The Ford Barn

Ross/Kzoo · 11-14-2013, 03:50 PM

What is "jack oil"? I needed some and had a small container of it but was wondering if someone ran out what, if anything, could be substituted?

Smurkey · 11-14-2013, 03:53 PM

Hydraulic fluid/power steering fluid.

Pinstripe · 11-15-2013, 12:10 AM

I use the same hyd. fluid I use in the tractors.

Lawrie · 11-15-2013, 12:14 AM

any light weight engine oil or hydraulic oil will do.
Lawrie

jmeckel · 11-15-2013, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawrie

any light weight engine oil or hydraulic oil will do.
Lawrie

It needs to be non-foaming do not try normal engine oil it will foam.

MikeK · 11-15-2013, 08:50 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Many auto parts stores have hydraulic jack oil in quarts. Ask!
Don't forget to buy a little funnel, too.

Kurt in NJ · 11-15-2013, 09:32 AM

The cheap easy substitute oil is ATF, I was looking into motorcycle shock oils and found a website that had test results and ATF had better ratings than most special oils, I hav used it in many applications with no problems

Tom Wesenberg · 11-15-2013, 08:58 PM

I use ATF if I don't have jack oil, and never had a problem.

Two years ago I was working on a guy's Model A in his garage and when I tried to jack the car up with his floor jack I got about 1/2" lift with each of the first few full stroke pumps, then nothing. Now, why even have the jack if you aren't going to keep it in working order?

It only takes a few ounces of fluid to have a good working jack.

BTW, it's best to store hydraulic jack fully collapsed and with the valve closed.

QGolden · 11-15-2013, 09:04 PM

Yup, I use ATF too.

11-14-2013, 03:50 PM	#1
Ross/Kzoo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richland Mi. Posts: 1,172	Jack oil What is "jack oil"? I needed some and had a small container of it but was wondering if someone ran out what, if anything, could be substituted?

11-14-2013, 03:53 PM	#2
Smurkey Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Esko, MN Posts: 257	Re: Jack oil Hydraulic fluid/power steering fluid.

11-15-2013, 12:10 AM	#3
Pinstripe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: SW Wisconsin Posts: 192	Re: Jack oil I use the same hyd. fluid I use in the tractors.

11-15-2013, 12:14 AM	#4
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,215	Re: Jack oil any light weight engine oil or hydraulic oil will do. Lawrie

11-15-2013, 08:50 AM	#6
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: Jack oil Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Many auto parts stores have hydraulic jack oil in quarts. Ask! Don't forget to buy a little funnel, too.

11-15-2013, 09:32 AM	#7
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: Jack oil The cheap easy substitute oil is ATF, I was looking into motorcycle shock oils and found a website that had test results and ATF had better ratings than most special oils, I hav used it in many applications with no problems

11-15-2013, 08:58 PM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Jack oil I use ATF if I don't have jack oil, and never had a problem. Two years ago I was working on a guy's Model A in his garage and when I tried to jack the car up with his floor jack I got about 1/2" lift with each of the first few full stroke pumps, then nothing. Now, why even have the jack if you aren't going to keep it in working order? It only takes a few ounces of fluid to have a good working jack. BTW, it's best to store hydraulic jack fully collapsed and with the valve closed.

11-15-2013, 09:04 PM	#9
QGolden Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Alton, NH Posts: 1,231	Re: Jack oil Yup, I use ATF too. __________________ It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain. It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown