MMO as Jack Oil?

[SwampSurvivor]

I have some last minute shed leveling first thing tomorrow morning and decided to pull some of the smaller jacks from my jack fleet out. Unfortunately, 3 of the 6 smaller ones didn't work. One did nothing, two went up a little.

The one that did nothing was completely empty and the other two were full of water.

Wasn't sure what to use. Couldn't find any jack oil in town. Didn't want to use hard to find mercon-v but I had a quart of MMO.

I thought this was something I've done before? I used some sort of random red fluid in another floor jack years ago.

Anyone done this? Looks like I can order a quart of jack oil to change back to .. I probably should get a gallon and change all of them. All of my jacks ended up under water when my old house flooded back in 2021.

 

[oldcodger]

I would say it should work, Compatibility with seals might be a concern. 10w-30 motor oil would be good too. If you happen to have some power steering fluid it would be good. I have topped up a jack with 10-30 motor oil with no adverse effects.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Your local Walmart does not have those little cheap pint bottles of jack oil?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Your local Walmart does not have those little cheap pint bottles of jack oil?

Not according to their inventory on the website. They sell the small pints of jack oil but just don't have any atm.

 

[ripcord]

I would use motor oil before I used MMO. I would trust motor oil not to negatively affect the o-rings a lot more than whatever is in MMO.

 

[JavierH19]

Definetly not. It has a kv 100 of only 2-3 whereas jack oil is around 6 cst like most low viscosity ATF. You'd be better off using that as it's just fancy over additized jack oil as far as the jack can see but the additives in the atf won't do anything to the cylinder. Is there not a walmart nearby? they sell plenty of atf. A good low viscosity oil would be any of these 4 which are 5.9-6.

 

[ripcord]

Jack oil is just hydraulic oil. Any outdoor power products store or farm supply should have some.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Certainly would not use MMO which is really more of a type of solvent that could ruin all the rubber or any seals inside the jack.

 

[JavierH19]

Jack oil is just hydraulic oil. Any outdoor power products store or farm supply should have some.

True but most hydraulic oils are thicker than jack oil but would still work fine for the most part. Most common hydraulic oils are in between 46 and 68. But iso 32 is what almost all jack oils are and would be correct. Only problem is that I rarely see hydraulic oil sold in anything less than 1 gallon jugs as it's usually 2.5+ gal jugs or buckets which can be annoying if someone doesn't need the rest for anything else.

Lowes sells 1 gal of mag 1 iso 32 for 13 bucks and 1 quart of jack oil for 6, Looking the pds up for both reveals that they're identical viscosity wise at 5.55 kv100 and 32.11 kv40. But to get free shipping 45 is the minimum order but apparently some have it in stock locally? I've never seen mag 1 in store in any lowes I've been to.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/MAG-1-Mag-...Jn0-2e4sd-oMiS1hTS4QRM5C6__WE2jPpEY_LEE&gQT=2

https://www.lowes.com/pd/MAG-1-Mag-...8e86GRnd59vxS19IwlNTiQXALN60M5tUL53o4AI&gQT=2

 

[Jetronic]

True but most hydraulic oils are thicker than jack oil but would still work fine for the most part. Most common hydraulic oils are in between 46 and 68. But iso 32 is what almost all jack oils are and would be correct. Only problem is that I rarely see hydraulic oil sold in anything less than 1 gallon jugs as it's usually 2.5+ gal jugs or buckets which can be annoying if someone doesn't need the rest for anything else.

Lowes sells 1 gal of mag 1 iso 32 for 13 bucks and 1 quart of jack oil for 6, Looking the pds up for both reveals that they're identical viscosity wise at 5.55 kv100 and 32.11 kv40. But to get free shipping 45 is the minimum order but apparently some have it in stock locally? I've never seen mag 1 in store in any lowes I've been to.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/MAG-1-Mag-...Jn0-2e4sd-oMiS1hTS4QRM5C6__WE2jPpEY_LEE&gQT=2

https://www.lowes.com/pd/MAG-1-Mag-...8e86GRnd59vxS19IwlNTiQXALN60M5tUL53o4AI&gQT=2

It depends how cold it gets when you intend to use the jack. if you see proper winter, and need to jack, iso 32 might even be too much, but if you see perpetual summer, a 46 might be just the thing.

 

[demarpaint]

I'd use the right oil for the jack. I bought a quart from AAP a few years back on sale, well worth it and cheap.

 

[slo town]

I'd use the right oil for the jack.

Exactly. I wouldn't trust a jack that had the improper oil in it. Those jacks have a particular oil in them for a reason.

Scott