Seen a variety of opinions out there on using silicon spray as opposed to petroleum-based or organic (e.g., Froglube) lubes. Anyone here put a silicon-based lube through extended testing and have a strong opinion one way or the other on wear characteristics, etc?
If you mean this stuff, no I haven’t done any extended testing on my gun.
http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Oil-Silicone-Lubricant-For/dp/B0006IOTJO
Though in the “Product Description” section it appears the Marines say it is “Good to go”! Hmmm… I wonder how it compares to FrogLube under the same testing protocols! :laugh:
Knew a guy that in a pinch lubed his up with the motor oil wiped from his cars dipstick!! GH
That’s not unusual at all, since a lot of guys here recommend Mobil 1 as their preferred lubricant.
I wasn’t talking about his weapon. GH
Curious about silicone lubes like these:
http://www.amazon.com/3M-08877-Silicone-Lubricant-Plus/dp/B0002KKVKC/
http://www.amazon.com/3M-08897-Silicone-Lubricant-Type/dp/B000PJED72/
Ohh, those silicone lubricants. No, I haven’t tested those on my guns either. Though if you’re a “Direct Impingement” type of guy, I’d stick with the “Wetter is Better” dogma!
At work I typically use Si lubes for low heat, low friction and static type duties. I would ask: Why? With all the lubes geared more towards high heat high friction usage.
FWIW Some of the heavier motor oils do make a fine lubricant (pure lubrication, little cleaning or long term protecting ability) that is quite a bit cheaper than gun specific lube. HDEO and other oils designed to hold soot/contaminants in suspension would be ideal. Hard to argue with Mobil 1 TDT at $6/qt vs a “gun lube” for $20+/qt. Not much difference in my informal (at best!) tests.
I would avoid the use of Silicon inside the bolt carrier for the gas rings. Residue builds quickly when exposed to very high heat.
Why not?
To address the OP’s question, carbon oxidizes to CO and CO2, both gasses. Silicon oxidizes to SiO2, an abrasive solid.
I’m not exactly a lube snob. I use tranny fluid, the plain old mineral kind, cut with deodorized mineral spirits. I would not use silicone sprays, solids or greases for any dynamic application involving metals.
Why reinvent the wheel? We have hundreds of lube threads also? I guess I don’t get the obsession with lube when it’s so easy.
It was more of a question of “in an emergency, is this a suitable lube for an AR, and if so, how does it do long-term.”
OK, in an emergency I would much rather pull ye olde dipsticke.
Jay35,
If you do any experimenting with silicone lubricant performance under high use/high heat conditions please keep us posted on your results.