Author Topic: Marvels Mystery Oil (Read 1243 times)

borg1 · « **on:** January 24, 2005, 03:34:44 AM »

A friend of mine was over Saturday and we were cleaning his handguns (which had not been cleaned since we shot them Dec. 18/04, so nearly a month). I soaked his barrels with Butch bore shine, scoured them with nylon and bronze phosphor brushes and then ran clean patches through them until they came out clean. It took at most two rounds of soaked patches and brushing before patches were coming out clean. I said to myself, no way these guns are clean after the amount of shooting and then storage without cleaning. i looked in barrels and they looked good, but i still was not sure. Then, my friend said, lets lube up the barrels with this red, very thin oil like substance. The patches we used to coat the barrels came out BLACK!!!!!! So, we cleaned for a good long while with this stuff and patches came out black for a good long while. I got one of his revolvers sparkling with this stuff. I asked him what it was and he pulls out this red bottle called Marvels Mystery Oil. Apparently, its used to remove fowling and deposits in engines. you add this stuff to the oil and it cleans up the engine... the question i have is: has anyone used this stuff and is it safe to be used in gun barrels and parts. Are there any special precautions to be taken. i advised him to use a degreaser to remove all that stuff and then re-oil with a good gun oil, like Kroil.

DWARREN123 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2005, 03:55:49 AM »

I use it in a mixture, 3 parts MMO, 1 part ATF, 1 part of a light synthetic motor oil

Paul5388 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2005, 05:35:32 AM »

In my experience with MMO, I have found that ATF works about as good at a whole lot less cost in air tools and engines. Ed Harris published a formula for what is known as "Ed's Red" that pretty well duplicates Hatcher's original Frankford Arsenal No. 18 formula with modern ingredients.

Quote

CONTENTS: Ed's Red Bore Cleaner

1 part Dexron II, IIe or III ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.

1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1

1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits, Fed. Spec. TT-T-2981F, CAS
#64741-49-9, or may substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or
equivalent, (aka "Varsol")

1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.

(Optional up to 1 lb. of Lanolin, Anhydrous, USP per gallon, OK to
substitute Lanolin, Modified, Topical Lubricant, from the drug store)

MIXING INSTRUCTIONS FOR "ER" BORE CLEANER:

Mix outdoors, in good ventilation. Use a clean 1 gallon metal,
chemical-resistant, heavy gage PET or PVC plastic container. NFPA
approved plastic gasoline storage containers are also OK. Do NOT use
HDPE, which is permeable, because the acetone will eventually evaporate.
The acetone in ER will also attack HDPE, causing the container to
collapse, making a heck of a mess!

Add the ATF first. Use the empty container to measure the other
components, so that it is thoroughly rinsed. If you incorporate the
lanolin into the mixture, melt this carefully in a double boiler, taking
precautions against fire. Pour the melted lanolin it into a larger
container, rinsing the lanolin container with the bore cleaner mix, and
stirring until it is all dissolved.

I recommend diverting a small quantity, up to 4 ozs. per quart of the
50-50 ATF/kerosene mix for optional use as an "ER-compatible" gun oil.
This can be done without impairing the effectiveness of the remaining
mix.

safetysheriff · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2005, 05:43:51 AM »

I have posted here and on a couple other sites that I've used MMO' straight, and even better with Hoppe's #9 in a mix of 50/50. It's been very effective.

HOWEVER, I've since tried Rislone and it is even better at getting a bore clean. Rislone seems to cut down on the friciton of the bronze bore brushes making it easier to push them through the firearm, too. I still use MMO' at times, but have grown to prefer Rislone -- straight or about 30% in a mix with Hoppe's #9.

I know exactly what you mean: either MMO' or Rislone will get the dirt out.

SS'

ps: MMO' works well as a fuel injector cleaner -- though I use it about 2 to 2+1/2 times as strong as what they say on the bottle. It doesn't seem to hurt anything.

Joel · « **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2005, 06:42:23 AM »

Things you learn here!! I've been using MMO for years in my truck, tractor and mowers(both in the engine oil and in the gas) and never even THOUGHT of using it as a bore cleaner. Interesting post; have to try some today both straight and mixed, since I"ve a couple of rifles need cleaned.

Yukon Gold · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2005, 07:29:28 AM »

:? Help me out - what is ATF?

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2005, 07:42:33 AM »

ATF= automatic transmission fluid.

ken s · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2005, 04:41:49 PM »

Alcohol/Tax/ Firearms. he he
ken s

ShadowMover · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2005, 07:18:56 PM »

I bought some MMO a few years ago when I thought I had a sticky valve guide. The oil mist got spread around and I noticed it had a distinctive smell, which always made me a little hungry. It is a great lubricant and I use it for lots of things, but if I get it in the air, like when you blow the oil off a gun when cleaning, I get the low blood sugar shakes. :? I have a low blood sugar problem, and I was wondering if anyone else had noticed anything like that.

plateshooter · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2005, 04:05:17 PM »

ShadowMover
I find that with some lubricants, they are absorbed into your body through your skin or breathing the vapors.
Kroil is one of those for me. If I touch a patch with Kroil on it, I can taste it within a few minutes, and it gives me the same shakes as a low sugar crash. (I hate it when that happens) I use rubber gloves and that seems to help alot. Don't know what you could do about the fumes.

ShadowMover · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2005, 07:40:24 PM »

I've had the same problem with other solvents too, but I really noticed it with the MMO. I think using the latex gloves when handling solvents and toxic chemicals is the best thing since sliced bread. I just bought a box of the blue ones, which are supposed to resist solvents more. I try to stay away from any exposure to solvents now.

Coastwatcher · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2005, 01:42:18 PM »

Quote from: safetysheriff

HOWEVER, I've since tried Rislone and it is even better at getting a bore clean. .

Which Rislone product do you use? They have several different kinds of cleaners.

msorenso · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2005, 02:44:00 PM »

From what I learned in college bio, it that our skin, raspatory system, digestive system is one huge sponge. We have the biggest pores in our feet which, our body tries to detoxify itself with. But once a substance is in our system it is transferred everywhere in a sort time period. Which I guess, explains why you have those experinces.