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What Kind of Oil Can You Use on a Circulating Pump?

A circulating pump is essentially any kind of pump whose primary purpose is to circulate a fluid through a closed system. Not all circulating pumps use oil to lubricate and power their respective systems, but there are some common appliances with circulating pumps that use oil, such as heating and cooling units. Depending on the appliance or machine you have it is important that you know what type of oil you should use for your circulating pump so you can keep it in top working order.
  1. Grade No. 2

    • Grade No. 2 oil is the cleanest, purest and generally most expensive type of oil you can use for a circulating pump. Grade No. 2 is commonly used in residential heating units and is more advantageous than Grade No. 1 because of its fuel burning efficiency. The heating value has a range of 137,000 to 141,800 Btu/gal.

    Grade No. 4

    • Grade No. 4 oil is a relatively even blend of Grade No. 2 and No. 6 oil. Grade No. 4 oil is advantageous because it is usually cheaper than Grade No. 2 but also yields much of the same efficiency. Grade No. 4 is cleaner and purer than Grade No. 6, making it useful for lubricating and fueling industrial burners with circulating pumps. The heating value has a range of 143,100 to 148,100 Btu/gal.

    Grade No. 6

    • Grade No. 6 oil is sluggish, heavy and dirty. It is approximately 40 percent less expensive than Grade No. 2 and provides more heat per gallon than any other grade. The drawback to the money you save in fuel with Grade No. 6 oil is that it often requires more costly and frequent maintenance. The heating value has a range of 151,300 to 155,900 Btu/gal.

    Grade No. 1

    • Grade No. 1 oil is a volatile distillate oil intended for vaporizing pot-type burners but can also be used on a circulating pump system. This type of oil is commonly known as stove oil but it often serves as a substitute for Grade No. 2 in residential heating units. The heating value has a range of 132,900 to 137,000 Btu/gal.