Emergency jack oil

[Shedendman]

I need to know could i get away with using power steering oil to top up an engine crane.
Heres the prob,i'm mm's away to get the engine out of my van,but the crane i borrowed is low on oil hence i need more lift, i thought i had some proper(jack) oil to top it up with but looks like its packed its bags and left.so ones stuck
Just need to lift the lump clear tomorrow morning and set it aside
Unless santa pays a visit and does it for me

 

[CKJDJK]

Probably. Its a slow moving device so any thinish oil would do. Flush and replace the oil as soon as you can after and use a suitable hydraulic oil. it will get the job done.

 

[Shedendman]

Cool,long as i dont do any damage to the crane i'll go along with that, a right pain in the backside it was today everything going so well and the damn thing let me down.
Remind me this, top it up when its at it's lowest correct,then pump it through correct?

 

[wristpin]

Had the same problem last weekend when the hydraulic workbench refused to lift and all I had was air tool oil. Odd thing was that the bench had shown no sign of being short of oil until it refused to lift at all, and there was no sign of any leakage. By various means I got it raised and the the locking pin inserted to get at the filler on the ram safely. Filled it up and when lowered it squirted a fair amount out of the vent but is working fine and has a good hard pedal when fully raised.

 

[awemawson]

Chris I have some jack oil if it helps - only about 1/2 litre I think

 

[Justme]

Brake fluid?

 

[Shedendman]

Chris I have some jack oil if it helps - only about 1/2 litre I think

Pretty damn kind of you to offer sir, but some how i dont think your be willing to bring it to me a 7am tomorrow morning been told by her indoors not to be working on the van all day,god knows why its only a sunday

 

[awemawson]

Sure an't bringing it Christmas Day, but you're welcome to collect

 

[waddycall]

We lent an engine crane out once. It came back stinking of diesel and has done ever since. I'm sure that's what someone used to top it up!

 

[Shedendman]

Brake fluid?

Noted

 

[Shedendman]

We lent an engine crane out once. It came back stinking of diesel and has done ever since. I'm sure that's what someone used to top it up!

Dumb at times i might be,but stupid i'm not

 

[doubleboost]

ATF fluid will work fine
It is just very well fortified hydraulic oil

 

[pedrobedro]

Have you tried bleeding it. My hoist had stopped lifting but no evidence of leaking. Slacken the screw and pump it a bit then tighten it and try again.

 

[winchman]

Brake fluid?

Brake fluid will react with the seals, its a totally different make up than Hydraulic oil.
ATF should work fine

 

[CKJDJK]

Don't use brake fluid as already said. Some seal types the rubber goes like jelly with brake fluid.

 

[Johnseat]

ATF fluid or brown powered steering fluid will do.

 

[Shedendman]

Power steering fluid did the job,result

 

[chevy2]

A banger racer i used to know often used water in his braking system to cut costs if building a car for only a couple of races,
I'd hate to see the corrosion it caused after not very long,
Didn't bother him as they all got scrapped, apparently it was quite common in banger race circles,

Lesson, dont buy used brake parts from banger racers!

 

[colnerov]

A banger racer i used to know often used water in his braking system to cut costs if building a car for only a couple of races,
I'd hate to see the corrosion it caused after not very long,
Didn't bother him as they all got scrapped, apparently it was quite common in banger race circles,

Lesson, dont buy used brake parts from banger racers!

Brake fade will set in sooner as well, but banger racers tend to use other competitors to slow down.

 

[rtbcomp]

I saw a documentary about the AA and they attended a guy who used washing up liquid in his braking system.