Clean engine oil

Tell
by Tell
Hi all, I made a small wooden latch for a small shed door unfortunately I had no teak oil so I used clean engine oil in a possibly mad moment, will this protect the wood (soft pallet wood) and if so why is it not used more on wood, be gentle cheers.
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  12 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 06, 2015
    Although it is now environmentally friendly it should help protect the wood.
  • Z Z on Oct 06, 2015
    Motor oil used to be used quite often to settle the dust on dirt roads and to preserve wood after it had used for its intended purpose, but my guess is that's frowned upon now. I'm not sure if the Environmental Protection Agency has something to say about new oil uses though. I don't think I'd make a habit of using it on something one would need to touch often though. I have to add that the latch you made is pretty darn neat looking. I just noticed you are in the UK, so I have no clue what agency you have there or what they'd say about the use of clean oil.
  • Tell Tell on Oct 06, 2015
    Thank you for taking the time to reply becky , very informative, Kind regards Terry
    • Z Z on Oct 06, 2015
      @You're welcome Terry. Though I knew about the dirt road usage, as I'd seen it done when I was a wee one, I didn't know about it being used on wood before.
  • Nancy Nesbitt Nancy Nesbitt on Oct 06, 2015
    I don't know about the oil issue, but I love the latch you built!
  • Tell Tell on Oct 06, 2015
    Thank you Nancy.
  • Marlene Marlene on Oct 07, 2015
    Growing up our parents and other small farmers used, used motor oil on burlap for back scratchers to kill lice, flies, horseflies that would get on farm animals. And around the sheds we used motor oil, clean or used to oil everything that squeaked stuck or whatever problem it gave us. And the wood will be dark and oily, but it won't rot.
  • Tell Tell on Oct 07, 2015
    Thanks Marlene, that's so interesting, I would like to know if there were any other uses for new or used engine oil in times gone by
  • Gary Kerbein Gary Kerbein on Oct 08, 2015
    Like any oil for wood, it will soak in and over time need to be replenished, but will serve your purposes well, will shed water. I use Linseed oil for about everything outdoors, takes a while to dry but love the glow, it too has to be replenished
  • Tell Tell on Oct 08, 2015
    Thank you gary.
  • Shi2213715 Shi2213715 on Oct 09, 2015
    They say motor oil around the foundation of a house will keep termites away
  • Clymnclytn Clymnclytn on Oct 10, 2015
    Motor oil serves for most purposes that you use and non eatable oil. The problem with motor oil is that it is petroleum based (even synthetics) and lasts a lot longer that organic based oils. that sounds great, doesn't it? What it means is that when the oils runs or washes down it doesn't break down. it collects and remains as a toxin in the soil or water sheds. So even though motor oil is a great product for many purposes, the same reason that it keeps termites away, is the reason it is harmful to humans and the environment. It is especially toxic to the delicate balance of microbes needed for healthy soil.
  • Theresa Bradshaw Theresa Bradshaw on Oct 10, 2015
    Here in the states farmers and ranchers use, used motor oil to paint their fence posts to keep them from rotting. As its used its not pretty but it keeps the posts lasting longer.