Automatic Transmission Fluid as gun oil

M

Machineguntony

New member
I've been reading that Dexron Automatic Transmission Fluid is one of the best substances to use as a gun lubricant.

For reference, here is from someone else's posting:

From: http://www.grantcunningham.com/lubricants101.html

"Ironically, the product that scores at or very near the top of just about everyone's testing is also the most available, and the cheapest. It also has good migration, a good boundary lubrication package, is the right weight (thickness) for general firearms use, doesn't oxidize over long periods of storage, and is compatible with a wide range of metals and plastics. In addition, it is recommended by at least one real degreed firearms engineer! Just what is this miracle elixir??...Dexron-type Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). That's right, plain ol' ATF."

However, I just purchased a bottle of ATF from the car store, and there was only one Dexron ATF. It was Castro ATF Dexron. The problem is that the ATF was a bright red. Would this color/dye the gun red also? That is my concern, as I do not want a gun that has a red hue.

Do all Dexron ATF have this red hue?

Any recommendations?
 
I've never seen a RED stained transmission...smile.
No, it will not stain your firearm, I use it too.
As for the transmission, I've seen the inside of several and never a RED stain.
 
The only "RED" ATF that I have is when I mixed equal parts of K1 (kerosene) and ATF... FYI, you might "Bing" Ed's Red, very interesting stuff...
 
Supposedly most similar in molecular composition to natural Whale Oil, plus anti rust ingredients. Often proposed for storage, not so much lubrication though.

I found it smells bad, if I was indeed using the right stuff, and I have watched guns of mine with it on literally rust before my eyes as water accumulated and brown droplets grew and dribbled down the barrels on a foggy day at an outdoor presentation I was doing...
 
I just can't bring myself to use ATF as a cleaner or gun oil. There will be some left, and then it will run and eventually leak into the carpeting in the gun safe. Or it will run into the holster. I tried using it last night, and it was so runny.

I read that article, that I linked, in its entirety. It is a very confusing article. It starts by saying that gun owners are being hoodwinked by oil lubricant companies, and then goes over all the alternatives, from motor oil to ATF. Motor oil has certain issues compared to gun oil, and ATF is the miracle lubricant. However, the migration issue with ATF is a serious issue because even if the ATF won't die the gun metal to a red, it can migrate and die the holster, wood, or nonmetal item red.

So the article states that gun owners are being hoodwinked by marketers of gun oil, but the article doesn't really present an alternative lubricant that doesn't have downsides, when compared to gun oil. Every alternative lubricant has issues, so really, the reader can deduce that gun oil is the only oil that doesn't have downsides for gun lubrication. So how exactly are gun oil manufacturers hoodwinking gun owners?
 
atf

Trans fluid has a super high sheer resistance and anti oxidation properties. It is formulated to withstand high temperatures, continuous heat cycling and pressures. I have not tried it but if atf is good I think CVT transmission fluid may be even better. It is basically super atf. It has all the attributes of atf but more so an because of the nature of cvt transmissions a higher sheer strength.
I would love to see a comparison of gun oil X against atf against cvt fluid. Run three identical guns through 10000 rounds of identical ammunition and measure the wear on each. Even if one lube is better on wear it may not react as well with powder residue or any number of ither variables .
 
See my screen name. ATF smells bad, it never comes out of clothes completely and shouldn't be used for gun lube. Really, who cleans/oils their guns enough to even use even a pint of that stuff in a lifetime?
 
...ATF is the miracle lubricant.
Click to expand...
I don't think that's what the author means for people to take away from the article. He seems to be pretty clear about saying that there are no new, revolutionary miracle products.

As far as ATF, it's tough to support the idea that the author thinks ATF is a miracle lubricant. I'd say he's making it plain that it's a decent choice, especially for someone who "wants cheap and easy availability", but that it's not the best thing out there.

Given the rest of the article, his question about the "miracle elixir" is pretty clearly sarcasm/humor, not an objective assessment of ATF.

If you want to know what he thinks is the best non-gun specific product for use as a gun oil, he makes it plain. He calls Lubriplate FMO 350-AW 'a "best in class" oil'.
 
I worked in a transmission shop in my younger days. It might make a passable lube, but I simply DETEST the SMELL! :eek::rolleyes:
 
ATF is a better cleaner than it is a general purpose oil. ATF contains a high level of detergents to keep transmissions clean and free of deposits.
 
Although I highly respect Grant Cunningham, it never ceases to amaze me how gun folks pay big money for a gun and then look for the cheapest care products they can find.

In the end, you're only talking a few pennies one way or the other for oils and cleaners specifically designed for guns which, I dare say, take only a teensy tiny amount of product compared to a 2,000 pound car and its needs at thousands upon thousands of revolutions per hour.
 
I'm really surprised that no one has proposed saving millions of dollars in the defense budget by switching to ATF. They already have 55 gallon drums of it in every motor pool in the world. Think how much we could save by using ATF instead of CLP and LSA!

I also see lots of recommendations of Mobil 1 as a gun oil. Has anyone ever tried using ATF in their engine and Mobil 1 in their transmission? Shouldn't make any difference, based on the number of gun owners who seem to believe that they're both some kind of universal lubricant.
 
Never a fan of ATF as a gun lube.
Does not stay where it is placed, smells, will stain wood and just not suited INO as a gun lube.
I do like 20W non detergent synthetic Mobil One.
The non detergent is hard to find but last for ever.
 
"I also see lots of recommendations of Mobil 1 as a gun oil. Has anyone ever tried using ATF in their engine and Mobil 1 in their transmission?"

False flag argument, and an incredibly weak one, at that.

The internal parts of a firearm that require lubrication endure NOTHING of the conditions endured by internal combustion engines or automatic transmissions.

You see lots of recommendations for use of Mobil 1 as a gun oil, that is true.

How many reports have you seen of catastrophic firearms failures caused by a breakdown of Mobil 1?

The premise that a lubrican must say "GUN" on it order for it to be suitable for use on firearms is ludicrous.


"I'm really surprised that no one has proposed saving millions of dollars in the defense budget by switching to ATF. They already have 55 gallon drums of it in every motor pool in the world. Think how much we could save by using ATF instead of CLP and LSA!"

I've been told by more than one member of the military that ATF is often used as a dunk cleaner for firearms, especially after firing blank rounds, as the ATF does an excellent job at loosening carbon fouling.
 
How many reports have you seen of catastrophic firearms failures caused by a breakdown of Mobil 1?
Click to expand...

Same amount I've seen caused by the breakdown of ANY type of lubricant (WD40 included).

I've been told by more than one member of the military that ATF is often used as a dunk cleaner for firearms, especially after firing blank rounds, as the ATF does an excellent job at loosening carbon fouling.
Click to expand...

That's true. Diesel was also often used back when I was in.
 
"Same amount I've seen caused by the breakdown of ANY type of lubricant (WD40 included)."

And there you have it...

Although WD-40 is in a separate class all its own because of its propensity to varnish to hell and back over time. Friend of mine though he ruined a good semi-antique surf-casting reel when he hosed it down with WD-40 and came back to it two seasons later only to find a viscous, tacky mess where the WD-40 had been.
 
I've used gallons of WD-40 to keep my floatplane corrosion free since 1965.

I suppose if I dissolved a bunch of crud and let it pool and evaporate into a sticky mess for several years it would still be a cruddy sticky mess.
 
At the time my friend used it on his reel, the word was that WD-40 was the greatest substance ever to come down from heaven and take up residence on earth, and that it would never cause any problem. It would remain fluid and offer protection until the end of time yadda yadda yadda.

It doesn't.

I think your secret with your float plane is that you keep renewing it. Or flushing the old crap away and replacing it with new crap before the old has a chance to go feral.

Other than for a few simple things, I really don't have much use for WD-40.
 
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