Solenoid Valve Media Viscosity – What You Need to Know
Understanding media viscosity is critical when selecting the right solenoid valve for your application. At Solenoid Valve World, we provide a comprehensive selection of valves compatible with various fluid viscosities to ensure optimal flow control and performance.
What Is Media Viscosity?
Understanding media viscosity is critical when selecting the right solenoid valve for your application. At Solenoid Valve World, we provide a comprehensive selection of valves compatible with various fluid viscosities to ensure optimal flow control and performance.
What Is Media Viscosity?
Viscosity refers to a fluid's internal resistance to flow. It determines how easily a liquid or gas moves through piping and valves. Viscosity is commonly measured in Centistokes (cSt) or Centipoise (cP), and higher viscosity fluids flow more slowly and may require specially designed valves to operate effectively.
Standard Solenoid Valve Viscosity Limits
Most 2/2 and 3/2 solenoid valves are designed to handle fluids with viscosities up to 40 to 50 Centistokes (cSt). These standard valves are ideal for controlling:
Fuel and other low-viscosity liquids
High Viscosity Fluid Solutions
For applications involving thicker or more viscous media, specialised solenoid valves are required. We offer advanced solutions capable of handling up to 600 Centistokes (and beyond), including:
Co-axial Solenoid Valves – Designed for high-viscosity fluids in demanding environments
Angle Seat Piston Valves – Ideal for steam, oils, and viscous process media
Special Application Valves – Built for unique industrial challenges
These valves provide powerful flow control for heavy-duty fluids like gear oil, molasses, and viscous chemicals.
Viscosity Conversion Reference
Viscosity can be expressed in several units, depending on the system or region. Below are common conversions:
1 Centipoise (cP) = 1 mm²/s = 1 Centistoke (cSt) (for fluids with a density close to water)
1 Poise = 100 Centipoise
1 Stokes = 100 Centistokes
Accurate viscosity measurement is essential when specifying a solenoid valve to avoid flow restrictions, valve wear, or failure.
Choose the Right Valve for Your Fluid
At Solenoid Valve World, we help engineers and system designers select the most suitable solenoid valves for their media viscosity requirements, ensuring efficiency, safety, and system longevity.
Learn more or browse our viscosity-rated solenoid valves:
| 100 Centipose | 1 Poise |
| 1 Centipose | 0.1 mPas (Millipascal Second) |
| 1 Poise | 0.1 pa s (Pascal Second) |
| Centipose | Centistoke x Density |
Approximate Viscosities of Common Materials
(At Room Temperature 20°C)
| Material | Viscosity in Centipose |
| Water | 1 cps |
| Milk | 3 cps |
| SAE 10 Motor Oil | 85 to 140 cps |
| SAE 20 Motor Oil | 140 to 420 cps |
| SAE 30 Motor Oil | 420 to 650 cps |
| SAE 40 Motor Oil | 650 to 900 cps |
| Castrol Oil | 1000 cps |
| Karo Syrup | 5000 cps |
| Honey | 10000 cps |
| Chocolate | 25000 cps |
| Ketchup | 50000 cps |
| Mustard | 70000 cps |
| Sour Cream | 100000 cps |
| Peanut Butter | 250000 cps |
Viscosity Cross-reference Tables
| Centipoise (CPS)
Millipascal (mPas) |
Poise (P) |
Centistokes (CKS) |
Stokes (S) |
Saybolt Universal (SSU) |
| 1 |
0.01 |
1 |
0.01 |
31 |
| 2 |
0.02 |
2 |
0.02 |
34 |
| 4 |
0.04 |
4 |
0.04 |
38 |
| 7 |
0.07 |
7 |
0.07 |
47 |
| 10 |
0.1 |
10 |
0.1 |
60 |
| 15 |
0.15 |
15 |
0.15 |
80 |
| 20 |
0.2 |
20 |
0.2 |
100 |
| 25 |
0.24 |
25 |
0.24 |
130 |
| 30 |
0.3 |
30 |
0.3 |
160 |
| 40 |
0.4 |
40 |
0.4 |
210 |
| 50 |
0.5 |
50 |
0.5 |
260 |
| 60 |
0.6 |
60 |
0.6 |
320 |
| 70 |
0.7 |
70 |
0.7 |
370 |
| 80 |
0.8 |
80 |
0.8 |
430 |
| 90 |
0.9 |
90 |
0.9 |
480 |
| 100 |
1 |
100 |
1 |
530 |
| 120 |
1.2 |
120 |
1.2 |
580 |
| 140 |
1.4 |
140 |
1.4 |
690 |
| 160 |
1.6 |
160 |
1.6 |
790 |
| 180 |
1.8 |
180 |
1.8 |
900 |
| 200 |
2 |
200 |
2 |
1000 |
| 220 |
2.2 |
220 |
2.2 |
1100 |
| 240 |
2.4 |
240 |
2.4 |
1200 |
| 260 |
2.6 |
260 |
2.6 |
1280 |
| 280 |
2.8 |
280 |
2.8 |
1380 |
| 300 |
3 |
300 |
3 |
1475 |
| 320 |
3.2 |
320 |
3.2 |
1530 |
| 340 |
3.4 |
340 |
3.4 |
1630 |
| 360 |
3.6 |
360 |
3.6 |
1730 |
| 380 |
3.8 |
380 |
3.8 |
1850 |
| 400 |
4 |
400 |
4 |
1950 |
| 420 |
4.2 |
420 |
4.2 |
2050 |
| 440 |
4.4 |
440 |
4.4 |
2160 |
| 460 |
4.6 |
460 |
4.6 |
2270 |
| 480 |
4.8 |
480 |
4.8 |
2380 |
| 500 |
5 |
500 |
5 |
2480 |
| 550 |
5.5 |
550 |
5.5 |
2660 |
| 600 |
6 |
600 |
6 |
2900 |
Helpful Hint: Ask your chemical supplier for your media's viscosity, and compatible materials, as they are supposed to know.
Try our valve wizard to find valves for your application.
