To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Marvel mystery oil

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

darkzero

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2011
Messages
3,320
Location
SoCal
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.
 

Renegade1LI

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 11, 2018
Messages
4,944
Location
long island ny
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

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2020
Messages
1,650
Location
The Little Apple
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

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
2,713
Location
McLean Va.
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

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
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:

marvel-mystery-oil-32-oz-38.png


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

71dzYqOIzrL._CR24,0,1152,1152_UX175.jpg
 

seber

Well-known member
Joined
May 31, 2016
Messages
4,195
Location
Deep East Tx.
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

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
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?

50093_MM080_Marvel_Air_Tool_Oil.jpg
 

h~moto

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2016
Messages
104
Location
Northern Virginia
I'm aware of three products that Marvel makes/made.
- Marvel Mystery Oil Top Cylinder Lubrication
- Marvel Air-Tool Oil
- Marvel Lubricating Oil
 

Attachments

  • marvel1.jpg
    marvel1.jpg
    122.4 KB · Views: 70
  • marvel2.jpg
    marvel2.jpg
    73.6 KB · Views: 64
  • marvel3.jpg
    marvel3.jpg
    85.6 KB · Views: 66

isb cornbinder

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
7,073
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
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.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Super Mech

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
1,806
Location
Bronx,NY
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

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
8,788
Location
Desert SW
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.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4223.JPG
    IMG_4223.JPG
    112.1 KB · Views: 68
  • IMG_4224.jpg
    IMG_4224.jpg
    49.1 KB · Views: 64
  • IMG_4225.JPG
    IMG_4225.JPG
    122.9 KB · Views: 67

bob15

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
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

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 17, 2010
Messages
1,237
Location
Long Island
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

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 29, 2016
Messages
2,275
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

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
2,884
Location
Willimantic, CT
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
 

Fatboy148

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
999
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

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2013
Messages
1,082
Location
Roxboro, North Carolina
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

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 6, 2020
Messages
471
Location
SE Michigan
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
 

isb cornbinder

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
7,073
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
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
 
Last edited:

merkyworks

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2016
Messages
587
Location
Texas
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

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2005
Messages
1,353
Location
Kansas
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

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
999
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

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 11, 2020
Messages
537
Location
SoCal
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 ?
 

M635_Guy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
4,334
Location
NC
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

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Messages
554
Location
Florida east coast
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.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom