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 oil do you use for mountain 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.
What oil do I use for Tektro brakes?
No, Tektro disc brakes are designed to be used with only
Tektro brand mineral oil
. Tektro uses a special additive to increase the temperature range and red color for ease of identification.
Can I use Shimano oil in Tektro brakes?
There’s only mineral oil or DOT brake fluid used on bikes.
If the brakes don’t use DOT, you can slap in the Shimano (mineral) stuff and it will work fine
.
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
.
Is mineral oil the same as brake fluid?
No, mineral oil and DOT brake fluid are different and are NOT compatible
.
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.
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 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.
How do you add mineral oil to Tektro brakes?
How do I identify my Tektro brakes?
The brake model is
laser etched on the back of the lever body right below the bar clamp band
. For Hydraulic systems, the model number will start with HD-M… followed by three numbers. The serial number, which is required for warranty claims, is located on the inboard side of the calipers mounting tab.
Can I use Tektro rotors with Shimano brakes?
Condensed Answer:
Shimano rotors can be used with Tektro brakes
. The diameter of the rotors should match the requirements of the particular brake model. The brake pad material and the rotors should be compatible too. Otherwise, the braking won’t be efficient and the parts will wear down prematurely.
Can I use Shimano mineral oil with Tektro?
No one will experience any issues with using any brand of brake fluid specific mineral oil used in any mineral oil brake system
. Good because the tektro seems to be significantly cheaper than Shimano fluid.
How do I oil my bike brakes?
Can I use cooking oil on my bike chain?
Yes, you can use vegetable oil to lube your chain. All the same, the oil is only effective for a short while. Unfortunately, it collects dirt, breaks, and washes away easily. Therefore,
cooking oil should only be used as a quick fix when you don’t have any other better lubricant
.
How do I put oil on my bike brakes?
What happens if I use mineral oil instead of brake fluid?
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.
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.
What kind of oil is brake fluid?
Most brake fluids used today are
glycol-ether based
, but mineral oil (Citroën/Rolls-Royce liquide hydraulique minéral (LHM)) and silicone-based (DOT 5) fluids are also available.
Can you use baby oil in Shimano brakes?
Can I use any mineral oil in my brakes?
It is perfectly safe to use it, just not to mix it with the old mineral oil
. You must do 2 or 3 bleeds till you are sure that the system contains only chf 11s. After that it is totally ok to use it. Been using it since the second bleed of my zees, and the brake levers actually feel better.
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
.
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 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
.
How much brake fluid do I need for Shimano 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.
