Technology

Suspension Oil Specs

100% Bio Based

Superior Performance

WPL Suspension Oil is a premium quality bio-based suspension oil developed in collaboration with professional mountain bike athletes and world class mechanics. It is designed for use in both forks and shocks. We provide a completely biodegradable product that out performs synthetic and petroleum based suspension oils in performance.

Viscosities and VI

Suspension oils are categorized by “weight” nomenclature which does not have a concrete definition. Viscosities are measured in centistokes, and we have optimized our range to provide the widest possible, and most useful selection of viscosities for users to work with.

Viscosity Index is a metric that displays how resistant to change in viscosity an oil is as temperature increases. The higher the VI, the more consistent an oil is throughout a ride. VI is more relevant for oils in damper cartridges where the high flow rate and shear increase heat, whereas in oils meant purely for lubrication there is less heating and less importance placed on this metric. Above a 250 VI is generally regarded as a high VI.

WPL Oils Viscosity @ 40ºC (cSt) Viscosity @ 100ºC (cSt) VI 40-100
2.5wt
(ISOVG15)		 16.2 5.6 342
5wt
(ISOVG22)		 19.8 6.6 330
7wt
(ISOVG32)		 29.7 8.6 290
10wt
(ISOVG46)		 42.1 10.8 261
20wt
(ISOVG68)		 74.5 15.6 224

Cold Temperature Resistance

Performance in cold temperatures is of increasing performance to cyclists as off-season riding becomes more popular. This requires a sort of cold temperature Viscosity Index so that the oil maitains its fluidity as the temperature decreases and the oil wants to increase in viscosity. We have optimized our fluids to resist thickening in cold temperatures as much as possible.

WPL Oils VI 5-40 Viscosity @ 5ºC (mPa s) Viscosity @ 0ºC (mPa s) Viscosity @ -5ºC (mPa s) Viscosity @ -10ºC (mPa s)
2.5wt
(ISOVG15)		 253 49.8 62.6 80.3 104.2
5wt
(ISOVG22)		 240 63.4 81.9 106.1 140.4
7wt
(ISOVG32)		 225 106.4 137.9 182.0 245.45
10wt
(ISOVG46)		 214 175.7 232.7 314.2 434.1
20wt
(ISOVG68)		 181 390.8 562.7 778.2 1128.8

Oxidative Stabililty

The Viscosity Index improving additives used in petro-based oils, as well a synthetic oil itself, are destroyed during heating. These oils and additives aren’t stable at high temperatures under high shear. This could be witnessed in an experiment where a competitor’s oil lost half its volume during an Oxidative Stability Index test.

Seal Swelling

All components of our suspension oils have been selected based on compatibility with the rubber elastomers used to make the internal seals of a fork or shock.

Seals are soaked in our oil at high temperatures for extended periods, and the effect on the seal is measured with a seal indentation machine (softening is inversely correlated with mechanical strength) Compression test speed was 0.1 mm/sec. Maximum distance set at 1.5 mm and trigger force was 0.196 N. The diameter of the probe was 3.00 mm. An SMS materials testing device was used. Sample were allowed to equilibrate to 22ºC before testing. Also measured is change in ID, OD, and thickness.

Anti Wear

Components are chosen based on their ability to prevent wear from metal to metal contact. Anti-wear is an element of lubricity. The scar diameter is then measured. Coefficient of Friction measurements are made during the Four-Ball Test, this together with the Anti-Wear represent the lubricity of an oil.

Triple Ester Technology

WPL Suspension Oil Uses Triple Ester technology.

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