What oil for an oil can ?

[griston64]

Possibly a silly question but I've bought myself an oil can and wondered what oil you would put in it ? I've pretty much used 3 in 1 oil for that kind of things for donkeys and that seems pretty thin compared to engine oil

[aardvarkash10]

anything you are lubing from an oil can is not likely to get hot, be under heavy dynamic or static loading, or operating at high rotational speeds. It will tend to be open to the elements including dust and have relatively easy access for the ongoing application of oil.

Sounds like a sewing machine to me.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by griston64

Possibly a silly question but I've bought myself an oil can and wondered what oil you would put in it ? I've pretty much used 3 in 1 oil for that kind of things for donkeys and that seems pretty thin compared to engine oil

I guess it depends on what you are going to use it for, 'griston'.

3 in 1 is great for bikes and delicate mechanisms such as hub gears, where the flexible spout is a boon, but for general purposes - oiling the hinges on the gate, for example - something slightly thicker may indeed be preferable. To be honest, I generally keep a drop back from whatever I'm using in the car at the time - nothing more scientific than that! My oil can was my Dad's and must be around 80 years old!

Regards, John.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

I guess it depends on what you are going to use it for, 'griston'.

3 in 1 is great for bikes and delicate mechanisms such as hub gears, where the flexible spout is a boon, but for general purposes - oiling the hinges on the gate, for example - something slightly thicker may indeed be preferable. To be honest, I generally keep a drop back from whatever I'm using in the car at the time - nothing more scientific than that! My oil can was my Dad's and must be around 80 years old!

Regards, John.

Its just for general use. I sometimes use a tiny drop when I'm cleaning out threads and also a little smear when i was pushing in bushes on the hydraulic press last week.So just bung a bit of leftover 10w 40 in it then ?

[Ian21401]

Whatever engine oil in one oil can, thicker gearbox oil left over from the hypoid EP90 days of my previous cars in another oil can and a small bottle of 3 in 1 for when I only want some lighter oil.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

Whatever engine oil in one oil can, thicker gearbox oil left over from the hypoid EP90 days of my previous cars in another oil can and a small bottle of 3 in 1 for when I only want some lighter oil.

That's TWO oilcans, 'Ian21401'!! Sound policy, though! J.

[Laird Scooby]

When you next do an oil/filter change Mark, save the old oil. Let it settle and decant the top 1/4 of it into the oil can. This will be the lightest oil out of it all and should still have good lubricity, certainly good enough for things like hinges, pushbike chains, brake cables etc.

Given the fact it's used, instead of 10W40, it will probably be more like 5W20 so should be ideal for light lubrication.

Oh yeah, the best bit is it's a no extra cost option!

[john.wigley]

I use my old engine oil for 'painting' gardening and wood-working tools, such as spades, forks and saws, 'L.S.'. Some of ours are older than I am!

Regards, John.

[MiniNinjaRob]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

................3 in 1 is great for bikes and delicate mechanisms ...........

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

..............and should still have good lubricity, certainly good enough for things like hinges, pushbike chains, brake cables etc............

As a bike mechanic myself I can say that neither 3 in 1 nor engine oil is any good for bike chain. You wouldn't use auto transmission fluid in your engine would you? So use proper cycle chain lubricants on your bike chain.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

I use my old engine oil for 'painting' gardening and wood-working tools, such as spades, forks and saws, 'L.S.'. Some of ours are older than I am!

Regards, John.

I use most of the rest of mine for painting my sheds and fences John. The sediment eventually gets binned in a container of some sort.