Hydraulic fluid is almost all light petroleum oil, similar to SAE 10W without so much detergent. Brake fluid is glycol-ether based because petroleum would ruin all the seals -- oh, you said that, didn't you? ________________________________ From: Koichi Mac <nikonf3tmd4@xxxxxxx> To: nikonf4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sun, November 21, 2010 10:24:39 PM Subject: [nikonf4] Re: Hydrochloric Acid Hudraulic fluid? What is the chemical difference on hydraulic fluid and brake fluid? I thought brake fluid was a variation of hydraulic fluid. But, about 30 years ago, I made a mistake of adding brake fluid to hyrdaulic jack and ruined all rubber components. Koichi Yasutani - a.k.a. Steve + MP Lakewood, WA U.S.A. 2010 / 11 / 21 19:25 PST On Nov 21, 2010, at 0715 , Eric Welch wrote: > Actually, hydrofluoric is even more difficult to handle than those three. > > On Nov 21, 2010, at 12:11 AM, Koichi Mac wrote: > >> Whoa, wait a minute. I think I was thinking something else……hydraulic >>fluid…which also eats up rubbers and plastics quickly. >> >> Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acids are three strongest >> acids >>known to men. >> >> On Nov 20, 2010, at 1935 , Eric Welch wrote: >> >>> That's what I remember from chemistry 101. >>> >>> On Nov 20, 2010, at 6:30 PM, Koichi Mac <nikonf3tmd4@xxxxxxx> wrote: >>> >>>> Didn't know the stomach acid is the variant of hydrochloric acid. >>>> It's a >>>>very strong stuff, and I have chronic agita / excess stomach acid. >>>> >>>> On Nov 18, 2010, at 1925 , Eric Welch wrote: >>>> >>>>> I learned plenty in my year as a chemistry major in college to know that >>>>> just >>>>>because something acts one way in a specific environment in contact with >>>>>specific elements does not mean it will act that way in another >>>>>environment. >>>>> >>>>> For example, glass is perfectly fine to hold most acids, but not >>>>> hydrofluoric >>>>>acid. it will eat right through glass. So they have to use some other kind >>>>>of >>>>>container for that. Used to be they'd use wax. Not sure what they would >>>>>use now. >>>>> >>>>> And hydrochloric acid is in your stomach digesting your food, but if it >>>>> becomes >>>>>too concentrated, it eats holes in that very same stomach. >>>>> >>>>> Vinegar is acid as well, but too concentrated and you wouldn't be putting >>>>> it in >>>>>your mouth.