Which hydraulic fluid is best to use ?

The sparsely written 4 page owners manuals that accompany Chinese compressors are not the Ten Commandments written in stone. Chinese to English does not translate literally. Anyone who takes the word of those flimsy pamphlets as gospel over the feedback and experiences of actual owners and users does so at their own peril.

What qualifies me to make this statement? I was tasked by a well known manufacturer from China to edit their manual from "Chinglish" to user friendly English. I now see posts from users who now use Chinese terms they've read instead of the proper English term. For instance, a "burst disk" is the protective copper disc in a compressor that blows if the pressure design limit is exceeded. The Chinese call it an "explosion proof device". Anyone watching a Chinese produced Youtube video made for English speaking users knows that their terminology doesn't translate literally or correctly in many instances. "Produces strong wind" means their motor fan keeps the coolant temperature within reason. "Hydraulic Fluid 46" means use dedicated compressor oil.

If anyone prefers to ignore the feedback of experienced compressor owners in favor of a Chinese written pamplet, do so at your own risk.

For those of you who back that up by saying you follow the manual and your compressor hasn't failed (yet), that doesn't make it good advice for others. Just because a few users get lucky using cheap or incorrect oil doesn't make it the smart choice. A blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

The sparsely written 4 page owners manuals that accompany Chinese compressors are not the Ten Commandments written in stone. Chinese to English does not translate literally. Anyone who takes the word of those flimsy pamphlets as gospel over the feedback and experiences of actual owners and users does so at their own peril.

What qualifies me to make this statement? I was tasked by a well known manufacturer from China to edit their manual from "Chinglish" to user friendly English. I now see posts from users who now use Chinese terms they've read instead of the proper English term. For instance, a "burst disk" is the protective copper disc in a compressor that blows if the pressure design limit is exceeded. The Chinese call it an "explosion proof device". Anyone watching a Chinese produced Youtube video made for English speaking users knows that their terminology doesn't translate literally or correctly in many instances. "Produces strong wind" means their radiator keeps the water temperature in check. "Hydraulic Fluid 46" means use dedicated compressor oil.

If anyone prefers to ignore the feedback of experienced compressor owners in favor of a Chinese written pamplet, do so at your own risk.

For those of you who back that up by saying you follow the manual and your compressor hasn't failed (yet), that doesn't make it good advice for others. Just because a few users get lucky using cheap or incorrect oil doesn't make it the smart choice. A blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

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Exactly. Good post Steve. A few years ago after my Franken Tuxing project, they approached me to re-write their manual from Chinglish to English. First thing I did was remove the "ISO 46 Hydraulic Fluid" and replace with actual synthetic high pressure air compressor oil, ISO 100 or 150 (30wt or 40wt). The Tuxng Manuals are now actually pretty good...

I love reading these threads. Seems each one contains some truth. When I was involved in racing, I found to
never argue what oil you use. It is no different than arguing about religion. You will never win. I,m not getting
into this except for one thing. Oil is not the issue with the lower end. The carbon in the upper pressure end is.
that is were the problems are. I,m have a long back ground in building engines. But these compressors are a differant
cat, all together. But I do beleave oil does play a big part in the carbon build up. So I,m all ears on the type of
oil people use, not the brand. I,m more interested in what weight oil you run. I do think maybe flash point has
some merit But just to a point. If your compressor is not allowing oil above then you should not worry much
about flash point in the first place. I think changing out your high pressure rod seals or some call them rings
may be the biggest culprit. I,m some what new to this, but my question is how often do you replace them?
( I have not heard anyone address that ). That is the main reason I bought a Tuxing, over the others. Correct
me if I,m wrong, but didn’t Yong Heng on there newer compressors change to running 4 high pressure seals
as Tuxing has always used?

Fly

The picture above is not a true YH, you can tell by the seal on that high pressure piston. I have one just like it,
& those piston seals are crap. I have a hard time even finding replacement. It is not so much the oil, it more about
that stile of piston. Look at the Newer YH, as the Tuxing have different style of seals, with 4 seals & are much
better. The one that is pictured need to be replaced much more often then the YH or Tuxing. I beleave any oil
will burn if it is exsposed to that much pressure. JMOP. I,m not trying to give support to any brand of oil. I know
there better oils on the market. Just saying the above picture, of the compressor upper seals suck. They work
but need replacing much more often then that

Fly