Hydraulic oil reuse? Lubrication properties?.

[CobyRupert]

Perhaps this question has been asked much before, but does hydrauilic oil also have good lubricating benefits too, or is it more for transfering energy under high pressure (without boiling). Does it also lube like a motor or gear oil?

The reason I ask, is at 150 hours I finally changed the hydraulic filter and recovered about a 1/2 gallon of hydraulic oil while doing so.

Can I use it as a general purpose lubricant, for chains, spindles, bearings, etc.. like I would motor oil?
Is the fact that John Deere sells the oil as hydraulic and transmision oil; being transmission oil too, it must have lubrication properties?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't know if I would use it as a lubricant for anything requiring high pressure lubrication like bearings, but more of value as a rust preventative for chains, etc., but I don't claim to be an oil properties expert. Remember that most CUTs have oil bath brakes that are in the hydraulic reservoir and the oil allows for good friction at the pads which I don't think a motor oil would do. Therefore, I think I wouldn't use it for anything requiring lubricating to prevent friction.
I use mine for fire starting and it works pretty good for that.

 

[Renze]

Yes i use discarded 10w/40 multfarm to lubricate the chain of my chainsaw.

 

[MHarryE]

Good hydraulic oil has anti-wear properties, commonly by adding zinc which is cheap and does a great job. General purpose lube fine, but not for anything specifying an EP oil (for extra pressure) normally listed as GL-4 or GL-5 or the like.

 

[del10820]

I use mine in my wast oil heater in my home shop.
Del

 

[grm61]

I don't know if I would use it as a lubricant for anything requiring high pressure lubrication like bearings, but more of value as a rust preventative for chains, etc., but I don't claim to be an oil properties expert. Remember that most CUTs have oil bath brakes that are in the hydraulic reservoir and the oil allows for good friction at the pads which I don't think a motor oil would do. Therefore, I think I wouldn't use it for anything requiring lubricating to prevent friction.
I use mine for fire starting and it works pretty good for that.

Fyi, Motorcycles have wet clutches, running in motor oil.

 

[Dingeryote]

Usually by the time hydro is changed, it's broken down a good bit.

For GP lube used on stuff around the barn and house, it does fine.
I keep a bit handy for filling the oil can. Hinges, pins, etc.

Best use I have found, is for mixing with Chainsaw Bar oil in winter, or running straight as a bar oil when it gets real cold.

 

[PhysAssist]

Usually by the time hydro is changed, it's broken down a good bit.

For GP lube used on stuff around the barn and house, it does fine.
I keep a bit handy for filling the oil can. Hinges, pins, etc.

Best use I have found, is for mixing with Chainsaw Bar oil in winter, or running straight as a bar oil when it gets real cold.

I use it as cutting oil for drilling or cutting metal, and save a small amount to light fires outside.

For the chainsaw, I cut the viscosity for really cold weather by adding a small amount of kerosene, as per my Stihl owners manual's recommendations.

Thomas

 

[RalphVa]

If you have an old diesel, you could slowly blend it into the diesel fuel you use. It's likely just heavier than diesel in boiling range, as I think it's more like auto transmission fluid, which comes from what we call "100N" base oil, which is just heavier than diesel. When we don't need it for lube oil in the refinery, it gets dumped to the diesel pool anyway.

I wouldn't do this with any modern "clean diesel" engine though.

Ralph