You has used motor oil to preserve wood on trailers vs oil based wood stain. Are we're the pros and cons. Did it work did it make them slippery?
Thanks for the input.

Sarge

I used motor oil on some bilge boards in a skiff once, it did make them a little slick for awhile....If I did it again I'd dilute the oil with gas, or thinners to soak in better, maybe that would dry up faster...

I dilute with diesel for the first coat to make sure it soaks in deep. Second and possibly third coat goes on undiluted. Slippery for a bit, then back to normal. I put a new white oak deck on trailer a couple years ago. Itll be time to hit it again this summer, but will likely only need one coat for continued maintenance. If you start with a quality wood and keep it oiled, it will last a long time.

Diesel

A lot of bee boxes are coated with beeswax now. Supposedly it’s a better wood preservative than painting.

Guys use diesel and it works good (also what they often coat form boards for pouring concrete with). I've used, used motor oil and it works well also. Cut with diesel I'm sure would work good, now whether it would penetrate better I can't say. Yeah, if you put it on and it rains on it, or you are walking on it right away, it is slick. I live on a gravel road, pour a bunch of motor on a trailer deck, spread it around with a broom so it is all coated well, then haul that trailer up and down a dusty a gravel road for a couple days and it isn't going to be slick any more. I have coated them and had it raining the first couple times I used them though, and a new piece of plywood, freshly oiled, in the rain, and/or standing water on it, is pretty dang slick!

The advice to recoat them yearly is good. I seldom do, and only remember that I probably should when I notice the deck deteriorating. A coat when new and one a few years later when you notice it deteriorating will greatly expand the life a trailer deck, I imagine yearly recoating would do better. Also, I try and coat the bottom side of the deck before putting it on the trailer, then do the top side after it is installed. The bottom usually never gets recoated, but is probably as important or more so than the top.

Try teak oil.

Good point, Bearcat. I wasnt smart enough to coat the bottom prior to installing the the new decking so I had to hook a chain on and lift one end of trailer with the Massey and did the underside. As you mentioned, both sides need protecting....

Not sure it could be done large scale as it's done the same as dipping traps. Molten wax and fully submerged to let it really get into the wood.

used motor oil on a trailer deck soaked right in park it in the sun , if it is too slippery to pull your mower on toss a handful of sand and you will be fine it will stick to the excess of oil

just cut yourself a jug off and grab an old paint brush and brush it in or spray it if you like

if you mix with diesel it stinks a lot longer , if just oil it smells a little but not too bad

Are you trying to prevent it from rotting, or make it wayerproof?

That’s what my buddies use for wood on the boat and what I use on the porch furniture. Seems to work.

Never heard of using motor oil, I just have the shop recycle it when I get my equipment or vehicles serviced. Never would have considered using it for a trailer.

Both.

Sarge

farm trick

spray the underside of all the trucks and equipment as well

I had heard of it before but never done it

guy at the lumber yard was telling me how well it worked on his trailer while I was getting new wood for mine so I did it.

staining the boards got me a decade , let you know in 9 more years if it does better than that , but it is easy and cheap , the old guy at the lumber yard said he had 15 on his no issue his was a car hauler that sat outside all year round.

Cool. Never thought of it. New oil, or just use old motor oil?

I'm sure new oil would work, but I've never known anyone to use it. Just used motor oil.

I've heard folks using it for fence posts, picket fencing.
I was told to thin it somewhat and a cheap mop and apply at least two coats. If still sticky throw a layer of sand on it. After it dries. Brush off the excess.
Sure beats $40 or more for stain.

Sarge

Either/or...your choice. Used oil stains darker and has a bit of smell for awhile...doesnt last long though. Last one I did was used hydraulic fluid from a service chainge on tractor...fluid looked new still and didnt stain the wood much. However, still smelled for a short time because I thinned first coat with diesel.

a good example I was told about was on a farm. guys dad would set the oil filters to drain on fence posts outside the machine shed where they did maintenance

they had replaced every fence post in that pasture on the other side but the ones closest the machine shed that got the filters set on them were still strong and had never been replaced didn't show any signs that they would be needing replacement