This past week I had an interesting situation come up. A friend of mine was climbing and slipped/fell while on a knee jam. Long story short, their knee was stuck for an extended period of time. One of the solutions we came up with was to poor motor oil on their leg to try and lube it up. We got the knee out eventually, as well as about a quart of oil on my rope. Does anyone know if this is a bad thing? should the rope be retired? Can I still take a good whipper or two on it? Any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks.
Justin

Yes, bad.

Any contact with a petroleum product isn't good for a rope.

Is it just a spot or was the rope drenched?

THat is the strangest story ever. Dude, there won't be many people tellin you it's ok to use that rope. I have read the forums here and they get into such details as using a sharpie to mark the middle of a rope and the safety consequences that can cause. It was very interesting to read all the comments, and suggestions people had. I eventually marked the center of my rope with dental floss, because I was so worried about adding a chemical to my rope. One part of me thinks that you would be ok or it wouldn't make such a big deal and feel the rope would be ok if I fell on it. On the other hand finding out the hard way would really suck. I would say it's time to let the rope go.

i wouldnt chance my life to a quart of motor oil!!!!!

UMMM.... just wondering, what climb did you turn into the new 2nd pitch of ruper?

Meaning very polished:)

Just clean the rope with a grease cutting soap. From another site:

"Testing done by the AlliedSignal Corporation indicates salt water, acetone, benzene, chloroform, freon, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, mineral oil, paints and pine oil do not appreciably affect nylon and should not damage your rope."

What does damage ropes is acids.

yeah Charlie! Lets take the oil rope to candy mountain! Candy Mountain Charlie! Lets go on an adv__E_n-ture, lets take the rope to Candy Mountain. (Dude- Tim when you said 'acid' --made me think of that video you posted about Candy Mountain.) THat was funny.

Here is the link:
http://www.mountainproject.com/v/colorado__rocky_mountain_re>>>>>

Now what does have some acid in it is used motor oil. Nitric oxide can be produced by combustion, which combined with O2 makes nitric acid. So don't get any of that on your rope.

Dave, you must be high. Funny what the mind associates.

hold on let me get my notebook. hahha [N=O + O2] = HNO3. I thought you were just kiddin Justin. SO you mean you would climb on that rope as long as it was new oil not used oil. I thought you were the high one.

Next time (god forbid), use a quart of woolite. Anyhoo, your life is probably worth the $200+- for a new rope. Good luck.

APRIL FOOL'S!

I pity the fool that thinks it's April already. Get out the way! Just keep that crazy Murdoch away from my van.

Jazz!

I say, cut off 2 feet from one end of the rope and soak it in the nastiest used oil you can find. Let it sit on the dashboard of your car in hot, direct sun for two weeks. Cut 2 feet off the other end of your rope, then send them both off to an engineering house with a pull testing rig and see if there's any appreciable difference in strength. If you have to retire your rope, you might as well learn something.

Give me the rope if you want to dispose of it, Mr. Justin.

Wow, why have I not seen that candy mountain video before, that is awesome.

I wouldn't climb on the rope.

Re: Candy Mountain. That's 4 min of my life I'll never be able to get back.

Thanks, guys. :)

--Marc

OMG that video will haunt my dreams!