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114 Posts
Hi Guys,
I bought an electric HVAC vacuum pump a few months back and haven't any real reason to use it. It came without oil so it's just been sitting on the shelf and I completely forgot to buy a quart. Now I'm in a jamb. I want to use the pump later today and or tomorrow morning to bleed the brakes on my work truck. I'm not using it to pull a vacuum on a refrigeration system.
Is there a viable substitute I can purchase locally that will get me through the evening? I just don't have time to make it to a supply house before they close (they're all relatively far from me and close at 5 pm). I don't get done work today until 5.
Anyway, I had done some research a while back and read somewhere that I can use straight 30 weight non-detergent motor oil. I understand that vacuum pump oil has something to do with filtration which is why it's important to use the right stuff but once I bleed the brakes I have no problem getting the right stuff and changing the oil.
SO my question is can I use a substitute oil and where the heck can I get it? I'm stuck with shopping at Home Depot, Lowes (which I doubt either would carry anything I'd need) Advance Auto Parts, Pep Boys, Walmart or Autozone. I'm more concerned right now with not burning out the pump or ruining the pump beyond use for refrigeration work when I need it.
I'm only stating this because someone might ask how I plan to use the pump... I have a large glass jar with an in and out port. The in has a "dip tube" that goes to the bottom. The out will hook to the pump to create vacuum and the in hose will attach to the brake bleeder screw. Thus allowing me to suck brake fluid into the jar and not accidently suck any into the pump.
Thanks for the input,
Al C
I bought an electric HVAC vacuum pump a few months back and haven't any real reason to use it. It came without oil so it's just been sitting on the shelf and I completely forgot to buy a quart. Now I'm in a jamb. I want to use the pump later today and or tomorrow morning to bleed the brakes on my work truck. I'm not using it to pull a vacuum on a refrigeration system.
Is there a viable substitute I can purchase locally that will get me through the evening? I just don't have time to make it to a supply house before they close (they're all relatively far from me and close at 5 pm). I don't get done work today until 5.
Anyway, I had done some research a while back and read somewhere that I can use straight 30 weight non-detergent motor oil. I understand that vacuum pump oil has something to do with filtration which is why it's important to use the right stuff but once I bleed the brakes I have no problem getting the right stuff and changing the oil.
SO my question is can I use a substitute oil and where the heck can I get it? I'm stuck with shopping at Home Depot, Lowes (which I doubt either would carry anything I'd need) Advance Auto Parts, Pep Boys, Walmart or Autozone. I'm more concerned right now with not burning out the pump or ruining the pump beyond use for refrigeration work when I need it.
I'm only stating this because someone might ask how I plan to use the pump... I have a large glass jar with an in and out port. The in has a "dip tube" that goes to the bottom. The out will hook to the pump to create vacuum and the in hose will attach to the brake bleeder screw. Thus allowing me to suck brake fluid into the jar and not accidently suck any into the pump.
Thanks for the input,
Al C