Three in One as a lube

bice

I have been using motor oil thinned with white spirit, but have made it a bit too thin. Is Three in One an acceptable lube for a five speed commuter?

-liam-

It won't be that resistant to damp conditions but its better than owt

topdude

You are in danger of starting another "what lube" thread :shock:
3 in 1 is ok but a bit thin
Engine oil would be better
Gear oil is even thicker and stays on well

Oh, and don't whatever you do use WD40, there I've said it, now it gets bloody 8)

softlad

topdude wrote:

Oh, and don't whatever you do use WD40, there I've said it, now it gets bloody 8)

yep - your chain will melt if you put WD on it.

Incidentally, oils are rated by weight and flow, not by application. I have used some gear oils that are actually thinner than engine oils...

dennisn

I can't see 3 in 1 causing any problems. It's a lubricant. It lubes things. How can that be bad? I'll grant you it doesn't have the fancy advertisements that the OTHER "must have"
lubes do but oil has lubed things for centuries and is still in use. I have faith in it.

Smokin Joe

Oil of Olay is probably the best, though Cod Liver oil is not far behind.

Don'y us Baby Oil on anything other than BMX bikes, however.

Coach H

A while ago you used to be able to get 3in1 Spray and liquid cans of WD40. All were exactly the same product and it was decided to rationalise the products across Europe. WD40 spray and 3in1 liquid.

So don't get caught out saying WD40 is the spawn of the Devil but 3in1 is OK as they are the same thing (or used to be and I cannot see them changing it while I have been out of the aerosol industry). The only difference is that Wd40 has a propane/butane propellent component that disperses on spraying, leaving 3in1 oil behind.

CarleyB

I find baby oil works a treat

ynyswen24

no buts, its got to butter

Lucky Luke

I can't believe it's not lard . Another pint of Mazola please barman .

cobby1970

CarleyB wrote:

I find baby oil works a treat

I would like a demo please

CarleyB

:roll:

bice

But what about my white spirit brew? Isn;t it the same as 3 in 1, except I've over diluted it?

(I use Prolink on the road bikes, by the way. God knows whether any better but it's less black - but the bikes are used less too.

topdude

But what about my white spirit brew? Isn;t it the same as 3 in 1, except I've over diluted it?

Why not just add a bit more motor oil to thicken it up a bit :?

Harry182

IIRC 3-in-1 is vegetable oil based. So it will eventually breakdown - get hard and tacky. Not what you want on your chain/ bike.

Tom Butcher

Just going back to CoachH's post - I don't think 3in1 is the same thing as WD40 - a quick google suggests 3 in 1 dates back to the 19th century and it has more recently been bought by the WD40 company - but they aren't the same product. I've used 3 in 1 as a lube for a winter bike and it worked fine.

Coach H

Tom Butcher wrote:

Just going back to CoachH's post - I don't think 3in1 is the same thing as WD40 - a quick google suggests 3 in 1 dates back to the 19th century and it has more recently been bought by the WD40 company - but they aren't the same product. I've used 3 in 1 as a lube for a winter bike and it worked fine.

Tom, regardless of what google says, when I worked at a contract filler (I left 10ish years ago) of both the aerosol and liquid WD40/3in1 both were the same.

It was a 50/50 mix of WD40 concentrate (provided by WD40) and white spirit/solvent D40.
Obviously this mix was than put in a can with propane/butane propellent for the aerosol (although just before I left the propellent changed to CO2)
Until the rationalisation mentioned earlier the exact same aerosol product went in WD40 printed cans for GB and some of Eorope and 3in1 printed cans for the rest of Europe.

Sometimes Google is only as good as the information available on the net.

Tom Butcher

I've just used the drip stuff rather than the aerosol. I'll take your word for it that it's the same stuff but it's definitely more concentrated if it is and works OK as a winter lube whereas WD40 would be washed off after one ride.

I tend to use a bottle labelled bicycle mineral oil (I think) in the winter but when I've not been able to lay my hands on it the 3 in 1 has done OK so for the OP I'd say yes it's acceptable.

Coach H

Tom Butcher wrote:

I've just used the drip stuff rather than the aerosol. I'll take your word for it that it's the same stuff but it's definitely more concentrated if it is and works OK as a winter lube whereas WD40 would be washed off after one ride.

I tend to use a bottle labelled bicycle mineral oil (I think) in the winter but when I've not been able to lay my hands on it the 3 in 1 has done OK so for the OP I'd say yes it's acceptable.

Tom, the liquid only will, as you say, appear more concentrated as it has not been spread about by the propellent. Keep spraying the aerosol until you get the same volume in one place as a drop from the drip can and you should see the similarities (and waste a lot of overspray).

bice

topdude wrote:

But what about my white spirit brew? Isn;t it the same as 3 in 1, except I've over diluted it?

Why not just add a bit more motor oil to thicken it up a bit :?

That's a good point, but I would have to buy a new can. The car might need some ... there are occasions when even I have to submit to spending out.

Lancslad

Smokin Joe wrote:

Oil of Olay is probably the best, though Cod Liver oil is not far behind.

Don'y us Baby Oil on anything other than BMX bikes, however.

Fella your showing your age now its just been called 'Olay' for years now

topdude

Smokin Joe wrote:
Oil of Olay is probably the best, though Cod Liver oil is not far behind.

Don'y us Baby Oil on anything other than BMX bikes, however.


Fella your showing your age now its just been called 'Olay' for years now Very Happy

Ha, i remember the good old days when it was called " Oil of Ulay"
Nostalgia, it's not what it used to be