mixing fluids and oils

[dbwill]

While reading a Chiltons motocycle repair of muti manufactors. I ran across mixing trans fluid and motor oil and then use this as the fork oil ? Any one try this?

[mro]

The XS is a pretty heavy bike.
I'd stick to the recommended oil weight.
Does not have to be "fork oil" tho.

mro

[fredintoon]

While reading a Chiltons motocycle repair of muti manufactors. I ran across mixing trans fluid and motor oil and then use this as the fork oil ? Any one try this?

Hi DB,
sure it'll work. The viscosity number of the mix will be the proportionate average of the oil & ATF numbers.
But besides the homebuilt cocktail having temperature resistance it don't need
and not having the anti-foaming properties it does need, it ain't an economical proposition.
A quart of engine oil plus a quart of ATF will cost you more than a 16oz jug of genuine fork oil
and then you have to label the rest of the mix and hope you can still find it next time.

[Crazcnuk]

Back in my 'dune buggy' racing days, we used all kinds of oils in the shocks to get different damping rates (along with different damper orifice sizes)

If I remember correctly ATF is about a 7 weight. Not sure why they would mix it with oil, except maybe to get some lubrication.

The older Dexron fluids have very little lubrication ability. Type F has more lube, and Dexron III is very similar to Type F.

Transmission fluid is actually hydraulic fluid, not an oil as we normally think of it.