind the slinky thing where the z axis moves up and down.

    Do I use the same ATF oil for the one shot lube system?

    you can use atf , on some gear boxes i've mixed a little gear lube with atf


    use way lube for the one shot ,if you use an other oil , don't fill it all the way up so you can drain it easy when you get way lube

    use these oils until you can find what they call for

    unless it came with oil , i would not run it dry

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    72
    I personally would not recommend ATF either,ATF is not designed for that application and having seen what it can do in some areas makes me wary of using any Oils in an application they were not specced for.
    For instance I have seen people use ATF in Motorcycle gearboxes on two strokw engines and a common issue that occurs is the ATF seems to get between the bearing and alloy case and cause the bearing to spin and wear out the case.

    Only come across this when people have obviously been running ATF in the gearbox and rarely any other time,But the number of times I have seen it with ATF makes me see it as a genuine concern and therefore instill in people to use what the manufacturer or a reputable Oil company specs for the application and not shortcut unless it is a proven well known option with no negative aspects known.

    It is bad enough when Lubricants supposedly made for an application are not up to scratch as I have come across for instance some Oils cause Camshaft and follower wear to become visible within a couple of thousand miles in Engines.
    Therefore treat your machines to the right Lubricants and of the best quality with a proven track record or maybe pay the price down the road.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    6028
    No to the brake fluid, no to the ATF! Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid, not a lubricating oil such as iso 32 (iso 32 is a very standard product, I'm guessing it was a misprint at iso30) and sucks water in like no tomorrow. ATF is too thin and way to many detergents in it. If its for lubricating, and you can't find tellus 32 or dte 24/light, I would find some 20 weight engine break in oil. Has plenty of shear strength and plenty of zddp in it.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    0
    I use Royal Purple Max Film, I'm able to tighten my gibs up too

  11. #11
    Christopher01 Guest
    I don't think brake fluid will provide lubrication needed. Most auto parts stores sell it or a farm implement supply like Tractor Supply if you have them in Canada.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    72
    Most anywhere in the World you can source motorcycle Fork oil which is corrosion protection Non Foaming high quality Hydraulic Oil,weights do translate into engineering Oil weights as well when you look into it a SAE weights do not go low enough in many cases.
    Motorcycle Suspension Fluids if you consider Shock Dampers as well range from 2.5 weight,4 weight(Late KTM Forks) 5 weight,!0 weight,15 weight,20 weight and 30 weight so the range suits light oil requirements for machine use with properties suited to high stress enviroments of heat and shear with of course lighter grades being required for higher speed machines.

    The lighter grade Oils are in direct response to increased heat as a byproduct of increased stresses in operation with a lighter grade oil far less likely to change characteristics due to heat input in operation than an initially heavier grade oil or lubricant,We must remember that Lubricants range from very heavy Greases through to light oils and eventually Air Mist systems in response to machine speeds not just loads encountered.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    24260
    Excello recommended replacing the gear oil in the 2 speed gear box with ATF in their 602 model.
    I have been running it with so far no problems.
    Al.
    CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design

    “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
    Albert E.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    550
    atf is good stuff. it is even used in many non slip rear differentials. If it can stand up to that it can handle most anything you can throw at it..

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