ISO specification hydraulic oils with anti wear additives are generally considered to be perfectly satisfactory in bronze lathe spindle bearings and similar applications.
Many years ago I contacted Castrol about oils form my Southbend Heavy 10 which had plain bronze bearings in the spindle. They said use Hyspin AWS 32 hydraulic oil in the spindle and Manga BD68 for the sideways, apron, feed screws, drop gears and other lower speed uses. Pushing 30 years later I find the same combination perfectly acceptable although the machines I use now are rather more industrial in character.
I have a note that Mobile Velocite oils go up to around ISO 22 – 25 but am unsure of the origin or accuracy.
ISO 20 is very thin. My view is that the only machines needing super thin oils are things like the high speed plain bearing Holbrook C's often purchased for diamond turning duties, and similar. Uber thin oils are a right pest to keep in the machine and can be hard for older, inevitably worn, pump fed systems to cope with.
Clive.
Edited By Clive Foster on 29/10/2018 13:03:49