# Oil that does mix with water

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-that-does-mix-with-water/39140>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 31, 2000, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-that-does-mix-with-water/39140 "2000-10-31T21:17:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-that-does-mix-with-water/39140/1 "2000-10-31T21:17:30Z")

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What’s the SD on soluble oils that will emulsify in water? I started using a lubricant called Ballistol that mixes with water and doesn’t seperate even after a few weeks in solution. Instead of displacing water like WD40 is mixes with it and still protects metal from corrosion. It’s made in Germany by a company called Klever and was apparently invented in 1904 for military use.

My question for chemist types is, what defines an “oil?” My Websters says oils are soluble in ether but **not** water. What the heck is this snake oil? (not to be confused with Snake Oil™ brand lubricants.)

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**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-that-does-mix-with-water/39140/2 "2000-10-31T21:49:24Z")

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I don’t know anything about Ballistol. But I once heard Lanolin is one of the few water-soluble oils available.

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**Author:** ![Shiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiva)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-that-does-mix-with-water/39140/3 "2000-10-31T22:16:05Z")

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Emulsifiers allow oils to mix with water.

Main Entry: emul·si·fy  
Pronunciation: -"fI  
Function: transitive verb  
Inflected Form(s): -fied; -fy·ing  
Date: 1859  
: to disperse (as an oil) in an emulsion; also : to convert (two or more immiscible liquids) into an emulsion

- emul·si·fi·able /i-'m&l-s&-"fI-&-b&l/ adjective
- emul·si·fi·ca·tion /i-"m&l-s&-f&-'kA-sh&n/ noun

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**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-that-does-mix-with-water/39140/4 "2000-10-31T23:02:58Z")

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Machine tool cooling oils emulsify to such an extent that they don’t fully separate.  
Olive Oil absorbs water, so does brake fluid.