MIL-PRF-83282 Density Chart

Canvas Element Not Working, Please Check Browser Settings or Contact KasperCalc to fix the issue.
MIL-PRF-83282 density vs temperature in degrees F, compared with MIL-PRF-5606

Measured values for MIL-H-83282: 100 °F to 399 °F (38 °C to 204 °C) at atmospheric pressure, 20.7 MPaG (3000 psig) and 55.2 MPaG (8000 psig).
The atmospheric curve is a straight-line fit to the four measured points and is drawn only across that range; nothing is extrapolated.

Triangles are single-lot manufacturer typical values (not measurements) at a single temperature each. The blue MIL-PRF-5606 series is shown for comparison over its own 100–399 °F measured range. The NADC values are for the 1980 NADC reference lot of MIL-H-83282 (lot and revision not stated).

Data from: NADC-79248-60 (Conte & Hammond, 1980), DTIC ADA081597, Table 2 (measured, MIL-H-83282 and MIL-H-83282 columns).

Toggle data sets by clicking the legend.

MIL-PRF-83282 Density Calculator
Degrees (°F):
Degrees (°C):
Density (kg/m³):  
Density (lb/in³):  
Density (lb/gal):  
Density (lb/ft³):  
Specific Gravity*:  
Specific Gravity**:  
Specific Gravity***:  
°API****:  
MIL-PRF-5606 (kg/m³):  

Calculator valid 100.4 °F to 399.2 °F (38 °C to 204 °C), atmospheric pressure, using the linear fit to the NADC measurements. The MIL-PRF-5606 row uses the same kind of fit to its own NADC measurements and is valid over the same range.

Specific Gravity is a Contentious Unit

* SG based on static density of water of 1000 (kg/m³) *

** SG based on static density of water of 998 (kg/m³) **

*** SG based on temperature dependent density of water ***

**** °API gravity at current temperature, referenced to water at 60°F (999.01 kg/m³): °API = (141.5 / SG60°F) − 131.5 ****

Density of MIL-PRF-83282 Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid
About This Data

MIL-PRF-83282 is a fire-resistant, synthetic hydrocarbon (polyalphaolefin) aircraft hydraulic fluid, dyed red. It replaces MIL-PRF-5606 petroleum oil where fire safety matters, because its flash point is about 205 °C or more instead of about 82 °C. Its density is lower than water, near 0.85 at room temperature.

The density values are the MIL-H-83282 columns of Table 2 in NADC-79248-60 (Conte & Hammond, Naval Air Development Center, 1980, DTIC ADA081597), tabulated at 38, 93, 149 and 204 °C (100, 200, 300 and 400 °F) at atmospheric pressure, 20.7 MPaG (3000 psig) and 55.2 MPaG (8000 psig). The report does not state the measurement method, the specification revision (MIL-H-83282 predates the MIL-PRF designation) or the lot tested, and it gives no uncertainty. Treat the data as the 1980 NADC reference lot of MIL-H-83282 (lot and revision not stated).

The smooth atmospheric curve is the least-squares straight line through the four atmospheric points, ρ = 854.002 − 0.65704 · T°C kg/m³, used only between 38 °C and 204 °C. It departs from the tabulated values by at most 0.1 kg/m³. No density data below 38 °C were found in the NADC report, so the chart and calculator are not extended below 100.4 °F or above 399.2 °F.

The triangles on the chart are single-lot "typical" values taken from manufacturer data sheets for products sold against MIL-PRF-83282D (ROYCO 782, AeroShell Fluid 31 and RADCOLUBE FR282). They are not measurements made for this site and carry no stated uncertainty. MIL-PRF-83282D sets no finished-fluid density limit. It requires only that each lot stays within ±0.008 of the specific gravity found at qualification. See also MIL-PRF-83282 general properties.

MIL-PRF-83282 — Density vs. Temperature
Temp (°C) Temp (°F) Density (kg/m³) Density (g/cm³) Density (lb/gal) Density (lb/ft³) 20.7 MPaG (kg/m³) 55.2 MPaG (kg/m³) Linear fit, atm. (kg/m³)
38100.48290.8296.91851.75840855829.0
93199.47930.7936.61849.51806825792.9
149300.27560.7566.30947.20773795756.1
204399.27200.7206.00944.95740765720.0

Columns 3–6 are the NADC-79248-60 Table 2 atmospheric-pressure measurements; 20.7 and 55.2 MPaG columns are the same table at elevated pressure. Last column: straight-line fit to the atmospheric points. The lot and specification revision are not stated in the report and no uncertainty is given.

Manufacturer Typical Values (not measurements)
Source Printed value Temp (°C) Density (kg/m³)
ROYCO 782 data sheet (26 May 2016)specific gravity 0.852 (ASTM D1298, 15.6 °C)15.6851.2
AeroShell Fluid 31 TDS (v1.3, 2021)specific gravity 0.851 (ASTM D1298, 15.6/15.6 °C)15.6850.2
RADCOLUBE FR282 data sheetspecific gravity 0.838 (ASTM D1298, 15.6/15.6 °C)15.6837.2

SG converted with water at 60 °F (999.01 kg/m³). Single-lot typical values, no uncertainty stated.

MIL-PRF-83282 vs MIL-PRF-5606

MIL-PRF-83282 is a synthetic hydrocarbon fluid; MIL-PRF-5606 is a petroleum (mineral oil) hydraulic fluid. Both are in the same NADC table. Over 38–204 °C, MIL-PRF-83282 is slightly less dense than MIL-PRF-5606, by about 14 to 4 kg/m³ (1.6 to 0.6 %). The gap shrinks as the fluids get hotter.

Temp (°C) Temp (°F) MIL-PRF-83282 (kg/m³) MIL-PRF-5606 (kg/m³) Difference (kg/m³) Difference (% of MIL-PRF-5606)
38100.4829.0842.4-13.4-1.6 %
93199.4792.9803.2-10.3-1.3 %
149300.2756.1763.3-7.2-0.9 %
204399.2720.0724.1-4.1-0.6 %

Both columns use the linear fit to the NADC-79248-60 atmospheric measurements (Table 2), 38–204 °C only. The MIL-PRF-5606 fit is ρ = 869.517 − 0.71295 · T°C kg/m³. Both fluids come from the same report, but the lot and specification revision are not stated for either.

Sources
  • A. A. Conte Jr. and J. L. Hammond, Development of a High Temperature Silicone Base Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid, NADC-79248-60, Naval Air Development Center, Warminster PA, 5 Feb 1980. DTIC ADA081597. apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA081597.pdf. Table 2 (MIL-H-83282 and MIL-H-83282 columns), accessed 25 Oct 2026.
  • US Department of Defense, MIL-PRF-83282D, Performance Specification: Hydraulic Fluid, Fire Resistant, Synthetic Hydrocarbon Base, Metric, NATO Code Number H-537, 30 September 1997, with Amendment 1 (10 December 1997). everyspec.com. Table II, p.7: no finished-fluid density limit.
  • LANXESS, ROYCO 782 Synthetic Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Data Sheet, effective 26 May 2016. ROYCO 782 data sheet. Typical specific gravity.
  • Shell, AeroShell Fluid 31 Technical Data Sheet, v1.3, 21 Jul 2021. AeroShell Fluid 31 TDS (reseller copy). Typical specific gravity.
  • Radco Industries, MIL-PRF-83282D(1) RADCOLUBE FR282 data sheet. RADCOLUBE FR282 data sheet. Typical specific gravity.

The NADC report does not state the specification revision or lot of the MIL-H-83282 tested, and gives no measurement uncertainty. Manufacturer values are single-lot typicals. Data are also listed in tools/mil-prf-83282-sources.json.

Cite This Work