Alternative Small Arms Lubricants

Synthetic motor oils are subjected to extreme conditions present inside operating
internal combustion engines. These include, but are not limited to:

-Thermal Stresses
-Extreme Pressure and Wear
-Oxidation
-Combustion Products Contamination

Since firearms operate strictly within the boundary lubrication regime and not the
hydrodynamic lubrication regime, it appears that synthetic motor oils should
possess the necessary attributes (including detergency, rust and corrosion inhibition
and adequate film and barrier strengths) to serve successfully as alternative small
arms lubricants.

While not all of the 28 synthetic motor oils and compounds listed below rise to meet
all of the following evaluative performance criteria, they are for the most part,
adequate for the application since the internal operating environment of firearms is
generally far less severe than that of internal combustion engines.

Evaluative Criteria:

1. Pour Point (PP): The lowest temperature, expressed in degrees Fahrenheit, at

which the lubricant will flow within a specified timeframe.
Minimum requirement: -50.00 F

2. Flash Point (FP): The lowest temperature, expressed in degrees Fahrenheit, at

which the lubricant will produce vapors that, if subjected to an ignition source, will
ignite and combust.
Minimum requirement: +450.00 F

3. Viscosity at 100 F (V100): The viscosity of the lubricant, expressed in

centistokes (cSt) at 100 F.
Minimum requirement: 25.00 cSt

4. Viscosity at 212 F (V212): The viscosity of the lubricant, expressed in

centistokes (cSt) at 212 F.
Minimum requirement: 5.00 cSt

As a point of reference, the kinematic viscosity of pure water (H2O) at:

68 F (room temperature) is 1.004 cSt
100 F is 0.658 cSt
212 F is 0.294 cSt

5. Thermal Service Range (TSR): The sum of the absolute values of the Pour
Point (PP) and the Flash Point (FP).
Minimum requirement: 500.00 F

6. Viscosity Index (VI): An arbitrary numerical value assigned to a lubricant

indicating its ability to retain its viscosity across a specified temperature range.
Minimum requirement: 110.00 (Very High)

Low VI: 35 or lower

Medium VI: 35-80
High VI: 80-110
Very High VI: 110 or higher

7. Molybdenum (Mo): An anti-wear/extreme pressure (AW/EP) additive. Nominal

concentrations are expressed in parts per million (ppm).
No required minimum

Data for Alternative Small Arms Lubricants:

AMSOIL 10W40 (MCF)*

PP: -51.00 F
FP: +453.00 F
V100: 93.36 cSt
V212: 13.90 cSt
TSR: 504.00 F
VI: 153
Mo: ~45 ppm

AMSOIL 20W50 (MCV)

PP: -38.00 F
FP: +464.00 F
V100: 151.98 cSt
V212: 20.10 cSt
TSR: 502.00 F
VI: 153
Mo: ~45 ppm

ENEOS 0W50
PP: -49.00 F
FP: +449.60 F
V100: 104.00 cSt
V212: 18.00 cSt
TSR: 498.60 F
VI: 192
Mo: ~45 ppm

MOBIL 1 JET OIL II*

PP: -74.20 F
FP: +518.00 F
V100: 27.60 cSt
V212: 5.10 cSt
TSR: 592.20 F
VI: 113

MOBIL 1 JET OIL 254*

PP: -79.60 F
FP: +489.00 F
V100: 26.40 cSt
V212: 5.30 cSt
TSR: 568.60 F
VI: 137

MOBIL 1 JET OIL 284

PP: -70.60 F
FP: +442.40 F
V100: 17.60 cSt
V212: 4.00 cSt
TSR: 513.00 F
VI: 128

MOBIL 1 0W40
PP: -40.00 F
FP: +446.40 F
V100: 78.30 cSt
V212: 14.00 cSt
TSR: 486.00 F
VI: 187
Mo: ~70 ppm

MOBIL 1 5W30
PP: -54.40 F
FP: +446.00 F
V100: 64.80 cSt
V212: 11.30 cSt
TSR: 500.40 F
VI: 171
Mo: ~80 ppm

MOBIL 1 10W30
PP: -65.20 F
FP: +447.80 F
V100: 78.20 cSt
V212: 11.79 cSt
TSR: 513.00 F
VI: 146
Mo: ~80 ppm

MOBIL 1 15W50
PP: -38.20 F
FP: +455.00 F
V100: 131.20 cSt
V212: 18.10 cSt
TSR: 493.20 F
VI: 154
Mo: ~80 ppm

MOBIL 1 10W40 (MX4T)*

PP: -65.20 F
FP: +487.40 F
V100: 86.00 cSt
V212: 13.80 cSt
TSR: 552.60 F
VI: 166
Mo: ~90 ppm

MOBIL 1 20W50 (VTWIN)*

PP: -59.80 F
FP: +518.00 F
V100: 130.00 cSt
V212: 17.70 cSt
TSR: 577.80 F
VI: 151
Mo: ~90 ppm

MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC GREASE

Dropping Point: +550.00 F
Freezing Point: -40.00 F
V100: 220.00 cSt
V212: 23.80 cSt
TSR: 590.00 F
VI: 135
NLGI Rating: #2
Reversibility: ~85.00 %
Washout (H2O): 6.00 %
Corrosion Prevention Test (ASTM D 1743): Pass
Thickener: Lithium Complex
Color: Red

PENNZOIL PLATINUM 5W30

PP: -38.20 F
FP: +435.20 F
V100: 57.50 cSt
V212: 10.30 cSt
TSR: 473.40 F
VI: 168
Mo: ~55 ppm

PENNZOIL PLATINUM 5W50

PP: -43.60 F
FP: +435.20 F
V100: 106.00 cSt
V212: 17.80 cSt
TSR: 478.80 F
VI: 186
Mo: ~55 ppm

RED LINE 5W20

PP: -49.00 F
FP: +484.00 F
V100: 55.00 cSt
V212: 9.10 cSt
TSR: 533.00 F
VI: 147
Mo: ~700 ppm

RED LINE 5W30

PP: -49.00 F
FP: +486.00 F
V100: 62.00 cSt
V212: 10.60 cSt
TSR: 535.00 F
VI: 163
Mo: ~700 ppm

RED LINE 5W40

PP: -49.00 F
FP: +480.00 F
V100: 94.00 cSt
V212: 15.10 cSt
TSR: 529.00 F
VI: 170
Mo: ~700 ppm

RED LINE 10W30

PP: -49.00 F
FP: +480.00 F
V100: 70.00 cSt
V212: 10.70 cSt
TSR: 529.00 F
VI: 143
Mo: ~700 ppm

RED LINE 10W40

PP: -49.00 F
FP: +478.00 F
V100: 93.00 cSt
V212: 14.60 cSt
TSR: 527.00 F
VI: 164
Mo: ~700 ppm

RED LINE 15W40

PP: -49.00 F
FP: +486.00 F
V100: 97.00 cSt
V212: 14.50 cSt
TSR: 535.00 F
VI: 156
Mo: ~700 pm

RED LINE 15W50

PP: -49.00 F
FP: +486.00 F
V100: 138.00 cSt
V212: 19.60 cSt
TSR: 535.00 F
VI: 163
Mo: ~700 ppm

RED LINE 20W50

PP: -49.00 F
FP: +491.00 F
V100: 148.00 cSt
V212: 19.80 cSt
TSR: 540.00 F
VI: 154
Mo: ~90 ppm

ROYAL PURPLE 5W30

PP: -40.00 F
FP: +455.00 F
V100: 65.30 cSt
V212: 11.00 cSt
TSR: 495.00 F
VI: 163
Mo: ~125 ppm

ROYAL PURPLE 10W30

PP: -40.00 F
FP: +455.00 F
V100: 70.30 cSt
V212: 10.70 cSt
TSR: 495.00 F
VI: 142
Mo: ~125 ppm

ROYAL PURPLE 15W40

PP: -44.00 F
FP: +435.00 F
V100: 110.10 cSt
V212: 14.90 cSt
TSR: 479.00 F
VI: 141
Mo: ~125 ppm

ROYAL PURPLE 20W50

PP: -25.00 F
FP: +435.00 F
V100: 170.00 cSt
V212: 20.20 cSt
TSR: 460.00 F
VI: 138
Mo: ~90 ppm

ROYAL PURPLE ATF*

PP: -50.00 F
FP: +450.00 F
V100: 32.40 cSt
V212: 7.40 cSt
TSR: 500.00 F
VI: 206

*Denotes fully criteria compliant lubricant grades.