Giving a little TLC to an old bottle jack that dad kept in the trunk of the Lincoln. Might be a little weird to have a sentimental attachment to a bottle jack, but anyway... I was thinking about changing the oil in it as it's got to be at least 60 years old. Coincidentally, I have a mostly full bottle of Honda power steering fluid that no longer has any use. Any problems with that?
Power steering fluid as jack oil
- Thread starter Dave Sherman
- Start date
It seems to me, if the jack is so good and of value to you, the correct oil is the best oil.
Depends as i've seen jack oil be as little 13cst kv40 which makes 0w-8 look thick in comparison and as thick as 50 cst kv40. In case you need to use that jack in bitter cold temps stick to the thin stuff. Bars jack oil is good thin stuff that walmart carries for a decent price. Thicker stuff like that Honda Power Steering Fluid is fine if it won't be used in the cold. Those old ones are easy to rebuild in case the seals are bad.
PS fluid should be fantastic in a jack I would think.
My personal use has been an assortment of fluids from bar & chain, gear / transmission / ATF, engine oil but never hydraulic as I don't usually have any.
My personal use has been an assortment of fluids from bar & chain, gear / transmission / ATF, engine oil but never hydraulic as I don't usually have any.
They just need a light oil in them.
PS Fluid and ATF should work. I have MMO in a jack and it works.
But actual jack oil is incredibly cheap.
PS Fluid and ATF should work. I have MMO in a jack and it works.
But actual jack oil is incredibly cheap.
While it's not exactly apples to apples, Dex/Merc lifts at least one vehicle per day on my Bendpak
I've actually been using the Valvoline "Import MultiVehicle" because I have a leak and got a bunch of the Valvoline cheap
But a QT of jack oil at NAPA.
From a quick search, jack oil is usually 32 cSt or 46 cSt at 40C. Dex VI is around 30 cSt @ 40C. Not sure what Honda Power Steering Fluid is at 40C?
Edit: Looks like 52.7 cSt @ 40C
https://www.westpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/West_Penn_Oil_Honda_PSF_Product_Info.pdf
Edit: Looks like 52.7 cSt @ 40C
https://www.westpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/West_Penn_Oil_Honda_PSF_Product_Info.pdf
Thanks all, Hazard Freight has jack oil, I'll just pick up a bottle. Seals are probably compatible with Honda Power Steering Fluid, but.... It does get used.
Picked up a bottle of jack oil from HF, and the oil in this old timer was a pretty nasty. Making out what's left of the label it's a Hein-Werner 1.5 ton. I'm guessing it's from the 1960s.
I would do a double or triple change on that old war horse. I think it's worth it.
