Cute question: is engine oil good for guns? I mean, it’s clever how we can creatively use things for multiple purposes. After all, both are lubricants and aim to reduce friction, whether it is the interior of cars or guns.

Undoubtedly, the engine oil will work as a great alternative and lubricant for your gun, is it really enough? That we will find out today, after looking at some factors that explain if engine oil is good for firearms or not – let’s get going!

Why is Oil Important in the First Place?

Do you change doorknobs every six months? Or you sell your car every time it overheats? Of course, you don’t. Be it stuck door handles or overheated vehicles; we use lubricants everywhere.

We use lubricants to make things “slippery.” In other words, whether it be engine oil, machine oil, or gun oil, they all perform the same function. They reduce friction between surfaces, decrease wear, minimize rusting, and keep impurities out of the system.

It is essential to make sure your machinery is lubricated to ensure smooth functioning, promised performance and cut additional energy costs. 

Engine Oil vs. Gun Oil

Both engine and gun oil aim to lubricate the inner of machinery, but more factors are taken into account while concluding if engine oils are better for firearms. 

Factors Determining Which Engine Oil is Good for Guns

Below are the factors that will help us conclude if engine oil is OK for guns or not. 

  1. As a lubricant: 

Each machine requires a different amount of lubrication. Engine oil is designed explicitly for engines, so you need to know if it is effective enough to correctly lubricate your gun.

  • Rust inhibitor: 

This is the crucial factor you need to see in engine oil. We use guns in extreme weathers; dirt, dust, and rain. One needs to select a lubricant that protects the gun from corrosion.

  • Oil Viscosity: 

Do you know that 89% of lubricant professionals check oil’s thickness before selecting an oil? 

A lower viscosity means thinner oil. Lower viscosity oils are easy to pour, spread better, reduce friction, and are preferred for cold weather. 

Higher the viscosity, the thicker the oil. Preferred for harsh conditions, it also works best for boundary lubrication regimes and promises maximum engine protection. 

  • Temperature absorption: 

An ideal oil should be able to absorb heat.

  • Easy-to-use: 

A gun has many hard-to-reach points. A suitable dispenser is necessary to reach them.

  • Cost:

 You need to lubricate your carry gun every six months, primarily when not in use. You should check if lubricating it this often with the engine, or gun oil is in your budget or not. 

Comparing Engine Oil and Gun Oil

Considering all the factors the best-performing gun demands, let’s see if engine oil will work well for a gun. 

Engine oil and gun oil focus on lubrication. Engine stresses on its oil much more than a gun will; thus, any oil will work OK to lubricate.

Gun oil is the best choice when it comes to rust prevention. Usually, a  gun operates in harsh environments, and there, engine oil cannot help. Engine oils may be better for the inside (lubrication), but they fail when it comes to the gun’s exterior.

Gun oil is less viscous, 17.6mm²/s, than engine oils, which is 161.7mm²/s. The thinner the oil, the better it will spread. Small parts of the gun need to be lubricated, and engine oil will not spread thoroughly. It is better to use the thinner oil, that is, the gun oil.

An engine is far hotter than a gun, so the engine oil will efficiently absorb the gun’s heat. When it comes to temperature absorption, you are free to choose either of the oils. 

Gun oil comes in an easy-to-use container specially modified for guns. On the other hand, engine oil is available in gallons, and one can only apply it with a cotton swab. We prefer to use gun oils for even spreading.

Engine oil wins when it comes to the cost – if you want to stay within the budget, it’s better to go for it. A single quart of engine oil is enough to last a whole year of gun usage. Also, it has a longer lifespan, which means you can store it for an extensive period.

However, engine oil contains benzene compounds, which leave human skin in terrible conditions if used continuously, so use it sparingly.

How Much Lubricant is Enough?

If your firearm isn’t working well, it’s either because of too little or too much lubricant. 

Although it depends on the type of gun, one or two drops are enough for each part in general. Using too much lubricant will attract dirt, causing defects in firearms. The overapplication of oil will also increase its operational temperature.

Besides, too little grease will result in the wear of the gun’s internals. 

To conclude, too much lubricant is better than too little lubricant. We can clean excess grease, but applying less oil will result in permanent damage, i.e., wear of the gun.

(If you want to read more about lubricating your gun, this guide will help you nail the job!)

FAQs – Is Engine Oil Good for Guns?

Below are some frequently asked questions that will help you understand if engine oil is good for guns or not. 

What Happens if You Don’t Lubricate your Firearm?

A firearm that is not lubricated won’t work well.

With time, weapons can be a target of rust and other wear but have you wondered what the cause of premature aging of your guns? Well, it is insufficient lubrication. 

A dry gun can cause permanent damage to weapons. When you fire, residue and gas build up in there. Eventually, rust will damage its interiors, it will wear forever, and the gun will lose its reliability. 

What Parts of Gun Should I Lubricate?

The parts of the gun that are lubricated are the slide, barrel, and frame.

On the slide, one drop of oil on the inside of the rail, one on the fence, one on the inside front of the fall near the ejection port, center, and finally, one drop on the middle of the slide.

You should put one drop on the barrel hood on the barrel, one in the middle of the barrel, and one near the barrel tip.

Finally, while the lubricating frame, one drop on the rear of the structure, one on disconnector, one on slide stop pin, one on the magazine release button, and one on the recoil guide rod. 

Why do Guns Require Low Viscosity Oil?

Viscosity refers to the thickness of the oil. An oil, either engine oil or gun oil, should be such that it makes a shield between moving parts of the gun, preventing its parts’ wear and rust. Lubricants that are too thick stay in place.

Gun has many small parts that are harder to reach. Thus, we prefer low-viscosity oils that will spread evenly throughout and prevent corrosion, damage and scratches.

Conclusion

Guns are very different from harsh engine conditions; thus, engine oil is not suitable for firearms. If you want to stay on budget, you better go for engine oil; else, using gun oil is the best option.

The purpose of oil is to lubricate and prevent rust, absorb heat, and be dense enough to spread throughout the gun’s minor parts.

Gun oil is called gun oil for a reason. Before buying a suitable oil, ensure that you have taken into note all the essential factors of a proper lubricant for your gun.