Re: Dexron ATF is roughly equal to 7W Oil for the Forks...

Posted by sgtslag on Sep 16, 2011; 9:34pm
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Dexron-ATF-is-roughly-equal-to-7W-Oil-for-the-Forks-tp3342625p3343098.html

Wondered the same thing myself.

Ford Type F Viscosity: 43 cSt @40°C.  (13W?)

Dexron III Viscosity:  60.0 cSt @ 40 C.  (22W?  Not 7W!)

Bel Ray High Performance Fork Oil 7W, actual Viscosity:  32 cSt @ 40 °C.

Bel Ray High Performance Fork Oil 10W, actual Viscosity:  32 cSt @ 40 °C.

Bel Ray High Performance Fork Oil 15W, actual Viscosity:  52 cSt @ 40 °C.

Bel Ray High Performance Fork Oil 20W, actual Viscosity:  52 cSt @ 40 °C.

Bel Ray High Performance Fork Oil 30W, actual Viscosity:  105 cSt @ 40 °C.


All of this information was pulled off of the Internet, by searching with Google for "Fork Oil xW MSDS", where "xW" is the oil weight, like "7W", "10W", "15W", etc.  It would seem as if the Dexron III ATF is actually closer to a 20W oil, based on what is listed above.  It also appears as though 7W and 10W are essentially the same -- snake oil difference?

Caveat Emptor:  I am not an expert, nor do I understand the centiStokes (cSt) thing, so maybe I am missing something here.  When I did my Fork Oil research in the past, I found one writer who stated that it was really hard to pin down the true viscosity factor, as one maker's 10W was another maker's 15W; this same author stated that it was hard to find consistency, and accuracy even among different fork oil from the same manufacturer...  I think I discovered the same issue as he did, with Bel Ray's products.


My head is starting to hurt.  Think I'll go lie down for a while.