Or do I need to go to the bike shop this afternoon?
Cheers!
don't see why not, my Xt's have Citroen brake fluid in them, That's £4.50 a litre or free out of the neighbours car.
Halfords LHM in mine. As far as I can tell, the biggest difference between them is the colour. Magura -blue, Shimano- red, Halfords- bright green. (and I imagine this is mostly so you don't go confusing it with lubricating oil or dot fluid)
Magura blood is same thing mate yes.
Cool. Doesn't that chaps citroen have Dot fluid in it?
Citroen use LHM for the suspension on their freaky models.
Also used LHM for the power brakes (you have to have driven one to understand, zero pedal movement and on/off brakes) in the 80s....not sure what they do now.
I have mixed Magura Blood, Shimano Fluid and LHM without any issues whatever on my MTB brakes.
PaulD
Cool. Doesn't that chaps citroen have Dot fluid in it?
Nope LHM+ or mineral oil. just check with your local garage but its loads cheaper.
I have often wondered when I see the Mineral Oil / LHM / Magura Blood threads if the viscosity of the 3 oils are the same and if it makes the slightest difference to the overall brake system.
With that rattling around in the back of my mind I got a litre of Shimano fluid years ago for about £11, kinda gave me peace of mind and remove any doubt as to what alternative fluids could do to the breaks.
DM52 - MemberI have often wondered when I see the Mineral Oil / LHM / Magura Blood threads if the viscosity of the 3 oils are the same and if it makes the slightest difference to the overall brake system.
The LHM stuff from halfords seems thicker. I've had trouble bleeding with it, but can't tell any difference in use.
I also wondered if there is any benefit to using the Shimano oil in terms of stuck/sticky pistons. Seems like I'm endlessly freeing up mine now.
It's not so much the viscosity, but an issue of compatibility with the material used in the seals. DOT fluid will destroy the seals on a mineral oil-only brake.
Sorted then, I'll just pull some Magura stuff through. Can't believe I've not done it since the Keilder 100!
LHM oil is definitely more viscous than Magura blood. There was an ongoing debate on www.trials-forum.com ages ago about the best mineral oil (everyone used magura rim brakes) and while loads of things will work, some substitutes (E.g. vegetable oil) will make the brake feel really horrible and heavy. Most people I know just bled them with water eventually, the obvious advantage that you could submerge your brake in the sink for easier bleeding. I've never heard of a single complaint with this approach over several years. Not sure I'd do it to my new Shimano brakes, though!
Good point about viscosity.
I think water would not show its significant 'boiling' issues in hs33's at slow/no speed on a trials bike quite in the same way as it might on disc brakes at speed. 😆
Most people I know just bled them with water eventually, the obvious advantage that you could submerge your brake in the sink for easier bleeding. I've never heard of a single complaint with this approach over several years. Not sure I'd do it to my new Shimano brakes, though!
PLEASE NOTE:
There was an ongoing debate on http://www.trials-forum.com
The notable part being - TRIALS FORUM.
Trials riders don't drag their brakes, or slow down from high speeds repeatedly. I short, they are either stopped or moving for a very short period.
Their brakes are either on or off.
As such there's VERY LITTLE HEAT BUILD UP in their brakes
Do that on an MTB, which is ridden in a totally different manner, and water, which boils at 100 degrees where brake fluid bois at over 200 degrees (DOT 4 = 240, can't find info for Mineral fluid), WILL BOIL VERY VERY QUICKLY and your BRAKES WILL FAIL.
Just thought I'd point that out 🙂
Uh yeah, absolutely. I wasn't suggesting anyone does it on their mountain bikes. Just that the argument that brakes have to have manufacturer-spec fluid is somewhat exaggerated. Some people seem to think that using the wrong type of mineral oil (E.g. LHM) will destroy their seals whereas actually you can use more-or-less anything without harming the brakes (that is to say nothing of performance).