Mixing fork oils brands

Hotwhls
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8/29/2018 11:21am
I am doing new seals and oil on my 2015 yz250f forks and I have 2 bottles of different brand 5wt fork oil. I know I need a little over 1 liter to do the job. Can I mix my Maxima blue label 5wt with a little bit of Bel Ray 5wt. I will do my inners first with Maxima but won't have enough left to do the outers. That's where I would like to mix the brands for the outers.
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RyanLester761
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8/29/2018 12:04pm Edited Date/Time 8/29/2018 12:05pm
I would say you're fine. Same weight, different brand. Meh,I'd do it myself, personally. Just my 2 cents.
kb228
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8/29/2018 12:22pm
I dont see why not. Ive done it myself.
mattyhamz2
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8/29/2018 12:29pm
Maybe just use one oil on the inners and then the other for the outers
mx317
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8/29/2018 1:22pm
One on one side and one on the other.
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RyanLester761
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8/29/2018 1:38pm
mx317 wrote:
One on one side and one on the other.
I would have mixed the two together and acted like it was all the same. Laughing
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slipdog
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8/29/2018 5:57pm
mx317 wrote:
One on one side and one on the other.
I would have mixed the two together and acted like it was all the same. Laughing
If you mix two 5wt's together won't you get a 10wt?

Oh, nevermind... you can just run half the recommended oil volume and it will be 5wt again. Blink
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slipdog
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8/29/2018 5:59pm
*Kidding of course for those that broke their sarcasm detector
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Paw Paw 271
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8/29/2018 6:16pm Edited Date/Time 8/29/2018 6:18pm
Use one oil in one leg and the other oil in the other leg.
While mixing them should not be an issue, we don't know what additives are in each and there could be an adverse reaction in mixing them.
Secret tip...Add about 1 oz of Dot 3 brake fluid to each oil. It will help the oil seals to do a better job and last longer.

Paw Paw
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8/30/2018 4:55am
Use one oil in one leg and the other oil in the other leg. While mixing them should not be an issue, we don't know what...
Use one oil in one leg and the other oil in the other leg.
While mixing them should not be an issue, we don't know what additives are in each and there could be an adverse reaction in mixing them.
Secret tip...Add about 1 oz of Dot 3 brake fluid to each oil. It will help the oil seals to do a better job and last longer.

Paw Paw
Nice tip. Good thinking.
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KDXGarage
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8/30/2018 7:47am
Do the inners with one, then mix both together and use the mix for the outers.

Don't use one for one side and one for the other. Jeez.
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mx317
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8/30/2018 8:26am
KDXGarage wrote:
Do the inners with one, then mix both together and use the mix for the outers. Don't use one for one side and one for the...
Do the inners with one, then mix both together and use the mix for the outers.

Don't use one for one side and one for the other. Jeez.
You do know the inner and outer mixes oils. It forces it in the bottom seals and burps it out the top of the cartridge, jeez. The smart thing would be to put one brand on one side and one on the other.
m21racing
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8/30/2018 9:27am
Use one oil in one leg and the other oil in the other leg. While mixing them should not be an issue, we don't know what...
Use one oil in one leg and the other oil in the other leg.
While mixing them should not be an issue, we don't know what additives are in each and there could be an adverse reaction in mixing them.
Secret tip...Add about 1 oz of Dot 3 brake fluid to each oil. It will help the oil seals to do a better job and last longer.

Paw Paw
Why dot 3 vs dot 5? Just curious.
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barnett468
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8/30/2018 9:47am
do not add brake fluid to fork oil. it will not "help" the seals.

not all oils are exactly the same viscosity even though they have the same viscosity number on them, but in this case, they will be close enough unless you are a pro level rider.
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m21racing
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8/30/2018 10:22am
barnett468 wrote:
do not add brake fluid to fork oil. it will not "help" the seals. not all oils are exactly the same viscosity even though they have...
do not add brake fluid to fork oil. it will not "help" the seals.

not all oils are exactly the same viscosity even though they have the same viscosity number on them, but in this case, they will be close enough unless you are a pro level rider.
I want to hear the reasons behind adding it. Personally, I'd worry about seal swell.
RyanLester761
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8/30/2018 11:03am
slipdog wrote:
If you mix two 5wt's together won't you get a 10wt? Oh, nevermind... you can just run half the recommended oil volume and it will be...
If you mix two 5wt's together won't you get a 10wt?

Oh, nevermind... you can just run half the recommended oil volume and it will be 5wt again. Blink
You're right! Simple addition. Lol.
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Paw Paw 271
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8/30/2018 11:40am
Seal swell is exactly what you want a small amount of in the fork oils. They did at one time come with an additive to do this, but that was dropped many years ago. I still swear by it and my seals last a lot longer using it. The Dot 3 has this additive in it as does Dot 4 and Dot 5, but cost a lot less.
I am a believer, but I do understand that others may not be and to that I say "to each his own". I use what works for me based on experience.

Paw Paw
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KDXGarage
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9/2/2018 3:14pm
Seal swell = stiction, a modern day no-no.
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Paw Paw 271
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9/3/2018 6:55am
KDXGarage wrote:
Seal swell = stiction, a modern day no-no.
Good thought, but not accurate. The chemicals in brake fluid help make the seals a bit softer and thus conform to the sealing areas better , but add no stiction.

Paw Paw
harescrambled
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9/3/2018 7:55am
m21racing wrote:
Why dot 3 vs dot 5? Just curious.
DOT 5 is silicone based...vastly different properties than either DOT 3 or 4. It also doesn't play nice with other fluids
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