a b s t r a c tThe use of ferrofluid seals in mechanical systems can lead to viscous damping that affects their dynamic behavior. This paper describes an investigation into local viscous properties in the case of an axial harmonic force. The influence of magnetic field level, shear stress amplitude and frequency are studied. Even for ferrofluid particles in a highly saturated magnetic field, it is shown that viscosity increases with magnetic intensity, decreases with the frequency of harmonic excitation and is not sensitive to shear rate amplitude. Viscosity is lower for oscillatory flows than for steady flows.