hydraulic oil

[chriswilliams29]

on my boat i have hydraulic lifting cockpit tables and one in the cabin,
where can i get some hydraulic oil?
i was told i can use automatic gearbox oil, is this true and would it mix with the existing.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I use SAE 30 in the hydraulic steering and gearbox, all works ok, only problem is getting hold of the stuff, can be difficult to find.

 

[Guest]

Hydraulic fluid is available in almost every motorway service station.

Just ook for tin that says "Hydraulic Fluid" on front.

Best regards )

Ian D

 

[vyv_cox]

Whoa!! Careful

There's hydraulic oil and hydraulic oil. Many automotive grades are synthetic, very aggressive to rubbers, plastics and paint. Most industrial grades are mineral. Putting automotive in an industrial unit will destroy it, all seals will fail, filters are often bound with rubber and this will fail, reservoirs may be internally painted, etc. etc. Also the fluids are often incompatible and will not mix. Some automotive fluids, e.g. Citroen, are mineral but there is a lot of variation across makers.

You need to be absolutely sure which type your system was designed for. For mineral types you need a grade with high EP activity to give boundary lubrication to steel-on-steel components. A gearbox oil has the same requirements but you need a good one - engine oils have less EP activity but might be good enough. A back-axle lubricant, like an EP80, would probably be too viscous. Your problem is that many modern lubricants have additive packages that may react with those of other manufacturers. I suggest you find exactly what the manufacturer of the equipment recommends. Otherwise a general mineral fluid like Esso Nuto or Shell Tellus may be the best choice.

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Chris,
Sounds like you require some SHELL Tellus 37 should be able to get it from a agricultural supplier, as tractors use hydraulic oil.
Trevor

 

[tristan]

It entirely depends on what was fitted by the boat builder, if the reservoir has a red oil, that appears thin to the touch then that is ATF (automatic transmission fluid) and is the easiest to get hold of (halfords etc.).

It is more likely though, that the unit will have a dedicated hydraulic oil due to the nature of the loads, this is identified by being an almost clear oil, with a yellow tinge (appears to be dark yellow in higher quantities). This is harder to find, although as already mentioned, an agricultural or industrial supplier will be able to provide the right oil (make sure that you get a recognised manufacturer - shell, esso etc.)

As a note of caution, do not mix the two types of oil mentioned above, and if you are using the oil to top the system up, then look for a leak, as a closed circuit system should not drop in level.

Hope this helps - just remember to get the correct grade of oil!

Tristan