Was always skeptical about using synthetic oil in hydraulic elevators, then tried it on an old Otis in Seattle

For years I stuck with mineral oil because that's what the old timers said to use. Finally got pushed into trying a synthetic blend on a 1970s Otis unit near Pike Place Market when the mineral oil was causing too much sludge buildup. After 6 months the valves were cleaner and the oil temp ran about 8 degrees cooler. Has anyone else switched and seen the same results or had problems with seals leaking on older equipment?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark4361mo ago

Did a similar swap on a mid-80s Dover unit in a building near the Space Needle. The seals actually held up fine after the change, but I did bump up the viscosity one grade just to be safe. That temp drop alone sold me on making the switch for good.

hall.joel1mo ago

Ngl, read a study saying higher viscosity can actually help older seals stay flexible longer, @mark436.

knight.felix1mo ago

Higher viscosity helping older seals stay flexible" sounds like a description of me after one too many cups of coffee, honestly. If that study is right, maybe I should switch to thicker oil for my joints too, haha. Guess we're all just trying to keep things from cracking up.