What "car" lubes/cleaners do you use on your gun?

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Sixxer

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I have been on the AR15 forums and many people there use motor oil and even ATF for their AR's. I was wondering if you guys use them too, and also if they work just as well. I would take BITOGRS advice about oil over people on the AR forums.

Ive heard people using
Motor oil
ATF
Brake Cleaner
Liquid Wrench
WD40
Barbosol shaving cream!?

Whats your take on motor oil for my AR15?
 
RP MAX film. I use it whern I'm in the fields on my rifles and shotguns. I also use RP MAX film on my car and truck door hinges and car trunk latch.

Motor oil is probably better than nothing, but not ideal.
Dusty
 
I never thought about using MMO. The other question would be if you use oil, what would provide more protection 0w20 or 10w40? Thinner or thicker?
 
Not saying it was the right thing to do but one time i diped a clean patch in some motorcraft 5w20, and ran it through my bore of my rifle in hopes of preventing rust.
 
None. I'd rather use known oils and cleaners made FOR firearms then risk what others HOPE are working.

Their results may not work for you. At least with most known mfg of firearms lubricants they have tested and history of use.

I don't live in a area with high humidity all year around so rust is not as big of a problem as others have. But I have seen major rust on weapons here when proper lubrication was not used.

Take care and be safe, Bill
 
The savings are negligible, so I use REM-oil, Hoppes and the usual oils dedicated for firearms-

In an emergency (deserted island, stranded survival, Red Dawn style Russian Invasion, nuclear apocalypse etc etc) I would use any oil and cross my fingers.
 
Wow this actually surprises me. There is more of a following for Mobil one on the gun forums lol I have plenty of gun oil, and was thinking that using motor oil would be the same, but I will stick to what their intended for. Someone brought up that CLP doesn't last through many rounds, yet their motor oil did.
 
My usual cleaning regimen on the Glocks, 1911, and AR15 are:

Scrub down fouled area's with #9

Rinse off the #9 with non-clorinated brake cleaner.

Lube with M1 15W-50 I have left over from my bike days.

Done it for years and hasn't harmed them in the least. I even asked the Armorer at Glock in Smryna when I took them there if there was anything wrong with the plastic frames. He said they were all in factory spec shape. And this is after 10+ years of doing this, so I'm not worried.

The main cost savings for me is a $1.50 can of brake cleaner vs a $6-7 can of gunscrubber.
 
This topic always stirs up some people ... but anyway, I use WD-40 to clean and motor oil/ATF to lube...sometimes something stronger may be needed to clean bores but those usually take care of my needs...I started with these after I saw my (gunsmith) Uncle using them about 30 years ago. I also add a drop or two of STP oil treatment to the oil bottle for a little extra slickness.

Like "ctechbob" said, sometimes a non chlorinated brake parts cleaner is handy or I'll use some carburetor cleaner and then follow it up with WD-40 and then blow it out with the air hose if needed.

Nothing wrong with commercial gun cleaners ... but I get the same job done at a fraction of the cost and I clean a lot of guns - I'm a LE Firearms Instructor, FFL Dealer, and Glock Armorer...heck, when I was in the Army, we done it all with CLP - not the most effective at any particular use, but it worked.
 
I have Mobil 1 5W-40 Turbo Diesel Truck oil in a squirt can (for a machine shop cutting fluid as it holds up to heat exceptionally well with little smoking)

I used the 5-40 on my guns one day as I could not put my hands quickly on anything else. I was very pleasantly surprised. It's neat, clean, holds up well and lasts a very long time without further attention.

I also have other gun specific oils such as Rem Oil and Break Free. None seem to hold up anywhere near as well as the 5-40 M1.

Advantage M1.
 
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I clean with Ed's Red (1/2 Berryman B-12 and 1/2 ATF). When a grease is needed, I use Lucas tacky red, applied with a tooth-pick. In an AR, I'd use a synthetic oil like Mobil 1 0W-40 on the gas rings especially. Think about it, the rings are to seal the gas tapped from the end of the barrel to operate the bolt. Not much difference in operating temps or composition of gasses between a gasoline fueled engine and a solid fueled engine with a single use piston.
 
I use automotive "brake parts cleaner" in aerosol in place of the outrageously expensive "Gun Scrubber" I bought once when I was learning.
 
I highly recommend fully additized HD EP AW synthetic grease for almost any slide. Escpecially 1911 stainless. I used Amsoil spray grease. Very convenient and easy to apply. I overlube a bit when breaking in a 1911. But be careful, more is not better. Grease in the extractor causes more issues than people are aware of.

I can see brake cleaner for all metal parts, but I don't use it. I should pick up a can I guess, but I would advise keeping it away from certain plastics. I could have used it on three surplus Tokarev mags I bought which were fully packed in cosmoline. I wiped and scraped as much as I could and used PBlaster Orange degreaser as a cleaner. Worked nicely.

I use ATF sometimes. I also use Amsoil regular MP as a lube. I use Amsoil Silicone spray lube as a cleaner/lube for the guts of my slides. It works really well. Sometimes I need a little Hoppes on a q-tip at the breech face when shooting some really dirty ammo.
 
I forgot to list a few things:

Sometimes I clean parts in 90% IPA. It loosens powder residue pretty darn well and it's pretty cheap. I always follow up with some type of lube because of the water content.

I use Kroil for used guns as part of the clean up process. Really penetrates into gummed up areas. Loosens parts right up.
 
I use Militec-1 exclusively on my guns. Keeps them running and actually helps prevent fouling.
 
Lucas actually makes a firearms lube. I saw it a while ago for sale in pepboys in nyc (i was shocked, this is anti gun land). i bought it and it performs well. it's red, too!
 
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