Originally Posted By: Tempest
Originally Posted By: moribundman
You are a rebel. Why use the proper fluid when one can use something else?
Can you please explain to me what the properties of "proper" watch fluid are?
I already did once. Among the special properties are resistance to aging and degradation, to thickening, to gumming up, to spreading and creeping (no oil must get on the gears, or in case of watch, on the hairspring), to becoming acidic (corrosive) etc. A viscosity of 1.5 stokes at +20°C is required for most watch (not clock) movements, which provides sufficient lubrication to -29°C.
Even for clocks there are oils for different operating ranges. Main spring barrels usually need a different viscosity oil than do escapements and pallets. There are anti-sliding lubes for the barrels of automatic watches and dampening greases. Quartz watches require different lube than mechanical watches. Barrel arbors, mini ball bearings, and micro motors require frequently high pressure lube.