Hydraulic oil is the fluid that transfers power inside a hydraulic system while lubricating the pump, valves and cylinders and protecting them from wear and corrosion. Harlow Lubricants Supplies is an authorised distributor for Mobil, Shell, Castrol, Fuchs, TotalEnergies and Klüber, with 35 years of lubricant supply behind us, and we stock ISO 32, 46 and 68 hydraulic oils in 20 L pails, 205/208 L drums and 1,000 L IBCs for delivery across the UK and export to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
Need a quote or a data sheet? Tell us the grade, pack size and delivery address and we reply with stock and lead time — the right products delivered at the right time is what keeps you operational.
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Why does it matter which hydraulic oil you use?
The wrong hydraulic oil damages pumps and valves long before it shows up as a breakdown, because viscosity, additive chemistry and OEM approvals are all matched to the equipment. That is why every product we sell is genuine, manufacturer-sealed stock from the brand itself, with the technical data sheet available on request.
The international classification for hydraulic fluids is ISO 6743-4, which defines the HL, HM and HV categories; the German DIN 51524 standard uses the equivalent HL, HLP and HVLP names, and both appear on data sheets. An HM/HLP oil is the standard anti-wear grade for most industrial systems. An HV/HVLP oil has a higher viscosity index for equipment that sees wide temperature swings — a common requirement for mobile plant in West and East Africa.
Buying from an authorised distributor also protects you against counterfeit or re-blended oil. The drum you receive is the drum the manufacturer filled.
Which hydraulic oil grade do I need — ISO 32, 46 or 68?
ISO VG 46 is the default grade for most industrial hydraulic systems in the UK; ISO 32 suits cold conditions and high-speed, low-pressure systems, and ISO 68 suits hot ambient temperatures and heavily loaded pumps. Always check the pump manufacturer’s recommendation before changing grade — our guide to ISO 32 vs 46 vs 68 hydraulic oil explains when to go up or down a grade.
The number is the kinematic viscosity in centistokes at 40 °C. As one example from a manufacturer data sheet, Shell Tellus S2 MX 46 has a viscosity of 46 cSt at 40 °C, a viscosity index of 105 and meets DIN 51524 Part 2 HLP and ISO 11158 HM.
| Grade | Typical use | Genuine products we stock |
|---|---|---|
| ISO VG 32 | Cold sites, high-speed pumps, machine tools, lifts | Mobil DTE 10 Excel 32, Shell Tellus S2 MX 32, Castrol Hyspin AWS 32, Fuchs Renolin ZAF 32B |
| ISO VG 46 | General industrial hydraulics, presses, injection moulding, mobile plant | Mobil DTE 25 Ultra, Shell Tellus S2 MX 46, Castrol Hyspin AWH-M 46, Fuchs Renolin ZAF 46B |
| ISO VG 68 | Hot climates, high-load pumps, mining and quarry equipment | Mobil DTE 26 Ultra, Shell Tellus S2 MX 68, Castrol Hyspin AWH-M 68, Fuchs Renolin ZAF 68B |
For plant working outdoors through a full year, or in the heat of Lagos, Accra or Johannesburg, the high-viscosity-index versions are the better fit: Shell Tellus S2 VX 46, Castrol Hyspin HVI 46 and Mobil DTE 10 Excel 46. Every grade above is also available in 205/208 L drums and 1,000 L IBCs — ask for the pack size you need.
What is the difference between hydraulic fluid and hydraulic oil?
Hydraulic fluid is the general term for any liquid that transmits power in a hydraulic system; hydraulic oil is a hydraulic fluid made from mineral or synthetic base oil. In practice, for industrial and mobile equipment, the two terms describe the same drums on our shelves.
The distinction matters only when a system is specified for a non-oil fluid — a water-glycol or fire-resistant fluid, for instance. Those must never be mixed with mineral hydraulic oil. The Shell Tellus S2 MX data sheet states that mineral hydraulic fluids are compatible with most other mineral-based hydraulic fluids but should not be mixed with environmentally acceptable or fire-resistant fluid types.
Can you use motor oil as hydraulic oil?
No — engine oil is formulated with detergents and dispersants for combustion by-products, not for the air release, water separation and filterability a hydraulic system needs. Using it risks foaming, valve sticking and filter blocking.
If a machine is down and the correct grade is not on site, the safe answer is a same-day WhatsApp to us rather than a substitute. We hold the common grades in stock for UK next-day dispatch.
Which Mobil, Shell, Castrol and Fuchs hydraulic oils do you stock?
We carry the mainstream anti-wear ranges from each manufacturer — Mobil DTE 20 Ultra and DTE 10 Excel, Shell Tellus S2 MX, S2 VX, S3 M and S4 ME, Castrol Hyspin AWS, AWH-M and HVI, and Fuchs Renolin ZAF — plus TotalEnergies Equivis and Azolla and Klüber specialities on request. Everything is genuine, sealed and supplied with the manufacturer’s data sheet.
One thing worth knowing if you are still specifying the classic Mobil DTE 25: Mobil has retired the DTE 20 Series in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the DTE 20 Ultra Series is the direct replacement in the popular ISO VG 22–100 grades. Mobil confirms the Ultra products can be mixed with and topped up over the old DTE 20 products. If your maintenance schedule still says “DTE 25”, Mobil DTE 25 Ultra is what you need, and we will say so on the quote rather than send you the wrong drum.
Don’t see what you need? Just ask. Single source supply is what we do — one enquiry, one delivery, every lubricant on your site.
What pack sizes can I buy — 20 litre, 205/208 litre drum or IBC?
Every grade is available in 20 L pails, 205/208 L drums and 1,000 L IBCs, and bulk delivery is available for regular high-volume users. Tell us your monthly usage and we will recommend the pack size that gives you the best price per litre without oil sitting in store past its shelf life.
A 208 L drum of Mobil DTE 25 Ultra costs noticeably less per litre than the same oil in 20 L pails, so drums pay for themselves once a site is using more than about 200 litres a month — we will show you both on the quote. Pails suit top-ups, satellite sites and export consolidation where a mixed pallet of grades is being shipped to one port.
How much does hydraulic oil cost?
Price depends on the brand, grade, pack size, quantity and delivery destination, so we quote every enquiry individually rather than publish list prices. Orders over €10,000 receive a 10% discount, and we price-match a like-for-like genuine product.
Send the product name, grade, pack size and delivery address and we reply the same working day.
Do you deliver hydraulic oil to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa?
Yes — we export genuine Mobil, Shell, Castrol and Fuchs hydraulic oil from London to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, palletised and shipped with the manufacturer’s data sheet and safety data sheet. UK deliveries normally arrive within 3–5 business days; export lead times are confirmed on the quote.
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For African buyers, ISO 68 and HV grades are often the better fit for ambient temperatures, and we will flag that on the quote if the grade you asked for looks wrong for the site.
Ready to order or need a data sheet?
sales@harlowlubricants.com · +44 741 159 5647
Harlow Lubricants Supplies, 405 Hendon Way, London NW4 3LH, United Kingdom. Authorised distributor for Mobil, Shell, Castrol, Fuchs, TotalEnergies and Klüber. 35 years in lubricant supply.
