Using Motor Oil for Gun Lube

[Carlostrece]

I used to own several handguns and a couple rifles. My favorite was a Firestorm (made by Bersa). Bersa is in Argentina and Bersa handguns are very popular in South America and somewhat popular in USA. I used to belong to a Bersa/Firestorm forum.

I learned from South American gun owners that they typically use automotive motor oil for lubricating guns. As a USA gun owner, I was surprised, but I tried it.

I found that automotive motor oil was the best lubricant for guns that I ever used. It worked much better than official gun oils. Conventional motor oil would work, but I preferred synthetic motor oil.

Motor oil keeps the gun cleaner than gun oil does. Motor oil also seems to be slipperier. Also, if you use an appropriate viscosity of motor oil, it stays where you put it. Even recoil won't throw it off. It also is less messy because it doesn't run off.

I used 15w40 Mobil One and it was ideal for gun lube. Probably any 15w synthetic oil would be great. If you want thinner or thicker, then choose the viscosity you want.

1 qt of oil is more gun lube than I could ever use up for guns. So it's better and cheaper than official gun oils.

 

[Carlostrece]

Apply motor oil with a small oil compatible paint brush like hobbyists and artists use for oil painting. This puts the oil where you want it with no drips or runs. It's effective, neat and tidy.

 

[ChrisD46]

There are pros & cons to using motor oil , ATF , etc. my home grew recipe is :

3 parts M1 20W 50 V-Twin motorcycle oil
1 part STP Oil Trestment (Blue Bottle)
1 part ATF
0.25 parts (roughly a good squirt) Air Tool Oil

I also have home brew recipe #2 :

M1 5W30 + M1 Grease : Mix grease and oil together slowly sitting until you reach the pouring consistency of honey . I squeezed out just enough M1 grease into the bottom of a small glass jar , then slowly added M1 5W30 until I reached a honey like consistency. I then filled up a small plastic vet irrigation syringe with the curved tip (Amazon - $5.00 for nine syringes) . Much easier to apply to rails , connectors , etc.

While not a home brew lube - Super Lube brand oil and grease work in firearms . You can order online (I used Home Depot) . Super Lube brands itself as an all around oil and grease but food grade quality and synthetic make up work very well in firearms … I have used both the Super Lube Oil and Super Lube Grease successfully in firearms .

 

[factorytuned2012]

I would leave engine and transmission fluid for the autos. They are designed to be a detergent and dispersant I could only see this attracting dirt lint gun powder and gumming up the firearm. My father swears by his Remington gun lube I have strayed away and use very sparingly 3-1 motor oil Or pneumatic tool oil.

 

[burbguy82]

I learned from South American gun owners that they typically use automotive motor oil for lubricating guns.

not just in SA, but all over the world, motor oil for lube and diesel for cleaning

As a USA gun owner

We are spoiled.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Anything is better than just letting your guns sit with no oil and possibly collecting some rust.

 

[JohnnyG]

My brother used to shoot competition. Most of the guys he shot with used a mixture of STP and Marvel Mystery Oil. On their 45's at least.

 

[I<3oil]

5W-30 works amazing. 0W-20 works great too.

 

[I<3oil]

I would leave engine and transmission fluid for the autos. They are designed to be a detergent and dispersant I could only see this attracting dirt lint gun powder and gumming up the firearm.

Been using it for 25 years now and never had any issue like you've described. Never had any issue at all, actually.

 

[WeyounDS9]

I have used motor oil on my AR15s as they get to run quite hot ona Carfbine Course.
Handguns I stick with tradtional gunoils, that are thinner and smell nicer such as Remoil

 

[Pablo]

Sulfur rear end lube is excellent for carry


At a weed festival

 

[factorytuned2012]

Been using it for 25 years now and never had any issue like you've described. Never had any issue at all, actually.

that’s cool

 

[ripcord]

I use Singer sewing machine oil I stole from the wife. It's just light machine oil. If the application wants grease, I have a tub of Valvoline automotive lithium complex grease.

Brake cleaner, Hoppes #9 (cause it smells good), and an ancient bottle of Sweets copper solvent round out my cleaning supplies.

I used to buy the fancy lubes but decided a long time ago that was kinda silly. If something needs magic juice to run right, I should just get rid of it.

 

[I<3oil]

that’s cool

Correct. Peoples' actual experiences > what you "think" might happen.

 

[Carlostrece]

I would leave engine and transmission fluid for the autos. They are designed to be a detergent and dispersant I could only see this attracting dirt lint gun powder and gumming up the firearm. My father swears by his Remington gun lube I have strayed away and use very sparingly 3-1 motor oil Or pneumatic tool oil.

I used to use Remington gun lube. I also tried several other gun lubes. Motor oil does not gum up the gun. Just the opposite. Motor oil (especially synthetic oil) has lots of detergents in it to prevent carbon buildup in motors. Those same detergents prevent black combustion deposits from forming in guns.

My guns stayed cleaner and operated more smoothly using Mobil One than they did with gun oil. Try it and you'll experience what I'm talking about.

 

[Carlostrece]

I have used motor oil on my AR15s as they get to run quite hot ona Carfbine Course.
Handguns I stick with tradtional gunoils, that are thinner and smell nicer such as Remoil

Yes. Exactly. My hanguns cycled more reliably using Mobil One than they ever did with Remoil or any other official gun lube.

 

[Astro14]

You lost me at “slipperier”.

Look, guns aren’t that particular about the oil.

Also, it takes 5 drops to lubricate a Glock - so, that means that an ounce does about 100 guns.

So, compared with the 10,000+ rounds it takes to require that kind of lubrication, who cares about the cost of gun oil?

I would rather have a dedicated product for guns, personally, but your gun doesn’t care.

Nor does it know that motor oil is “slipperier”…if your gun doesn’t cycle reliably, you have a gun problem, not an oil problem.

 

[cb_13]

Around 2007 sometime the police dept my dad was a firearms instructor for switched from shotguns to ARs. So he went to an armorers school for M&P handguns and rifles. The instructor there suggested synthetic motor oil as a superior gun lube. We’ve both been using it ever since with no issues.

No proof either way on the “superior” part but it works!

 

[mccandish]

Simpler is better.

 

[JeffChaseFan]

I really like the amsoil gun oil