Marvel mystery oil

[oldwino]

Does anyone know the difference between Marvel Oil and Marvel Air Tool Oil?
I’ve been using regular Mystery oil in my air tools for years with no ill effects. Saw an ad for their air tool oil and wondering what the difference is

 

[ZRX61]

Price...

 

[darkzero]

Nope, no one knows, it's a Mystery!

 

[darkzero]

But to be serious, I had no idea they had an air tool oil product. I had a small 4oz bottle of the mystery oil that I used in air tools back in the early 2000s. When it ran out I bought a pint of Sears/Craftsman air tool oil that has lasted a long time. I couldn't tell any difference.

I forget if I'm still using that same pint or if I'm on my second bottle. I haven't been using air tools much anymore. I think some people just use ATF.

 

[Bogie1632]

A peak at their SDSs. Different composition for each.

https://www.marvelmysteryoil.com/sds/

First image is the MMO, second is their air tool oil.

V/R
Bogie

 

[isb cornbinder]

My employer has hundreds of air tools ATF has be the go-to lube for over 40 years.
Marvel Mystery Oil MSDS
https://www.marvelmysteryoil.com/media/1256/marvel-mystery-oil.pdf

 

[Renegade1LI]

MMO is meant to be added as a fuel & oil treatment, MMO air tool is not for automotive use. I add it in every gas can with stabilizer for all small equipment & add it in my truck when I fill up.

 

[Kscardsfan]

We kept mystery oil by the drum on oil rigs. Used it in the motors, as drilling mud additive, and as a general purpose lube. Can’t speak to the finer points of the air tool oil. But regular marvel is a god send.

 

[vssjim]

Chicago Pneumatic used to sell private labeled MMO Air Tool oil but also in the instructions with the tool would tell you to add a De-Gumming oil to the inlet daily. So I think its worth the very small difference to use a known good product.

 

[bob15]

MMO is meant to be added as a fuel & oil treatment, MMO air tool is not for automotive use. I add it in every gas can with stabilizer for all small equipment & add it in my truck when I fill up.

Here is your gas & oil treatment:

Here is MMO Air Tool oil. Completely different oil additive package and usage.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I buy it by the gallon at Wal-Mart.com it's 15$ the cheapest I've seen it. I have been using it as long as I can remember.

 

[demarpaint]

Two different products.

 

[sk farmer]

it's a marvelous mystery of course!

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Marvel Mystery Oil?...I put that s*@! on EVERYTHING !!

 

[seber]

It's not really a mystery. MMO contains a small amount of phosphoric acid. That is what is used to convert rust to an inert coating. The advantage in oil is that it cleans dirty parts and protects better than oil alone. It can also help in penetrating oil by loosening rusted components. It probably wouldn't hurt air tools, but there is no advantage in it. I prefer to use products designed for the purpose.

 

[bob15]

It's not really a mystery. MMO contains a small amount of phosphoric acid. That is what is used to convert rust to an inert coating. The advantage in oil is that it cleans dirty parts and protects better than oil alone. It can also help in penetrating oil by loosening rusted components. It probably wouldn't hurt air tools, but there is no advantage in it. I prefer to use products designed for the purpose.

Such as MMO Air Tool Oil?

 

[rlitman]

Such as MMO Air Tool Oil?

LOL. I use the MMO Air Tool Oil because the bottle has a nice dropper tip that fits my QD fittings. Not sure what I'll buy next in a few decades when I run out.

 

[oldwino]

Heck with performance, does the air tool oil have that nice minty smell?

 

[h~moto]

I'm aware of three products that Marvel makes/made.
- Marvel Mystery Oil Top Cylinder Lubrication
- Marvel Air-Tool Oil
- Marvel Lubricating Oil

 

[isb cornbinder]

This product is perfect example of good marketing. It is something that is not needed and if used will not likely do any harm. Someone has set this up with a little Mystery that is not understood by the masses and the maybe factor" kicks in and just incase takes over.
Calling this a scam may be a little too strong of a word if the buyer feels better. I bought an empty MM Oil metal can at a second hand store. The can gives me a good feeling.
I have never used the product in my decades in the mechanical trade. I never used any fuel additive in my Diesel truck in 20+ years and 225,000 miles. When I gave the truck to a friend, it was still running just fine.

 

[Super Mech]

I’ve been using regular MMO in my air tools for years. No issues. Air tools used on a daily basis in a commercial environment have lasted for years.

 

[bonneyman]

This product is perfect example of good marketing. It is something that is not needed and if used will not likely do any harm. Someone has set this up with a little Mystery that is not understood by the masses and the maybe factor" kicks in and just incase takes over.
Calling this a scam may be a little too strong of a word if the buyer feels better. I bought an empty MM Oil metal can at a second hand store. The can gives me a good feeling.
I have never used the product in my decades in the mechanical trade. I never used any fuel additive in my Diesel truck in 20+ years and 225,000 miles. When I gave the truck to a friend, it was still running just fine.

I found a gallon metal container almost full at a garage sale, so I know it was the older formulation. I post pics of the info on the can for reference.

 

[bob15]

This product is perfect example of good marketing. It is something that is not needed and if used will not likely do any harm. Someone has set this up with a little Mystery that is not understood by the masses and the maybe factor" kicks in and just incase takes over.
Calling this a scam may be a little too strong of a word if the buyer feels better. I bought an empty MM Oil metal can at a second hand store. The can gives me a good feeling.
I have never used the product in my decades in the mechanical trade. I never used any fuel additive in my Diesel truck in 20+ years and 225,000 miles. When I gave the truck to a friend, it was still running just fine.

So you have the proof that MMO will not free up sticky rings and lifters on engines that have been sitting around, untouched for years? I've seen enough engines that had sticky rings and/or lifter knocking and would smoke to no end that had a quart of MMO added and within a short period of time the knocking and smoking started going away. The last engine being on my Case Vac which hadn't run in ~20 years. It wouldn't stop smoking for over an hour....added a quart of MMO and the smoke started going away shortly there after.

MMO is also good for coating cylinder walls during an engine rebuild and recommended by at least one company (JE pistons).

Sometimes those "snake oils" actually do work.......and MMO does do that

 

[demarpaint]

So you have the proof that MMO will not free up sticky rings and lifters on engines that have been sitting around, untouched for years? I've seen enough engines that had sticky rings and/or lifter knocking and would smoke to no end that had a quart of MMO added and within a short period of time the knocking and smoking started going away. The last engine being on my Case Vac which hadn't run in ~20 years. It wouldn't stop smoking for over an hour....added a quart of MMO and the smoke started going away shortly there after.

MMO is also good for coating cylinder walls during an engine rebuild and recommended by at least one company (JE pistons).

Sometimes those "snake oils" actually do work.......and MMO does do that

I had good luck with it too over the years, freeing up ticking lifters in several applications. I learned about it in HS auto shop back in the 70's and then again working in an auto parts store that had one of the best machine shops around. Sometimes talking positively on message boards about it can get you into some heated debates.

 

[Ralf11]

I'd like to see pics of the oldest (original) MMO can.


BTW, I'm sure it freed up rings & stuff - we used it back in ye olden days - but did it do a better job than kerosene?

 

[Cryptic1911]

My dad has air tools that are over 40 years old that have had nothing but regular MMO run through them and they still work perfectly. Also seen it work great on cars with stuck lifters and other noises. You can say what you want about it, but it does work

 

[Al Borland]

I fail to see why everyone complains about "Snake Oil".
Have you ever seen or heard a rusty, squeaky snake?
That Snake Oil is good stuff I tell ya!

 

[Fatboy148]

I don't know if it works or not BUT..... a local small engine guy said to mix two or three caps full in with my 2 cycle oil and one gallon of gas, I've yet to have a 2 cycle engine issue (as he knocks on wood).

 

[Old Steamer]

We've been using it in air tools and other air-driven machinery for over 40 years at the plant. No issues whatsoever.

With the number of lubricating products on the market today, it's turned into a "pick your poison" type of thing.

 

[PierceA]

ATF works just fine as an engine oil additive to free up rings and quiet down noisy hydraulic lifters..
ATF is a very high detergent light weight oil.. Just as is the Kerosene base in Marvel Mystery oil..
Air tools? I use ATF. works great and have many CP [USA made] air tools that I bought in the early '70's. They still work, and work well. A drop or two of ATF in the air inlet each day. or each time I use one of them..

PierceA

 

[bonneyman]

Found this article over at another forum that listed the ingredients of MMO. I think what they're talking about is the old formula. I'm almost positive the new stuff has been reformulated.

https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/marvel-mystery-oil.1515138/

 

[isb cornbinder]

I fail to see why everyone complains about "Snake Oil".
Have you ever seen or heard a rusty, squeaky snake?
That Snake Oil is good stuff I tell ya!

My neighbour had a pet snake. It left him and started a funeral business. the snake called the business HISS AND HEARSE.
The receptionist would answer the phone with: Hiss and Hearse. You ssstaB them, we ssslab them, sssome go to heaven and sssome go to HELLO HISS AND HEARSSSE how may I be of asssistanssse

 

[merkyworks]

So when GJ users say they use Marvel Mystery Oil to lube fine tooth ratchets. Do they mean MMO “original” or MM-Air Tool?

 

[MarkH]

Wright on its ratchets says oil only so they are both oil. They seem to work the same over the years.
Air tools same comment. It is which one is sitting on the shelf. The big thing seems to be not which but to do tool maintenance. Name your poison.

 

[Fatboy148]

I add four cap fulls to my one gallon two cycle gas mix. The smell of the gas treatment makes me feel good when I open the container!

 

[californiamilleghia]

I have always thrown ATF down old engines that have sat for decades , before turning them over by hand to get them moving ,

would I do better putting Marvel oil instead ?

 

[rlitman]

I have always thrown ATF down old engines that have sat for decades , before turning them over by hand to get them moving ,

would I do better putting Marvel oil instead ?

I doubt it.

 

[Sgtboz]

Marvel Mystery Oil?...I put that s*@! on EVERYTHING !!

It's positively sinful as a decadent salad dressing.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have always thrown ATF down old engines that have sat for decades , before turning them over by hand to get them moving ,

would I do better putting Marvel oil instead ?

A bit of MMO squirted in the cylinders is what my buddy who has resurrected a number of long-sitting cars does.

 

[bpjr]

Yrs back I used regular MMO in model airplane engine to store them long term...a yr or two. What I found was the MMO hardened to a solid and basically glued them together. It turned hard like a bowling ball. After that I used their air tool oil and it only gummed up instead of get bowling ball hard. MMO is definitely old school and it used to be common to add it for sticky lifters.