What oil is used in bicycle hydraulic brakes?
mineral oil fluid
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 brake fluid do I need for my mountain bike?
There are two types of brake fluid used in mountain bike brakes today. DOT fluid and mineral oil. Which one you use is not up for discussion, you should only use the fluid your brake was designed to use.
Is mountain bike brake fluid the same as car brake fluid?
Yes it’s the same. Car branded fluid is usually cheaper than bike branded stuff too.
What is bicycle brake fluid made of?
All DOT fluids (with the exception of DOT 5) are made up of a poly-glycol base.
What is a good substitute for Shimano mineral oil?
use the thinner weight mineral oil or 5 wt shock oil if you can’t find shimano stuff. shops and warranty centers have been doing it for years. they’re both synthetic based, have the same viscosity. shock oil bleeds real well due to the anti foaming agents; and no oil boils easily at all.
Can I use DOT 4 instead of mineral oil?
No, mineral oil and DOT brake fluid are different and are NOT compatible.
Can I use DOT 4 brake fluid for mountain bike?
As you can see all of the glycol- based DOT fluids (3, 4 & 5.1) are fully compatible with each other and can be readily mixed or swapped without adversely affecting the brake’s performance or its characteristics. The main change will come in a decrease or increase in the boiling point of the brake fluid as a whole.
What weight is Shimano mineral oil?
As far as I know, brake mineral oil is 10wt.
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.
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.
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.