Will mineral oil from the drugstore ("intestinal lubricant"... eewwwww) work fine, or should I go find something for industrial applications? Outside of a drugstore the smallest container I could find was a gallon (incidentally, for the same price as the little 3oz bleed kit)!
Mineral Oil for Shimano/Magura Hydro Discs?
- Thread starter ohio
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yeah, the drugstore stuff works just fine, it's all the same stuff. You might wanna pick up some other embarassing products while you're at it, just to get it all over at once. Jock itch cream, preparation H, fungicide, etc....
Heehee...I used the drugstore stuff and it was fine, though Stoney98, in the DH forum Hope/Shimano thread (by YetiDher) insisted to me that the shimano stuff was a specially formulated high-temp fluid. But seeing as I'm slower than him, I guess I hadn't noticed.
I only realized what the medicinal use of mineral oil was after I'd purchased it...now I realize all the funny looks I got while searching for it in the complete wrong section of the Rite Aid.
I only realized what the medicinal use of mineral oil was after I'd purchased it...now I realize all the funny looks I got while searching for it in the complete wrong section of the Rite Aid.
I was stopping by the LBS to pick up a bike box, and bro there just gave me a couple of bottles of Shimano fluid... I guess they ship a full bottle with every set of them, so the shop had a couple of half full extras. Nice since these brakes are for a friends bike and I'll never need the fluid again.
I'll vouch for the fact that it's a different color than pure mineral oil, but I haven't found info anywhere that claims a higher boiling temp is possible. I will also say that it's a nice benefit that it's a different color, because it made it really easy to spot water in the lines when I was bleeding the system.
I'll vouch for the fact that it's a different color than pure mineral oil, but I haven't found info anywhere that claims a higher boiling temp is possible. I will also say that it's a nice benefit that it's a different color, because it made it really easy to spot water in the lines when I was bleeding the system.
I tried the drugstore bought mineral oil in the past and found it far too heavy/thick for brake use. It really slowed down the response of the lever.
I have read (I think it was on the Magura site, not sure), that you can use shock oil. In fact I think it said if your buying Magura 'Blood' (their brake fluid), and it's not red, it's probably just fork oil.
Don't know how true any of this is, since it came from a 'reliable internet source'.
hahaha
I have read (I think it was on the Magura site, not sure), that you can use shock oil. In fact I think it said if your buying Magura 'Blood' (their brake fluid), and it's not red, it's probably just fork oil.
Don't know how true any of this is, since it came from a 'reliable internet source'.
hahaha
I use shock oil in my Martas instead of the "Blood Oil" and they work well. I don't think drugstore mineral oil will work as well, but that might just be the bike shop mech in me... 
First choice....Magura Blood
Second choice....5wt shock oil
That makes no sense to me, personally... being a non-chemist, I can't speak to the effects of shock oil on the innards (ie, seals) of any given brake system, but I'd wager that mineral oil is at least closer (IMHG[uess], identical except for coloring), and probably more suitable for Maggies/Shimanos, or at least less likely to cause problems. Even if it does come from a drugstore. (Again, it might be perfectly fine...but since we're taking a crap shoot, I'll go with the better bet from my POV.)Originally posted by zzyxzz
I use shock oil in my Martas instead of the "Blood Oil" and they work well. I don't think drugstore mineral oil will work as well, but that might just be the bike shop mech in me...
It's like Shimano saying "Use Only Shimano HG Chain" with its chainrings, or Hayes saying "Use Only Hayes Approved Brake Fluid" and then charging $15 for a tiny bottle of DOT 4.
Same sh1t with some food coloring in it. The drugstore oil comes in different weights, btw.
MD
I know for a fact that Magura Blood is re-branded 5wt fork oil. Any 5wt fork oil works fine and I have used various brands for years. The only thing to avoid is brands that add a seal swelling additives to the oil. I have used both 7wt and 2.5 weight oils in my Gustavs and both worked too. The 2.5 made the brake levers snappy and the 7wt slightly slow.