Lubrication question: 3-in-1 oil
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Safely?
Probably.
Wisely?
No.
rcmodel
Probably.
Wisely?
No.
rcmodel
Vern Humphrey
Member
Yep. Here in the Ozarks, 3-1 oil was used so much on guns that the smell of it still says "Guns!" to me. It will protect your guns like any other good oil.
The Bushmaster
Member
I use mostly Hoppe's products, but I wouldn't feel guilty using 3-1 oil on my guns either. I grew up with it and kept a can of it in my tool box all of my years as a Master Marine/Industrial Diesel Mechanic. Still have it in the house.
berkbw
Member
Will it hurt the gun? no
Will it lube the gun? some
Will it stop rust? If you use enough.
If I only shoot 100 rds/yr will I care? doubt it
So, what the heck, you've got a free case, why not use it - actually a bunch of folks do. It won't stick, fight wear well, keep rust off for a long time, act as a crap-proofer for the future shoots. BUT, if you like it, please, go ahead, and use it.
There are some here who perceive greater needs in lubes. Many of these might shoot more in a month than you would in a lifetime. Their needs might be different. Why not just reserve an oz. of fresh motor oil every 3 changes or so. If you do change motor oil, it's unlikely that you or your vehicle would miss 1 Oz. Which makes it free.
Whatever you want - your gun/needs/uses/wants.
b-
Will it lube the gun? some
Will it stop rust? If you use enough.
If I only shoot 100 rds/yr will I care? doubt it
So, what the heck, you've got a free case, why not use it - actually a bunch of folks do. It won't stick, fight wear well, keep rust off for a long time, act as a crap-proofer for the future shoots. BUT, if you like it, please, go ahead, and use it.
There are some here who perceive greater needs in lubes. Many of these might shoot more in a month than you would in a lifetime. Their needs might be different. Why not just reserve an oz. of fresh motor oil every 3 changes or so. If you do change motor oil, it's unlikely that you or your vehicle would miss 1 Oz. Which makes it free.
Whatever you want - your gun/needs/uses/wants.
b-
DWARREN123
Member
I would more rather use a synthetic 5W-30 moter oil. It will work well and very little is needed.
just pick up an extra can of Mobile 1 the next time you get oil for the car
Why use an inexpensive and easy to get oil like 3-in-1, when you can buy Super Dooper Special Gun Oil at $20 an ounce that won't be any better?
(Mobil 1 is good oil and I use nothing else in my car; as a gun oil it is not really any better than 3-in-1 or any of the other gun oils.)
Jim
(Mobil 1 is good oil and I use nothing else in my car; as a gun oil it is not really any better than 3-in-1 or any of the other gun oils.)
Jim
JohnBT
Member
I think 3-in-1 is too thin, but it will work. It's not as bad as REM OIL.
Here's a post I copied off a fishing forum. He measured the viscosity of reel lubes, but did some gun oils too. And 3-in-1.
PLEASE NOTE down at the bottom where he listed the viscosity numbers of 3 samples at 3 different temperatures...
...and at 98*F 3-in-1 finished pretty close to Quantum Hot Sauce
And it wasn't much better than hot sauce on the first list. Check out the REM OIL number - two ticks above water.
__________
I measured the viscosities of a number of lubes a while back and thought I'd post them here in case anyone might be interested in the numbers. These may not all be common reel lubes, but I threw some various oils in for comparison. I also recently ran the Reel Butter oil, but I need to look that one up and then I'll add it into the list.
The viscosity units are in centi-Poise (1/100 of a Poise) and the lower the value, the less viscous. For a few points of reference, water is 1 cP, vegetable oils run in the range of 70-80 and SAE 30 Motor Oil would be around 200 cP. I also ran Mobil-1 0-30W synthetic and interestingly, it looks a lot more like a 40W than an 0W. So here's the list in order from highest to lowest:
Lube.............................Viscosity@78F (cP)
Mobil-1 0W-30 (syn)..................400
Superlube w/PTFE.....................245
Zebco Needle Oiler....................206
Quicksilver Storage Seal............203
Abu Silicoat Reel Oil...................176
Browning Midas Gun Oil (syn)...140
Quicksilver PS and Trim Oil........136
BSB Speed Bearing...................114
Red RF (hc).................................93
PMI Paintball Gun Lube...............90
Power Steering Fluid...................90
Diawa Std Needle Oiler...............84
Reel-X.........................................74
ATF Dextron III...........................62
Shimano Std. (hc).......................60
Yellow RF (hc).............................59
3-In-1 Oil....................................40
-
Reel Butter..................................28
Quantum Hot Sauce....................25
X+1R...........................................21
Diawa TDZ lube (syn)..................18
Diawa/Liberto Pixy Lube (syn).....18
Whale Spit (hc)............................14
Abu Black Max .............................14
WD 40..........................................6
Tournament RF (hc)......................4
Friction Zero Lub (hc/syn )............4
Rem Oil (hc)..................................3
Reference: DI water.....................1
-------------------------------------------
Lube....Viscosity (cP) @ 38F.........@78F........@ 98F (cP)
Yellow RF ........................285..............59..............35
3-In-1 Oil.........................161....... ......40..............20
Quantum Hot Sauce........100..............25..............16
mark
Last edited by mark G on Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:28 pm; edited 4 times in total
______________________
Here's a post I copied off a fishing forum. He measured the viscosity of reel lubes, but did some gun oils too. And 3-in-1.
PLEASE NOTE down at the bottom where he listed the viscosity numbers of 3 samples at 3 different temperatures...
...and at 98*F 3-in-1 finished pretty close to Quantum Hot Sauce
And it wasn't much better than hot sauce on the first list. Check out the REM OIL number - two ticks above water.
__________
I measured the viscosities of a number of lubes a while back and thought I'd post them here in case anyone might be interested in the numbers. These may not all be common reel lubes, but I threw some various oils in for comparison. I also recently ran the Reel Butter oil, but I need to look that one up and then I'll add it into the list.
The viscosity units are in centi-Poise (1/100 of a Poise) and the lower the value, the less viscous. For a few points of reference, water is 1 cP, vegetable oils run in the range of 70-80 and SAE 30 Motor Oil would be around 200 cP. I also ran Mobil-1 0-30W synthetic and interestingly, it looks a lot more like a 40W than an 0W. So here's the list in order from highest to lowest:
Lube.............................Viscosity@78F (cP)
Mobil-1 0W-30 (syn)..................400
Superlube w/PTFE.....................245
Zebco Needle Oiler....................206
Quicksilver Storage Seal............203
Abu Silicoat Reel Oil...................176
Browning Midas Gun Oil (syn)...140
Quicksilver PS and Trim Oil........136
BSB Speed Bearing...................114
Red RF (hc).................................93
PMI Paintball Gun Lube...............90
Power Steering Fluid...................90
Diawa Std Needle Oiler...............84
Reel-X.........................................74
ATF Dextron III...........................62
Shimano Std. (hc).......................60
Yellow RF (hc).............................59
3-In-1 Oil....................................40
-
Reel Butter..................................28
Quantum Hot Sauce....................25
X+1R...........................................21
Diawa TDZ lube (syn)..................18
Diawa/Liberto Pixy Lube (syn).....18
Whale Spit (hc)............................14
Abu Black Max .............................14
WD 40..........................................6
Tournament RF (hc)......................4
Friction Zero Lub (hc/syn )............4
Rem Oil (hc)..................................3
Reference: DI water.....................1
-------------------------------------------
Lube....Viscosity (cP) @ 38F.........@78F........@ 98F (cP)
Yellow RF ........................285..............59..............35
3-In-1 Oil.........................161....... ......40..............20
Quantum Hot Sauce........100..............25..............16
mark
Last edited by mark G on Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:28 pm; edited 4 times in total
______________________
Dave Markowitz
Member
If you're in need of easily available gun oil at a reasonable price, which works really well, buy a quart of automatic transmission fluid.
sm
member
Jim Keenan,
Was it Parker shotguns that recommended 3-in-1 oil in the owner's manual ?
Coming up with tin cans that actually put one drop where one wanted...
Not only did folks use 3-in-1 they also used Winchester Gun Oil in a red can with yellow on the label .
Winchester looks and feels similar to 3-in-1 , just it does not have the citronella smell.
Esso, Texaco, and Gulf also sold a machine oil, in a tin can, and it would remind one of 3-in-1 .
Radiator Specialty makes Gunk Super Oil. It is clear, and some folks preferred it, so as to not stain clothes, and it has no scent.
I still have tin cans of Hoppe's Lubricating oil, the can they say is worth $45 to collectors.
I still have a tin can of Winchester Gun Oil, and have been offered $50 for than tin can.
I have a tin can of Suoer Oil and a itty bitty can of 3-in-1 oil back when Boyle-Midway was the parent company.
Just me perhaps, the old 3-in-1 in a tin can by Boyle-Midway is different from the oil in the plastic container WD-40 puts out being the parent company now.
Mentors and I cleaned many a gun with gasoline and lubed with machine oil.
Oh we had Gun oils like LSA, Browning, Hoppe's , Winchester, ...just the Texaco can or Esso can was handy.
When I used to buy a brand new Remington, like a 1100 for $149, there was no Rem-Oil, owners manual said to use a good oil for guns or machines.
Remington Rep said he used 3-in-1, and his buddy used Super Oil on their 1100s.
Was it Parker shotguns that recommended 3-in-1 oil in the owner's manual ?
Coming up with tin cans that actually put one drop where one wanted...
Not only did folks use 3-in-1 they also used Winchester Gun Oil in a red can with yellow on the label .
Winchester looks and feels similar to 3-in-1 , just it does not have the citronella smell.
Esso, Texaco, and Gulf also sold a machine oil, in a tin can, and it would remind one of 3-in-1 .
Radiator Specialty makes Gunk Super Oil. It is clear, and some folks preferred it, so as to not stain clothes, and it has no scent.
I still have tin cans of Hoppe's Lubricating oil, the can they say is worth $45 to collectors.
I still have a tin can of Winchester Gun Oil, and have been offered $50 for than tin can.
I have a tin can of Suoer Oil and a itty bitty can of 3-in-1 oil back when Boyle-Midway was the parent company.
Just me perhaps, the old 3-in-1 in a tin can by Boyle-Midway is different from the oil in the plastic container WD-40 puts out being the parent company now.
Mentors and I cleaned many a gun with gasoline and lubed with machine oil.
Oh we had Gun oils like LSA, Browning, Hoppe's , Winchester, ...just the Texaco can or Esso can was handy.
When I used to buy a brand new Remington, like a 1100 for $149, there was no Rem-Oil, owners manual said to use a good oil for guns or machines.
Remington Rep said he used 3-in-1, and his buddy used Super Oil on their 1100s.
mainmech48
Member
Ditto Vern! 3-in-1 and Hoppe's No.9, a wiff of either still takes me back to autumns in Henry Co.
Ditto to Jim, too. Why indeed?
Ditto to Jim, too. Why indeed?
possom813
Member
I'm still technically wet behind the ears, one might say.
But one of the item classes that I've taken to collecting are vintage gun cleaning kits and accessories.
My two favorite are a J.C. Higgins silver can with a lead cap(I have one empty and one full) and the Hoppes in a tin can.
As for oil around here, usually Hoppes if I have some available. If not, I've also used atf and lawnmower oil. In a pinch, I have used 2 stroke oil. I tend to stay away from the 2 stroke if I can, it makes a big mess when I use it.
But one of the item classes that I've taken to collecting are vintage gun cleaning kits and accessories.
My two favorite are a J.C. Higgins silver can with a lead cap(I have one empty and one full) and the Hoppes in a tin can.
As for oil around here, usually Hoppes if I have some available. If not, I've also used atf and lawnmower oil. In a pinch, I have used 2 stroke oil. I tend to stay away from the 2 stroke if I can, it makes a big mess when I use it.
DWARREN123
Member
Firearms lubricants have special additive packages for the protection needed by firearms. A too lite lube is not as bad as none but not as good as a correct lube. This is especially true for semi auto firearms.
JohnBT
Member
"Remington Rep said he used 3-in-1"
I would too if all they'd give me for free was REM OIL.
I remember lubing the hinge on my Model B Fox way back when with my mom's Singer sewing machine oil. It didn't hold up too well being as thin as it was. Or maybe it was hunting in the rain that did it.
John
I would too if all they'd give me for free was REM OIL.
I remember lubing the hinge on my Model B Fox way back when with my mom's Singer sewing machine oil. It didn't hold up too well being as thin as it was. Or maybe it was hunting in the rain that did it.
John
NGIB
Member
I've been using Mobil 1 and it's working well. A quart and some q-tips goes a very long way...
lmccrock
Member
I have used several gun oils, Tetra lube (which looks like Tetra grease in a liquid carrier), CLP (generic-in-a-jug and Breakfree), and Mobil 1. They all work. Mobil 1 is cheap (relative to gun oils) and is what I use now. I take CLP to matches so I just have to carry one product. Never tried 3-in-1, never WD40 (although I used WD40 as an emergency cleaner once, when I forgot the CLP).
Lee
What are the special needs of firearms which are different than machines?
Lee
What the heck is wrong with Break-free CLP?
Are we really quibbling about spending a buck or two more to buy cleaning and lubricating oil for a firearm that cost in excess of $500? Sounds like penny wise and pound foolish to me.
To me, a few cents extra every few months is worth the price of knowing my firearms are protected. On my semi-autos I paint a thin film of Slip 2000 lubricating oil on the rails with a Q tip but everything else gets straight CLP, wiped on with a wet patch, wiped off with a paper towel. The parts look dry, but have a "frictionless" feel to them. I usually let the parts set a few minutes for the volatiles to evaporate before re-assembling. I've never had a problem with it. Not having a bunch of goopy gloppy oil keeps me from getting splashed and also prevents collection of grit and grime, which lead to wear. Sure, if I'm cleaning my guns in the warehouse before making a break for it across the zombie infested city, and all that was available was some kind of tinker's oil or transmission fluid, I'd use it and it would probably get me to the other side. But why go there in the modern world where practically every Walmart and sporting goods store has CLP on hand for just pennies per use?
Break-Free CLP is worth the money. I can't see why anyone wouldn't use it.
Are we really quibbling about spending a buck or two more to buy cleaning and lubricating oil for a firearm that cost in excess of $500? Sounds like penny wise and pound foolish to me.
To me, a few cents extra every few months is worth the price of knowing my firearms are protected. On my semi-autos I paint a thin film of Slip 2000 lubricating oil on the rails with a Q tip but everything else gets straight CLP, wiped on with a wet patch, wiped off with a paper towel. The parts look dry, but have a "frictionless" feel to them. I usually let the parts set a few minutes for the volatiles to evaporate before re-assembling. I've never had a problem with it. Not having a bunch of goopy gloppy oil keeps me from getting splashed and also prevents collection of grit and grime, which lead to wear. Sure, if I'm cleaning my guns in the warehouse before making a break for it across the zombie infested city, and all that was available was some kind of tinker's oil or transmission fluid, I'd use it and it would probably get me to the other side. But why go there in the modern world where practically every Walmart and sporting goods store has CLP on hand for just pennies per use?
Break-Free CLP is worth the money. I can't see why anyone wouldn't use it.
pbearperry
Member
3 in 1 is fine as long as you don't plan on using the gun in very cold weather.Many oil products will gum up in freezing weather,thats why I use anything synthetic.
ImARugerFan
Member
I use remoil, it works fine.
MMCSRET
Member
My mother had Singer sewing machines, treadle operated and electric. I grew up using sewing machine oil in the singer labeled cans . The machines and oil were Made In USA. MMMMMMMM Good Stuff!! She still has a can marked $0.11
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