How to get hydraulic oil for log splitter?

Factual Questions
1

I just bought a Bilt Hard log splitter, model WS6T. It’s a small (6.5 ton) electric unit, and should be just right for my occasional use. I need to first fill it with .9 gal of hydraulic oil, and that is proving difficult to get. Do we have any consumer oil experts at SDMB?

The manual says any one of these oils will work, but none are sold locally (I tried 2 hardware stores, a small engine repair shop, and 4 auto parts stores). Here’s the list:

SHELL Tellus 22
MOBIL DTE 11
ARAL Vitam GF 22
BP Energol HLP-HM 22

I don’t know oil from Shinola, so I am reluctant to substitute something that doesn’t match. The 22 spec seems to be significant, but all I can find is 32. I have no idea what either of these numbers mean or their relevance.

I tried calling the manufacturer, who apparently outsources their tech support to India, and had a hard time communicating with a clerk who was reading a script and couldn’t help me, even with a simple question. He said he would escalate the question, but no one has called me back so far.

I can find the Shell oil online, but the smallest quantity offered is 5 gal, and with shipping, that’s $150 or more, which is half the price of the machine. One auto parts store will order the Shell in a 5-gal drum, but it might take 2 weeks to get, and still cost more than $120.

The manufacturer’s web site has no support of any kind, nor a support phone, chat, or email. It seems to be a subsidiary of Amazon.

Is there any oil that is universal to all small log splitters? Or does anyone recognize the Bilt Hard unit as a clone of another manufacturer?

2

From ChatGPT-4:

Hydraulic oil is not typically brand specific, so as long as the oil meets the specifications outlined in your owner’s manual, it should work fine in your log splitter. The numbers mentioned (22, 32) refer to the viscosity or “thickness” of the oil. In general, a lower number indicates a lower viscosity, meaning the oil is thinner and will flow more easily.

The hydraulic oils specified in your manual seem to correspond to an ISO VG 22 specification. The ISO VG (International Standards Organization Viscosity Grade) number refers to the viscosity at 40 degrees Celsius. ISO VG 22 oil has a midpoint kinematic viscosity of 22 mm^2/s, also referred to as centistokes (cSt). ISO VG 32 oil, which is what you are finding, is slightly thicker, with a midpoint kinematic viscosity of 32 mm^2/s.

For your Bilt Hard log splitter, the best choice would be a hydraulic oil with a viscosity grade of 22. However, if you are unable to find this, a hydraulic oil with a viscosity grade of 32 should also be fine, particularly if you are using your log splitter in a moderate to warm climate. Higher viscosity oils are often recommended for hotter environments, while lower viscosity oils are better for colder environments.

If you still cannot find the exact oil, you can consider using an AW (Anti-Wear) hydraulic fluid with an ISO VG 32 rating. These are more common and can be found in most auto parts stores or online. It is a bit thicker, but the difference should not be significant for occasional use.

Remember, when using hydraulic equipment, it is crucial to keep the hydraulic oil clean and free of contaminants. Always use a clean container and funnel when filling the hydraulic reservoir.

Note: This advice is based on general knowledge about hydraulic systems and may not be specifically accurate for your model. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when available.

Here’s a 22 grade on amazon:

3

Thanks, that’s really helpful. My partner found something for a little less $, but I’m not sure if it is the right stuff. We’ll have to check before using it.

4

I needed some hydraulic fluid for an old bottle jack I got free at an estate sale. I did the same as the OP, checked at auto part stores, hardware stores and even a John Deere dealer. The last place I checked suggested Harbor Freight. They had it and worked great. It was easier to find the leather seal material than the fluid.

5

Tellus 22 and it’s equivalents are very common, I’m surprised you can’t find one locally. Have you tried auto supply stores or ag stores like Tractor Supply?

6

If someone says “I got some hydraulic oil for your log splitter right here”, proceed with caution.

7

Tractor Supply and others had something that might have worked, but none of the local dealers or auto-supply stores had any of the manufacturer-suggested brands/numbers. NOBODY had a cross-reference, and I didn’t want to take a chance, potentially destroying a $300 machine. I didn’t check Harbor Freight.

8

NAPA should have it too. A bit expensive there though.

9

NAPA is one of the 4 auto parts stores I visited. Same story.

10

I understand your frustration. If there’s a warranty you need to use something that matches their specs because if breaks for any reason they might try to hold that out as an excuse not to take care of it. I’m sure ruined seals have been blamed on the wrong hydraulic fluid many times but in my limited experience the problem is just cheap or under-designed seals. Still, it makes sense to use something that matches the manufacturer’s spec.

11

Buying just a gallon of it may prove to be a challenge. Is anything in this cross-reference helpful?

https://petroleumservicecompany.com/shell-tellus-t-22-cross-reference/

12

It might be. I am going to pass along this thread and your links to my partner, who is a former hardware-store man and has been learning about hydraulic oils (everybody’s got to have a hobby, right?). We are probably going to try the equivalent oil he has ordered while crossing our fingers and toes. If the seals fail in 20 years as a result of the wrong oil, we probably won’t care much.

We have local friends (farmers and tractor restore people) who could assist if necessary, but it may not come to that. Still, I’m disappointed that the manufacturers don’t think it important to provide more relevant information. Example: the log-splitter seller could offer 1 gal of recommended oil along with the purchase and increase their profit!*

  • I realize that Amazon shows related products with their ads, but this is only related products based on their viewer’s browsing, not manufacturer-recommended-based.
13

I was thinking I’d seen hydraulic fluid at Harbor Freight and noted it as a bit unusual, but figured it must be for the variety of jacks they sell.

One thing I noticed while googling those is that they’re all old formulations and that they might well be superseded by more modern ones.

Mobil DTE 11M Equivalents - Cross Reference (petroleumservicecompany.com)

14

There was a time, not that long ago when somebody would post and OP in FQ (or GQ as it was then) seeking the answer to a factual question and in the first couple of posts some smart aleck (indeed did myself on odd occasions) would post “Google is your friend” with a url to the first hit.

Just look now of how far humanity has come since then. :upside_down_face:

15

Its taking far far longer than we thought.

16

Have you checked with contractors who do excavation, earthmoving, farm supplies (like Southern States)? Outfits that service forklifts and dump trucks? Your local trash hauler - honkin’ great cylinders on their trucks. Tow truck operators who employ rollbacks? Do garages still use hydraulic lifts? Does your local road division have snowplow attachments on their trucks? Outfit that rent tools and machines have to service them.

I would start checking local hydraulic users - you might find someone willing to share from his 40 gallon drum for a reasonable markup.

Dan

17

Any ISO 22 weight hydraulic oil will work. To be on the safe I would use a non-detergent one on the off chance that one of the additives my affect the seals in the log splitter. Hydraulic jack oil is usually ISO 22 and you should be able to find that pretty easily or get from Amazon. You can usually get them in smaller bottle sizes for cheap too. If you’re really in a pinch, 0W-5 oil or even power steering fluid will work. They both have the equivalent viscosity as ISO 22 hydraulic oil in normal operating conditions.

A log splitter is designed for rough use and likely has fairly generous tolerances.

Edited to add: I am a mechanical engineer with some experience in aircraft hydraulic systems and fluid power systems.

18

We have ordered a 22 weight oil, and we will see how it works.