Thread: Geiger soluble cutting oil gone off?

Just wish to ask a simple question but It has me stumped. I have a partial 1L bottle of Geiger soluble cutting oil but on the label it says mix one part oil to ten parts water but the oil just collects at the top and won't mix. I have had the bottle from new about 8 years ago and haven't used it in 7.999999 years up to now LOL.
I know it is the right stuff as I bought it new with my lathe and worked fine when I used the coolant pump. I only used 2/3 at the time but soon gave up on the idea as I don't use it professionally and it just made a mess everywhere.
I have thrown 10% in a old soft drink bottle and added water but it won't mix no matter how hard I shake it. Could it be stuffed? I didn't think it possible but I thought I would ask the question anyway.

Regards SparkieKosten

Would not think it would go off,are you putting water or oil in 1st?

Oil than water

Is the oil solution going milky at all or staying as 2 seperate items?

it tried going a little milky but mostly just floated to the top like regular oil. Shaking made no difference it would refloat to the top

I've never heard of it before but it sounds like it's lost its emulsifying agent. Where has it been stored - in a hot shed?

Hi Guys,

I have some very old soluble cutting oil that's been stored for at least 30 plus years and it does exactly the same, just floats on top of the water. My solution (pardon the pun ) is to put a squirt of washing up liquid in and give it a good shake up. It then mixes nicely. If it starts to separate again a good shake restores it.

However I only use a brush to apply it when needed so it gets shaken and poured into a small tin secured with a magnet to the drip tray.

I don’t know if it goes off.
My first thought is that you may have mixed a reverse emulsion, water emulsified in oil rather than oil in water. Try swirling the water in a container and slowly add the oil. Always oil in last.

I would piff it and buy new coolant.

The bactericides would likely be non existent and whatever decides to grow in it would probably be detrimental to your health,
eg. infections in cuts, legionnaires disease.

cheers, shed

coolant does have a limited shelf life. For the drums we get at work i think it is about 3-4years.

Just to give closure to this post I stuffed up.
After I shook up the oil in the bottle before mixing it with water fixed my problems. I never thought to shake the oil before using it. Now it mixes nicely and I have left it sitting after mixing for over a week and there has been no change. The mixture is keeping its consistency and it is working fine!
Sorry for the confusion but I will know better next time.