Broadly speaking,
hydraulic disc brakes designed for bicycles will use either a mineral oil fluid, or an automotive DOT fluid
. Genuine Shimano Mineral Oil is the only fluid compatible with Shimano brakes.
What can I use instead of Shimano mineral oil?
Baby oil
has a lower viscosity and has fragrances in it for obvious reasons. You can get just about 100% pure mineral oil at Walmart or probably any other pharmacy. It the viscosity is relatively high but it doesn’t have anything else in it like Shimano or Magura would put in for seal longevity.
What oil do you use for bike brakes?
DOT fluid is the standard hydraulic fluid used in brakes, and mineral oil
is exactly what you think it is- very similar to the stuff you’d buy at the pharmacy. Both fluids are incompressible and resistant to heat, making them ideal for use in brake systems.
Can I use mineral oil instead of brake fluid?
No, mineral oil and DOT brake fluid are different and are NOT compatible
.
Can you use baby oil in bike brakes?
Shimano use mineral oil in all their brakes. The proper stuff is pretty thin, and specially formulated (so Shimano claim anyway) to have a quite high boiling point.
Baby oil could be used in an emergency, but its higher viscosity could affect performance, and may have a lower boiling point than the proper stuff
.
What is the difference between mineral oil and DOT 4?
As for the boiling point, we distinguish the following values: DOT 4 – 230 degrees Celsius, DOT 5.1 – 270 degrees Celsius (a higher value of this indicator shows a higher boiling point.
For mineral oil, the boiling point is around 260 degrees
.
What is a good substitute for mineral oil?
If you don’t want to use mineral oil, you can also use
beeswax, beeswax-based board cream (usually a blend of beeswax and mineral oil), or fractionated coconut oil
.
Can you use baby oil in Shimano brakes?
Can I use DOT 3 instead of mineral oil?
As you can see all of the glycol- based DOT fluids (3, 4 & 5.1) are fully compatible with each other and can be readily mixed or swapped without adversely affecting the brake’s performance or its characteristics. The main change will come in a decrease or increase in the boiling point of the brake fluid as a whole.
Why does Shimano use mineral oil?
One benefit of mineral oil over DOT fluid is that
it is non-toxic
. If you happen to spill a little on your bike while working on it, the mineral oil is less likely to cause any damage to other parts. This is one of the reasons Shimano mentions that they have chosen to use mineral oil.
What is mineral oil bike?
The main advantage of mineral oils is that they are cheaper, sometimes about a quarter of the price of synthetics. Many new motorcycles are delivered with mineral oil in them. That’s not necessarily a cost-saving measure. Mineral oil actually
helps the rings and pistons bed in properly during the crucial run-in stage
.
How much mineral oil do I put in my brakes?
How much fluid do I need?
50ml of brake fluid is enough to bleed a set of brakes (front and rear) once
. 100ml will get you 2-3 bleeds. If your brakes haven’t seen a bleed in over 2 years we recommend flushing the old stuff out, so you’ll need at least 100ml brake fluid.
What can you substitute for brake fluid?
If you have a brake fluid emergency while you’re out on the road and don’t have access to soap, it is acceptable to use just
radiator water
. In either case, try to be light on the brakes, and stop by slowing the engine when possible: if the brakes get too hot, the water can boil.
Is all mineral oil the same?
There are differences between food grade and pharmaceutical grade white mineral oil
, which is all down to the processing and refining process of the oil. There are different compounds involved, and that means there will be a mixture of different grades and weights of hydrocarbons.
What fluid can you substitute for brake fluid?
The best brake fluid substitute is a
water and soap solution
. A water and soap solution is the best emergency substitute for brake fluid is because it is very easy to make. Many people have water and soap in their cars or homes.
How do you add mineral oil to Shimano brakes?
Set the brake lever so that it is parallel to the ground, and then remove the reservoir tank cover. then pour oil into the reservoir tank. Gently operate the brake lever while doing this to help prime the system with the oil.
How do I oil my bike brakes?
Why is it called mineral oil?
Crude oil can be purified into several grades of mineral oil, says Athena Hewett, founder of Monastery. Technical grade mineral oil is the least refined and is used for the lubrication of engines and machinery.
Cosmetic grade is more refined and is used in cosmetics and skin care, hence the name.
What happens if you use mineral oil instead of DOT 4?
The two groups have different base chemical compositions and properties and should not be mixed or substituted for in a brake system. Mixing or substituting these types of fluids will
destroy rubber and plastic components within the system
. It can also alter the performance characteristics of the brake system.
What brake fluid do I need for my mountain bike?
There are two types of brake fluid used in mountain bike brakes today.
DOT fluid and mineral oil
. Which one you use is not up for discussion, you should only use the fluid your brake was designed to use.
Which brake fluid is best?
Our pick for the best brake fluid is the
Motul Dot-4 100 Percent Synthetic Racing Brake Fluid
. While it’s slightly pricier than other brands, it improves pedal feel, protects against water penetration, and increases performance for both daily drivers and racers.
Can I use vegetable oil instead of mineral oil?
An often-cited limitation of mineral oil is that it is poorly biodegradable;
in some applications, vegetable oils such as cottonseed oil or rapeseed oil may be used instead
.
Is Baby Oil mineral oil?
Baby oil is a petroleum-based mineral oil
. It’s considered a byproduct of the process to refine crude oil. Baby oil is refined further for use in skin care products and is safe when used externally on the skin. It has been shown to effectively protect babies from diaper rash.
Is mineral oil the same as Vaseline?
Here’s our process. What is petroleum jelly made of?
Petroleum jelly (also called petrolatum) is a mixture of mineral oils and waxes
, which form a semisolid jelly-like substance. This product hasn’t changed much since Robert Augustus Chesebrough discovered it in 1859.
Do you oil bike brakes?
Most brake and shift cables these days have a plastic lining built into the housing, therefore
eliminating the need for lubrication
. However, if you ride a lot in wet weather, or have an older bike without the plastic lining, you’ll want to lubricate the cables to prevent rust.
What aisle is mineral oil in?
danab_z9_la. USP grade (food grade) Mineral oil can be found in the
pharmaceutical section
at Wallmart, Target, or at any drug store.
How do you top up mountain bike brake fluid?
Remove the bleed port screw and connect the empty syringe. Attach the second empty syringe to the bleed port on the brake lever. Then, start pushing the caliper syringe in and pulling the lever syringe out carefully. Slowly push the new DOT fluid into your braking system.
