Motor Oil???

Status
Not open for further replies.
X

xxjumbojimboxx

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
1,342
Location
Southern Colorado
So I traded for a PARA Slim Hawg today. Got the gun.... It was SWIMMING in motor oil... Like, Hm, Ill just take a lil casterol GTX and pump it into my .45... Im curious... I mean it works for cars so I have to assume it would workin guns... the question is.. how well? I cleaned it all out and put my preference in there anyhow.
 
FWIW
I'm using Mobil 1 synthetic 0W40 and it seems to be as good as anything else I've used. A real savings for me since this is the "squeezings" that I drain from the bottom of the bottles after changing oil in the ATV's.
 
I use mobil 1, i've used other oils in the past, all seem to work good to me.

Guns that dont make it to the range often get a good cleaning and a heavy oiling on the metal parts. Before I take a stored gun out, i'll field strip and wipe it down. dont get me wrong, it's not dripping, just a well lubed rag.
 
Don't know why it should be swimming. I generally use auto trans fluid for everything myself (after exhaustive testing to determine such critical variables as which type of lubricant proved to be the most present in a case in my barn), but 10W30 will work just fine, too.
 
most firearms are not very mechanically demanding mechanisms.....low cycle speed, low duty cycle, and frequent maintenance...........to be honest, any oil will likely work just fine...hell, you can probably lube them with olive oil and not notice a difference in performance.

i find it funny people insist on buying the latest and greatest lubes, when to be honest, a $3 quart of motor oil is more than enough to last an average gun owner a lifetime.

unless you are in extreme artic cold conditions, you dont really need anything special in terms of lubrication.
 
If I will run Shell Rotella in my diesel truck I wouldn't think twice about not using it to do some firearms lubrication. All the synthetic motor oils will work well. Now if you get a deal on NSFO (Navy standard fuel oil) don't use it. It gets all over eveything, it's black, stains and stinks.
 
Yeah. It's oil. Gun oil is just oil, with some modifiers and wonder-whiz additives that make it look and smell a little different. As M-Cameron said, guns aren't really highly complex systems with critical viscosity requirements.

I like ATF (automatic transmission fluid) as I think it does a slightly better job of dissolving soot and gunk, so it makes a better cleaner as well as lubricant. But motor oil will do the job fine. Heck, I've used Singer sewing machine oil before.
 
I agree Sam. ATF is usually a bit thinner and certainly has more detergent than most motor oil. My autoshop instructor insisted on lubing all the air tools with ATF. I have used sewing machine oil and I also used 3 in 1 oil for a lot of years. I bought some Lucas gun oil at a gun show. It looked like ATF. It worked great!
 
You can always remove the darn stuff. If it came from a humid seacoast location, the previous owner may have done you a favor by preventing rust.
 
I only use Singer sewing machine oil on my original Singer 1911. I carry it daily and did a nice stippling job and curt some front serrations on the slide with my bench grinder last week. ;)
 
I have used Mobil 1 Motor Oil to lubricant -- However I have read in the past that Motor Oil does not have any Rust Inhabitant in it so not recommended for oiling the bore.


But a great lubricant -- and cheap and if you change your own oil then you probably have it all over the garage.


UK
 
Motor oil smells bad.

I don't care who ya are.

I haven't spent enough money on real gun lubricants that don't smell bad in the last 50 years to buy a decent steak dinner anyway.

rc
 
Last edited:
I have used mobil one oil and some bearing grease that I had in the shop for lubing my guns. I have not bought any gun oil in several years due to not needing it, and I almost always have motor oil in my truck. Got to love a truck that uses a little bit of oil every month, keeps you on your toes.

I see nothing wrong with using standard oil for a lube, and as long as you check up on them you should not develop rust on them. I usually wipe mine down once a month for "bonding time."
 
I have used Mobil 1 Motor Oil to lubricant -- However I have read in the past that Motor Oil does not have any Rust Inhabitant in it so not recommended for oiling the bore.

But a great lubricant -- and cheap.
Click to expand...

oil in its self is a rust inhibitant.

Rust is FeO2 or Iron Oxide.......essentially you need to expose the iron to the oxygen in the air to create rust.....

what oil does is form a film over the steel so that it is no longer exposed to oxygen.......oil also repels water or H20 (notice the oxygen).....

essentially any non-water based fluid can be used to inhibit rust.....petroleum/ silicone/ wax/ ect.
 
Motor oil lasts millions of cycles under high temperature and pressure. This is exactly what a gun needs.

For $7, I can get 4 ounces of CLP, or 64 ounces (2 quarts) of Mobil 1 fully synthetic 10W30, and never have to buy it again.

The only reason I don't use the way oil my machine tools take, which is detergent free and doesn't run off, is because I can't find it locally so have to have it shipped.
 
What's the deal with "gun oil" anyway? Every time I use the stuff it's gone in a few days and the firearm is dry. Is it more solvent than oil?

I use compressor oil usually. Fewer additives than motor oil. Never swimming--just enough.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

stchman
  • Locked
Using motor oil on guns.
2 3 4 5 6 7
Replies
153
Views
20K
Robert
Robert
C
  • Locked
is motor oil ok for use on the wood?
2
Replies
25
Views
8K
GRIZ22
G
stchman
  • Locked
Over oil a gun?
2 3 4 5
Replies
104
Views
7K
Robert
Robert
W
  • Locked
case lube question (motor oil ?)
Replies
12
Views
2K
waverace
W
D
  • Locked
Lubricating Oils
2 3
Replies
58
Views
3K
XD-40 Shooter
X
Back
Top