Thread: Gun oil - ATF suitable.?

Been using ATF, Automatic Transmission Fluid for oiling moving parts on my rifles, what do you guys use?

For cleaning I use Breakfree.

ive been using it for ages as well works well i usually use brake clean for cleaning metal parts

Originally Posted by northdude

ive been using it for ages as well works well i usually use brake clean for cleaning metal parts

Much the same here, Brakeclean here to clean/degrease moving parts, Breakfree for bore cleaning.

i use a combination for bore cleaning usually hoppes which seems to work pretty well on my rifles ive got boretech and some kind of outers solvent as well and some g96 copper solvent they seem to work ok the g96 works well but i think its ammonia based so need to be extra careful and get it all out to prevent it attracting moisture

breakfree is good
atf (like brake fluid) will absorb water

Originally Posted by gonetropo

breakfree is good
atf (like brake fluid) will absorb water

Never heard that about ATF, I assumed it was oil-based hence wouldn’t absorbe moisture.

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Never heard that about ATF, I assumed it was oil-based hence wouldn’t absorbe moisture.

some things like brake fluid will absorb water, another is methanol which is sometimes added to petrol to increase the octane level. now all good if you are burning thru a tank in a week or 4 etc but let it stand the ethanol will accumulate water into it and thats a big issue when you try to start your car.
remember things like glycerol which is an oil will absorb water too.
other oils will mix with water and result in emulsions, thats how mayonnaise is made after all.
atf and brake fluid are pretty volatile substances for mixing with other chemicals (enough said about that one)
anyways by all ways use it as a cleaner but as a final protectant i advise you shouldnt

Originally Posted by gonetropo

some things like brake fluid will absorb water, another is methanol which is sometimes added to petrol to increase the octane level. now all good if you are burning thru a tank in a week or 4 etc but let it stand the ethanol will accumulate water into it and thats a big issue when you try to start your car.
remember things like glycerol which is an oil will absorb water too.
other oils will mix with water and result in emulsions, thats how mayonnaise is made after all.
atf and brake fluid are pretty volatile substances for mixing with other chemicals (enough said about that one)
anyways by all ways use it as a cleaner but as a final protectant i advise you shouldnt

Only Gull sell fuel with alcohol added in NZ but it is ethanol not methanol.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Only Gull sell fuel with alcohol added in NZ but it is ethanol not methanol.

both will absorb water.

You will need to dissolve some lanolin into the atf to make a good gun oil, lube and anti rust mix. wont need much.

is breakfree just a cleaner , or is it an oil also ?

Originally Posted by Jusepy

is breakfree just a cleaner , or is it an oil also ?

breakfree CLP
Cleaner
Lubricant
Preservative

always thought there is a marketing oppertunity here...picture Forest Gump and Bubba up to thier nuts in mud,under thier ponchos in the pouring rain trying to clean thier M4s...singing I want some break free...... to queens tune.

i use atf as a lube on bolt etc i use lanacote or something like that as a rust protectant

Originally Posted by northdude

i use atf as a lube on bolt etc i use lanacote or something like that as a rust protectant

Likewise. Just use it on bolts, triggers etc, just for its lubricating properties and it doesn’t seem to ‘thicken’ when the frosts are about.

Does anybody still use Young’s 303 cleaner any more?

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Likewise. Just use it on bolts, triggers etc, just for its lubricating properties and it doesn’t seem to ‘thicken’ when the frosts are about.

Does anybody still use Young’s 303 cleaner any more?

Have a bottle of the "smelly" crap somewhere.