Author Topic: synthetic motor oil as gun oil? (Read 1708 times)

bluebayou · « **on:** March 23, 2010, 07:50:26 PM »

I have read in quite a few places about using synthetic motor oil as a gun oil. Does anyone here use it? I read some old threads about using it as case lube. I was wondering about long term storage. Would 10w30 be too high of viscosity? I would think that 5w20 would be better.

Dead serious. CLP works great for me, but it is expensive.

SteveHawaii · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2010, 09:31:39 PM »

I'm currently using Mobile 1, 10W30. I use it on the all the exposed metal parts and use regular gun oil (mineral and synthetic) on the bore and internal parts. Motor oil seems to be working well for me. I just don't like the smell. Something about the smell of motor oil on my guns that doesn't sit well, but I get over it. Synthetic motor oil is relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to gun oil, and it has superior qualities.

I've used it on cases but didn't really like it. Seemed too thick or something. I tended to dent the cases easier when using it. Went back to Hornady and Lee lubes, at least for now.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2010, 09:40:01 PM »

I'll stick with Eezox, it's meant for guns and nothing could work better, motor oil is meant to be in engines, considering how little I use, there's no cost benefit in saving a little money using a product for something it wasn't intended. Eezox also dries to a protective non-dust collecting film, don't expect motor oil to do that, read the reviews at Midway.

Tim

http://www.eezox.com/gun-care.html

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=413498

http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

MSP Ret · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2010, 01:47:00 AM »

Synthetic motor oil stays "wet".Many AR enthusiasts ar using Mobil 1 synthetic oil for the bolt and carrier of thier AR's. The bolt and carrier of an AR gets very hot after repeated firing and AR's prefer to be run "wet"....<><....

guzzijohn · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2010, 04:08:25 AM »

Last week on Gun Talk A couple of mentions of being very pleased with ATF.
GuzziJohn

petemi · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2010, 04:29:16 AM »

I've got to agree with Tim. If'n ya can't afford lube, ya can't afford boolits. Besides, who wants a rifle to smell like a Dodge Pickup?

Pete

Swampman · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2010, 04:53:40 AM »

Break-Free is the only thing I'll use.

coues2506 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:09:19 AM »

What Tim said!

dks7895 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2010, 06:37:46 AM »

The only short cut I use in the gun cleaning department is brake cleaner. I've had to clean a few really nasty guns. Gun Scrubber is basically very expensive brake cleaner. You should remove the action from the stock to avoid damage. Also be careful of cheaply painted surfaces. Once it's all clean...Break Free CLP and an old t-shirt is all I use.

I use Outers foaming bore cleaner to clean a nasty bore. I was handed down a Marlin 30AS from my father-in-law. It was shooting 6 inch groups at 50 yards!!! After a good cleaning and foaming out the bore, you can lay a nickel on the group @ 100 yards.

D Humbarger · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2010, 06:51:55 AM »

Mobil 1 rocks! I am bias though. I retired from ExxonMobil.

bluebayou · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2010, 07:35:03 PM »

thanks for the replies. I have been really happy with the Breakfree CLP. Remoil was too thin and didn't do much for cleaning. The synthetic Mobil oil is recommended in a lot of places.

I didn't think about the "wetness" factor, but that might be a good thing for longterm storage.

I guess that what I really need is CLP in a quart trigger spray bottle. The aerosol cans make me mad when they run out of propellant with product left inside.

Swampman · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2010, 12:49:31 AM »

Don't try this ay home but I've used a nail on spray cans with no pressure and product left inside. You're own your own.

Antietamgw · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2010, 02:42:24 AM »

Eezox and Break Free were top choices for corrosion protection in a test I recall seeing. I use Break Free for storage. It's about the only thing that has worked for my son, who has been cursed with "the touch of rust".

Kroil has got to be the best penetrating oil ever but poor for corrosion protection. I bought a couple gallons, online, a few years back. Cheap enough to use on farm equipment. My wife hates the smell (But I still use it) Sometimes you just have to take a stand...

Ed's Red is about the only bore cleaner I use anymore but I rarely shoot anything but cast bullets. Kroil, as a bore cleaner, was TOO good and I'd have to shoot a dozen or more shots after cleaning to get the bore back to where accuracy was consistant.

ATF is supposed to be an excellent penetrating oil and lubricant. It's used in Ed's Red. I use it when quenching parts during hardening.

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2010, 04:10:30 AM »

I 2nd what Swampman says good to the last drop. Just can't believe you ain't touting Rem oil Swampman.

Kurt

petemi · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2010, 04:16:05 AM »

Rem Oil?? Aint dat what goes on pancakes??

Pete

rex6666 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2010, 04:59:32 AM »

I can't use synthetic motor oil, it makes mi guns work to slick and fast
had a lever gun at the range one day, range boss came over and warrened
me about having a fully auto rifle.
tried slick 50 once it is worse than motor oil.

jmayton · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2010, 05:16:53 AM »

Seems to me, that any motor oil (traditional or synthetic) would tend to collect dirt, whereas Break Free, Rem Oil, and some others I sometimes use like TriFlow and T9 Boeshield (which makes Break Free look really inexpensive) will repel dirt. I would use motor oil in a pinch, but I'd try to find something else first.

petemi · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2010, 06:33:25 AM »

I've gotta agree. We live in a really crudy environment. Even when Patty bathes, every month or so, it's still pretty nasty. LOOK OUT...HEADS DOWN....THUNK....MISSED.....TOMAHAWK. Oh well, what I meant, it's a farm and dusty an dirty in its time and space. I really can't see a wet lubricant gathering up all this dirt and crud.

Pete

gcrank1 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2010, 03:53:37 PM »

ATF and motor oil are two very different animals. ATF is made for a closed environment with no combustion blow by and has lots of great antioxidents (cause your automatic trans cant have rust in it). It has a high film strength and is thin bodied to flow fast.
The best penetrating oil is ATF and acetone, mixed 50/50. This has been tested against the commercial versions and beat them, including Kroil (which I like). Store your mix in the can the acetone came in, relabled. of course. This is pretty aggresive, hard on plastic and stock varnish, etc.
Ed's Red and variations thereof is a great bore cleaner and general gun scrubber. My version is 1 part ATF to 2 parts oderless mineral spirits.
I use ATF on my machine tools straight up.

bluebayou · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2010, 06:26:08 PM »

I have used ATF and acetone as penetrating oil on my surplus rifles. The buttstock bolt for my Enfield challenged me for a week before finding about this mixture. I have also used it on Mauser trigger bolts and on lawnmower motor and deck.

going to shop around for larger can of CLP

Swampman, I cant believe that I didnt think of that. Man.

I think that I am going to try the synthetic oil versus CLP on a piece of rebar and see what I see after a couple of months.

I used Jasco Prep and Prime on a piece of rebar a year ago and it has very little rust on it after being outside in shed here in humid East Texas. I was impressed at how well it lasted. I had debated on using the Prep and Prime in place of cold blue or home parkerizing. I don't think that it would be enough by itself for a firearm, but it was interesting to see after a year either way.

hhunter · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2010, 09:37:38 PM »

+1 on the Pine Sol oh I meant Kroil. First time I used it wife came home and got excited because she thought I had been cleaning the house. I told the truth and said no but that I had been cleaning guns. She looked at me funny like and said with Pine Sol? My reply was no and I said it was Kroil my new gun cleaning product. Kinda gave me the whatever look and then said that stuff stinks and walked off.

Reckon I should of told her it was Pine Sol. Every time she smells it now she knows what I've been up to and it hasn't involved the house chores.

hh