We’ve always avoided 3-in-One oil because of reports that it gums up and is usually the incorrect oil for any given purpose. Some people love it though, ranking it up there with duct tape and WD-40, and most everyone seems to have a can in the house no matter what they think of it.
So what do you all think: Hot or Not? Let us know in comments.
3-IN-ONE [WD-40]
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February 2nd, 2009 at 12:11 pm
If it isn’t the right thing, I would like to know what is… I started using it since I read on here about all the bad things of WD-40…
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
IMHO, it’s not perfect for everything but good enough for some things, handy to have around.
scissors, toys, hinges,…
back in the day my dad and granddad, and most everyone else had a oil can with light oil for general use around the shop/garage and a can of 3-1 oil for around the house.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I’ve never used it. Ever. Squeaky hinges get PAM, car doors get white lithium, sliding things get 30-weight.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Oh yeah, that bathroom fan with crappy bearings got PAM too, until I remodel it this spring.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Yeah, I’d say warm at best. In general, silicone is a better all in one as it doesn’t degrade rubber/plastic, etc. Some plain old Hoppe’s gun oil works for everything metal.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I keep a can in the truck, along with a can of WD-40, and white lithium spray. The 3-n-1 is great for hinges, locks, and misc items. While there may be better stuff, it’s convenient, an cheap.
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
what’s the best thing to put on rusty bolts and such in and around the engine of a car? i have a civic that has a lot of rusted bolt tops, and am wondering what would keep it from getting worse…thanks…
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Got a can in the tool chest, while it’s not my 1st choice it ain’t bad. Biggest problem? It stinks.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Hot - I have used it as an Air Tool lubricant for years. They are all still running, even the HF ones. Must work or be my only bit of dumb luck.
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Hot, but I use Zoom oil, better applicator. It’s really just SAE 20 weight non-detergent oil….
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
“New Shimmer is a floor wax AND a dessert topping!”
Not. Generally speaking, multi-purpose often means no purpose. Remember when Hank Hill had a drawer especially for various adhesives? The same thought that you would put into an adhesive should be put into lubricants. Select your lubricants thoughtfully, as you would a fine single malt or wine. Only a Philistine would buy a grocery store lube.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Then I, Sir, am a Philistine.
Hot for table-top steam engines. Never gummed-up. does stink. I use it as cologne — attracts the right kind of girls. ;-D
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 pm
“Select your lubricants thoughtfully, as you would a fine single malt or wine. ”
I’m telling that one to the gf.
I was going to go with “Hot” but then I thought about all the different lubricants I have in the tickle trunk (My “assorted tools” box) between hoppes gun oil, Paintball marker oil, white lithium grease, and silicone spray. I use the WD40 for general crap, and this stuff just sits, like the redheaded stepchild of my lubricants. under the tap and die set…
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Hot!
Will free up a gummy Sturmey Archer hub in no time.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Hot, just the thing to lubricate the shafts of your 1/96 scale model battleship when mixed with a little white grease. I use it around the shop to lubricate the screws of my lathe and mill. I might be weird, but I kinda like the smell.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 am
Hot, although I don’t use it…
I use Marvel MO….. but same general idea.
I like the aplicator on the 3-1
just like a zippo light fluid filler can,,,,, which by the way can be repurposed to apply any oil…..
February 4th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Not. I am now the second generation owner of the same can of the 3 in one 1…
PB Blaster is the best thing for rusty parts just short of a torch. You’ll get rid of the WD-40 if you try the blaster on really bad rust.
February 4th, 2009 at 2:37 am
NOT: I’ve used the “electric motor” version on a couple of electric motors, and they invariably stopped working: whatever the oil is, it turns to some solid reliably.
It is *possible* that I hadn’t cleaned ‘em out enough, it is *possible* that the cleaning solvents I used were the culprit, but I don’t think so.
Nowadays I use motor oil, and my shop-vac, unlike the fans I tried “fixing” with 3-in-1 for electric motors, still runs ( what’s with Shop Vac making their motors so damn difficult to maintain? )
It does smell aweful, though…
I simply don’t trust ‘em, now.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Hot! I have been using this stuff for years and the bottle will last you for years too.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Well, the oil’s just oil, but I love those old metal cans. I’m also partial to Marvel Mystery Oil. I drank a little of it once, in a beer, sort of accidentally, and it wasn’t so bad. But I wouldn’t recommend it.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:06 am
I use it as a lubricant for tapping, drilling, and latheing; but I can’t compare it to a more specialized cutting fluid, cause I’ve never tried the others. Hasn’t done be wrong yet.
February 7th, 2009 at 1:10 am
Hot, I use it as a oil on my oilstone when i sharpen my pocket knives to keep the stone from clogging.
February 28th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
If you read the MSDS, the smell is put in on purpose as a “proprietary ingredient”, otherwise it is just plain 10 wt. mineral oil, which doesn’t smell much. Like most folks, I have used it over the years because it was the only one available (any competing brands out there?). But invariably it gums up. For hinges, this oil is the worst (makes hinges rust faster)! Use grease instead for hinge pins. OK for wiping, not for lubricating. It gummed up my blower motors and fan bearings. The correct oil, for these applications, should be SAE 20 non detergent oil, which is SUPER HARD to find retail. Zoom spout oils are 10 wt, not 20! Any savy business types out there???