Can I use 3-in-1 oil to lubricate my models?

It is not advisable to use 3-in-1 oil to lubricate your models, especially not the fine parts inside their mechanisms. This is because different oils are good at different things - some clean, some protect and others lubricate.

3-in-1 oils are generally quite good in all three areas, but they don't excel at them, and that's a problem. The finely engineered motors inside your models have very small gaps requiring lubrication. Specialised oils made for models are designed to be great at lubricating whilst being thin enough to penetrate gaps, additionally, they have a specially designed applicator that ensures oil doesn't contaminate sensitive plastic parts that can be easily damaged when exposed to excessive amounts of oil.

There are different types of model oil, so it's important to always read the label to check you have the right oil for the job.