Short answer: run the grade the machine was built for – it is on the spec plate, in the manual, or on the label of what is in the tank now. AW32, AW46 and AW68 are the same anti-wear hydraulic oil at three thicknesses. The number is the ISO viscosity grade: 32 runs thinner, 46 is the general fleet standard, 68 runs thicker.
What the number means
ISO viscosity grade is the oil’s thickness at 40 degrees Celsius. AW32 flows thinner, AW46 sits in the middle, AW68 is the thickest of the three. All three carry the same anti-wear additive package – the grade changes flow, not protection chemistry.
When each grade fits
AW32 suits colder conditions and systems that need fast flow – outdoor equipment through a New York winter, smaller pumps, tight valves. AW46 covers most construction, truck and industrial equipment and is what mixed fleets standardize on. AW68 suits hot operating conditions, heavy loads and older systems with wider internal clearances.
The rule that matters
Match the grade the manufacturer specifies. Thinner than spec leaks past seals and wears the pump. Thicker than spec runs hot, starves the pump at startup and burns fuel. When two seasons pull in opposite directions, the machine spec wins – or ask us about a multigrade.
READY WHEN YOU ARE
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AW32, AW46 and AW68 in 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums or bulk, delivered across NYC, Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, Pennsylvania and the Tri-State.
Office hours Monday-Friday, 6:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Bass Oil & Chemical LLC, 126 Scott Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237. Serving Brooklyn fleets since 1988.
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