Cooking oil in brake hose?
nasha48
Posts: 231
Interested to know why cooking oil (vegetable, sunflower, olive etc) can't be used in brake lines? I'm not about to try it and I know there must be good reasons - but some of you I'm sure must know the technical details? I'm guessing compression, water absorption, seals?
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viscosity and tendency to evaporate and gum things up would be two of the top reasonsSpecialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0 -
It'll work but it won't do your seals any good as it's a non inert substance (unlike mineral oil). Also tends to solidify and and become globular as it gets old.0
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It can be used in Shimano and Magura, but why would you?
You can also use water in Magura (trials guys do), but again, why would you?I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
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Parktools0 -
Buying proper fluid is cheap enough, but I do like the idea of 'what if' just to get peoples views on it.
Can't see anyone trying it either.0 -
It can be used in Shimano and Magura, but why would you?
You can also use water in Magura (trials guys do), but again, why would you?
Why do trials guys use water in their Magura lines?0 -
I'm not absolutely certain, but I think it is because in trials riding you need the brake to be fully on or fully off and using water makes this easier to achieve. One of the reasons for not using water is that as braking friction warms the fluid, water will expand more than oil, binding the brake on. This is not a problem in trials riding.It can be used in Shimano and Magura, but why would you?
You can also use water in Magura (trials guys do), but again, why would you?
Why do trials guys use water in their Magura lines?Viscount Grand Touring - in bits
Trek ZX6500 - semi-retired
HP Velotechnik Spirit
Brompton M6
Specialized Camber Comp0 -
Cooking oil will work but is not stable over a wide enough temperature range and is not of the correct viscosity. It's also not clean enough, the seals aren't designed to work with it and it's not of consistent quality.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350
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On a related note. Back in the 90s a local Motor cycle magazine did a 2-stroke oil comparison and included vegetable oil as a joke. After a 1 month trial period the vegetable oil out performed two of the propper oils in regard to engine wear. It did however produce gunky exhaust deposits, but it was still kinda surprising.
Not that surprising - castor oil is derived from a plant, and was used in both car and aero engines. Did you ever wonder how Castrol got their name?Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0 -
Or, why after inhaling castor oil vapours for hours on end, WW1 pilots were always sh1tting themselves!Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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It can be used in Shimano and Magura, but why would you?
You can also use water in Magura (trials guys do), but again, why would you?
trials chaps use water as it makes the brakes either on or off, and thats what they wantMy winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...0 -
Not really, in theory it makes them respond quicker because water is less viscous. Doesn't do a very good job of lubing seals etc, so needs to be changed regularly.
Not that I've ever felt the urge to try. My Magura rim brakes haven't been touched in well over a decade, still feel perfect.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
Not really, in theory it makes them respond quicker because water is less viscous. Doesn't do a very good job of lubing seals etc, so needs to be changed regularly.
Not that I've ever felt the urge to try. My Magura rim brakes haven't been touched in well over a decade, still feel perfect.
No, in theory water does not compress so the brakes respond better as when you pull the lever and the brakes go on the lever will stay hard and not move.
With hydraulic fluid it is slightly compressable hence you can modulate the brakes, the harder you pull the lever the harder the brake will clamp.
Once the brake is on you can still pull the lever to the bar a bit, with water that wont happen.
I have some magura hs33's on an old whip, but they are still on oil.My winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...0 -
Hydraulic fluid is not compressible, no liquid is you dufus. What creates modulation is distortion of the solid parts such as hoses etc.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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Not true. All fluids are compressible, just not very. Google bulk modulus.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
Approaching 2 at 17 years. Not bad going!Not really, in theory it makes them respond quicker because water is less viscous. Doesn't do a very good job of lubing seals etc, so needs to be changed regularly.
Not that I've ever felt the urge to try. My Magura rim brakes haven't been touched in well over a decade, still feel perfect.Bird Aeris : Trek Remedy 9.9 29er : Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL0 -
Approaching 2 at 17 years. Not bad going!Not really, in theory it makes them respond quicker because water is less viscous. Doesn't do a very good job of lubing seals etc, so needs to be changed regularly.
Not that I've ever felt the urge to try. My Magura rim brakes haven't been touched in well over a decade, still feel perfect.
They're the ones you gave me. You didn't think they'd been bled for ages, I haven't touched them since. Really impressive things.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
Was what I meant but didn't really make it that obvious (2 as in decades). I didn't ever bleed them either so yeah, 17 years form out of the box.
Approaching 2 at 17 years. Not bad going!Not really, in theory it makes them respond quicker because water is less viscous. Doesn't do a very good job of lubing seals etc, so needs to be changed regularly.
Not that I've ever felt the urge to try. My Magura rim brakes haven't been touched in well over a decade, still feel perfect.
They're the ones you gave me. You didn't think they'd been bled for ages, I haven't touched them since. Really impressive things.Bird Aeris : Trek Remedy 9.9 29er : Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL0 -
Indeed, but in effect, under these operating conditions, they can be treated as incompressible.Not true. All fluids are compressible, just not very. Google bulk modulus.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
Indeed, but in effect, under these operating conditions, they can be treated as incompressible.Not true. All fluids are compressible, just not very. Google bulk modulus.
I agree, was really kind of responding to Fudgey's comment, and that it's not the level of compressibilty that makes the difference using water.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
No ones mentioned the fluid being hydroscopic?
In cars it was always about keeping the moisture out as that expanded far quicker with heat than the normal fluid. Normal dot 3/4 fluid only lasted about 2 years on a sealed system, not sure on this new dot5 stuff?0 -
MTB's have sealed systems, so hydroscopic isnt relevant, cars systems vent to atmosphere so it is.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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Not true. Cars are sealed systems too.MTB's have sealed systems, so hydroscopic isnt relevant, cars systems vent to atmosphere so it is.0 -
No they arent, the cap is vented to atmosphere, they don't use a diaphragm like MTB's or many motorbikes to allow for fluid level changes in the reservoir.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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I always find it funny how places like halfords stock DOT 5.1 brake fluid in the bicycle section for twice the price as DOT 5.1 brake and clutch fluid in motorcycle/car section.
I've always sourced mine from motorbike shops. You can normally get a litre for the price of 100ml.0
