Oiler/can/pump

[Johnny A]

Just got a NOS plews oiler. I was going to fill it with motor oil to use for misc uses around the shop. I was told that in the 60's most garages would fill it with marvel mystery oil or trans fluid.

Just curious what guys filled it with back in the day.


what type oil would you guys fill it with in todays world for misc uses?









<img src="http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l180/pict/281254181106_1.jpg" alt="Item picture"/>

 

[Farmall 1066]

I use the oil I catch in my drain rack for funnels and jugs. Hodgepodge of motor oil, Hytran Hyd oil, ATF....and probably some WTF, for good measure.

 

[blueflame6]

Johnny, I keep 3 oilers ready on my shelf one each of ATF, MMO, #30 ND. Depending what I think I need for the application....

 

[Johnny A]

you guys think it would be a waste of $ to fill with Marvel or WD40 (liquid)?

blueflame6:

what do you use the different oils on?

I have used the waste oil on my old saw when I cut pine trees.

 

[zkling]

Oil from the 60's is quite a bit different than what we have today. What to fill yours with is going to depend on what you commonly work on. My most used one is filled with 30wt ND oil. Kinda my standard shop oil.

 

[Harley94]

When I change oil in the car - truck whatever, I let the bottles drain into a small jar and dump that oil in my two oil cans.

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

I placed mine in a small round magnetic parts dish.
That keeps it from tipping over, especially with some tubing on the spout to extend the reach.
It also makes it easy to use around the shop & vehicles without tipping.

Something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-magnetic-parts-tray-90566.html

 

[jjjrmx5]

you guys think it would be a waste of $ to fill with Marvel or WD40 (liquid)?

Since WD40 is so high in solvents, it will evaporate far far quicker then lubricants like motor oil, ATF and engine assembly lube, which are the 3 I keep around in those pumps.

I get WD40 by the gallon and keep it sealed in the metal can and parcel out in glass jars with metal lids or pour into aeresol pumps in small amounts.

It's just a viscosity issue with those old style cans. They have a limit of how thin they will pump.

 

[Johnny A]

I just got back from my friends shop & he saw my post. He said he uses Hydraulic fluid that he uses for snowplows in his oiler. He said it won't freeze & will "stick".

Opinions needed, just curious & this website & it's members taught me so much...

Thanks for the advice.

 

[airdale]

30wt ND was pretty standard and can be used for most applications. 3in1 oil was pretty common too.

 

[bobcatdan]

I use what ever spare oil is laying around. I used mostly for oil filter gaskets or cutting oil.

 

[Provincial]

I have cans with ND30, Synthetic 5W30, Kroil, ATF (Dexron II), and AW46 hydraulic oil. I have plant sprayers with WD-40 and Formula 409 and a SureShot sprayer with brake cleaner.

I find that the AW46 does everything I need the ND30 for, and will probably eliminate the ND30 when it is empty. AW46 also works for hydraulic jack oil.

Kroil is a powerful penetrating oil, but it is expensive. ATF penetrates pretty well (and much better if Acetone is added) so I use it for "easy" penetrating oil jobs and light duty oil.

I use the Synthetic for oiling machine tools. The additives in motor oil are not recommended for this, but the other advantages of Synthetic outweigh the negatives in my estimation. A non-detergent Synthetic would be ideal, and I suspect it is available as a Machine Tool Oil but only in larger quantities. Perhaps there is a Synthetic Air Compressor Oil that will meet this classification.

 

[29AVEE8]

When I change oil in the car - truck whatever, I let the bottles drain into a small jar and dump that oil in my two oil cans.

Yep, been doing that for 50 plus years.

 

[Junkman]

I have 30 weight chain and bar oil in mine. I use it to lubricate the chain on my snowblower. Before that, I used it on my chain drive Mack.

 

[WWIIjeep]

I'll add an automotive machine shop perspective...

Back in the '60s, each one of our lathes and mills were equipped with 4 pump oilers (larger sized--about double the size of yours):

1. Way oil (essentially SAE 30, except unlike motor oil, it's compatible with water-based coolants and won't turn into into sticky muck like motor oil will).

2. Spindle oil for general lubrication (ISO 68 hydraulic oil, similar to SAE 20).

3. Cutting oil (sulfur-based at the time, for steel cutting, especially thread cutting).

4. Kerosene (cutting fluid for aluminum).