Motor Oil?????

[Smokester653]

In a pinch is it ok to "wipe down" firearms with motor oil? I'm not talking "slathering" them down just to take off fingerprints etc. I ran out of gun oil and used a little the other day and now its got me wondering.

 

[andyo5]

I can see using it on the rails and other sliding internal parts. But why do you want to use it on the outside of the gun? Sounds like a mess to me.
Don't use any oil on the outside of the gun. Get a can of Birchwood Casey Sheath for that. That is what is is designed for.

 

[CGM]

A lot of people use motor oil. Another alternative is Automatic transmission fluid.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

It's too messy, in addition it doesn't do much for rust protection.
I'd consider using a silicone rag for the outsides.

 

[Smokester653]

Thanks for the advice. I put a little on a cloth and wiped a couple down after I showed them off. I then wiped off the excess. I just wanted them clean before I put them up. I didn't know if the oils had chemicals that would damage the finish.

 

[dfariswheel]

Some motor oils may damage bluing or other gun coatings.

Motor oil may be suitable as a lubricant in firearms as some people use a Mobil brand of synthetic motor oil as gun lube.

However, motor oils have little to no rust prevention properties. Get it OFF your guns and use something made for guns.

 

[tomcatt51]

You're fine. Motor oils have additive packages so it "clings" and gives good protection when your engine sits and protects when you start the motor before the oil starts circulating. It will protect your gun's finish/surface too. Light (0w-30 or 0w-20) Mobil 1 lubes revolver internals well too.

 

[Smokester653]

Thanks for the responses. I bought a can of Rem-Oil and cleaned the exterior of my hanguns and was surprised that it left a grey film on a couple of my non-stainless pistols. The pistols are a Steyr and a Glock. I went back to a 3-1 oil and they looked better. Is this common? I have never used Rem-Oil only CLP at times and did not know this would happen. Did it cause damage to the finish?

 

[sourdough44]

I have used some Royal Purple 5w-20 full synthetic oil on an AR bolt & other internals where a little extra lube can be good. This was mostly prior to a high count dogtown outing. It's lighter & smells better than conventional motor oil.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Do you live along the Congo somewhere? What sort of "pinch" prevents you from wiping off the gun and running by your local gun store or Wal-Mart within a couple of days to buy some Break Free CLP?

 

[tincansailor]

Smokester,

I use non detergent motor oil to lube AND protect all my blued firearms. So do a lot of collectors of valuable antique firearms. Yes, an oiled exterior will gather dust in a dirty environment but we all keep our firearms in clean environments, don't we?

Somehow, firearms were being kept rust free before the invention of the wonder chems. Motor oil, whale oil, mineral oil, whatever, - if it protects the finish it's doing what you want. Even kerosene has some lubricating properties.... and a quart of non-detergent oil lasts a LONG time.

 

[gbw]

It's too messy, in addition it doesn't do much for rust protection.
I'd consider using a silicone rag for the outsides.

Just one experience.

I have a small hobby lathe. The chuck is made of a metal that rusts faster than anything I've ever seen or heard of. My shop is normally not heated or cooled, and frequent large changes in temp/humidity in spring and fall cause severe condensation on any metal, the thicker the metal the more condensate it generates.

In these conditions the chuck rusts every single time. I've tried everything I can think of.

Mobile1 (15w-50 in my case) works. A single rag wipedown with it once or twice a year (I seldom use it). NO rust. Nothing else has ever come close to this in preventing rust except heavy grease coating, which IS messy.

I use it on my guns, inside and out. It need not be particularly messy, and has caused no problems with blue, nickel, anodized or stainless finishes over the past couple of years.

 

[2152hq]

Mobil1 for contact point lube. It stays put but isn't too thick. Makes a great wipedown oil too IMHO. Just a few drops on a soft cloth.

I generally don't care for the spray oil products as they can get all over the wood. Some have teflon and other ingredients in them that get into the wood and cause problems for me.

Used very carefully, CLP & Ballistol however are a couple of good ones that serve well. They clean carbon deposits easily when that's the type of work needed on stripped parts. Ballistol works pretty good as Muzzle Loader patches lube too.

Straight petroleum motor oil,,,only in a real dire situation as there are so many other well suited products available. I wouldn't hesitate to use it though if there was little or nothing else.

At one time, 3-in-1 oil was touted as the best lube in the world for fine firearms and other delicate mechanisms.
Parker Shotguns advertised that it's use in their guns was the best way to go.
Times have changed and there are better products available. But in a pinch,, 3-in-1 will do,,just like motor oil will do.

 

[GLV]

One quart of Mobil One lasts for years.

 

[therevjay]

Long, long ago. And far, far away 1qt. 30wt. + 1gal. mogas = tankers CLP.

Worked fine for co-ax, Ma-deuce, main gun, grease guns, and pistols.

 

[Dale53]

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Dale53