Penetrating Oils

[RobertKB]

I was sent the following information on penetrating oils by a member in the car club I belong to and thought I would pass it on for what it's worth. Although it didn't rate that highly, I have had good luck with PB Blaster.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Machinist's Workshop magazine recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found very interesting. You might appreciate this. The magazine reports they tested penetrates for 'break out' torque on rusted nuts.

They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist. They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrates with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment.

*Penetrating oils ........... Average torque load to loosen*

No Oil used ................... 516 pounds

WD-40 ..................... ... 238 pounds

PB Blaster .................... 214 pounds

Liquid Wrench ...............127 pounds

Kano Kroil .................... 106 pounds

ATF*-Acetone mix............53 pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix is a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note this "home brew" released bolts better than any commercial product in this test.

Our local machinist group mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results. Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is almost as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price of the popular commercial brands.

Steve from Godwin-Singer says that the ATF-Acetone mix is best, but you can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50-50 mix.

*ATF=Automatic Transmission Fluid

[TennesseeVol51]

Thanks for the info,I have been using Kroil for many years.I will give the ATF and Acetone a try and let you know.

[Robert Horne]

Lacquer thinner can be made of many chemical combinations.

I believe Acetone is the fast drying version of one type lacquer thinner...

[1950 Special Deluxe]

I heard about this a while ago and have tried it and was pleased with the results.

[randroid]

Gents,

I've seen that chart before and read an in-depth report on it and it hasn't ever been contested. I would be afraid to use 50/50 without a full-face shield but since I wear one whenever I play with chemicals anyway it shouldn't be a problem, but I question the longevity of a spray bottle so I haven't gotten around to trying it yet. Anyone tried spraying it?

-Randy

[JIPJOBXX]

This might sound strange but down at the good old shipyard sometimes we used wintergreen oil. That stuff really worked and it smelled just like spearmint gum.

[55 Fargo]

I have used ATF and thinners, worked well. I have used plenty of SeaFoam deep creep, which might be ATF and some type of solvent,works well more money than homemade ATF concoction...

[oldodge41]

I have always preferred Chesterton Spraysolvo but will give the acetone/ATF a try. The local junk yard guy carries a spray bottle of regular old water and uses it as a lube on rusted bolts. He swears by it as he claims water makes rust so it will dissolve it as well. I have used it in a pinch as a lube but I don't think it penetrates.

[Frank Elder]

This might sound strange but down at the good old shipyard sometimes we used wintergreen oil. That stuff really worked and it smelled just like spearmint gum.

It's called Wintergreen oil, it smells like wintergreen, not spearmint:).....and the navy uses it religiously!

[Plymouthy Adams]

the wintergreen oil they used at the yard was synthetic although by the odor you would think it was straight stuff..big warning as to not fit for human consumption..made a great deodorizer also..well, it masked the original odors quite well may I say

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=15786&highlight=penetrating+oils+compared

Edited December 29, 2012 by Tim Adams

[knighthawk]

what works best for a 'tough' job, like loosening a froze piston ?

[Plymouthy Adams]

depends on how crusty the rust scale is and how many cylinders are in that condition..odds are you are going to lose the pistons..land damage...

[knighthawk]

I'm thinking of something like an old farm tractor ( or car ) that some one finds setting in a feild. ( a friend of mine recently got one )

[T120]

the wintergreen oil they used at the yard was synthetic although by the odor you would think it was straight stuff..big warning as to not fit for human consumption..made a great deodorizer also..well, it masked the original odors quite well may I say

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=15786&highlight=penetrating+oils+compared

Interesting link,Tim...Looks like the subject was covered at length a couple of years back ..Hasn't quite taken the same turn...yet

[Plymouthy Adams]

hopefully it won't....!!!

[T120]

...Don't lose your sense of humour

[Plymouthy Adams]

oh I still have my sense of humor..not a day goes by I don't get some sort of a chuckle from the forum...informative and entertaining

[wayfarerstranger]

Thats because u r always looking in a mirror while u r reading over the forum !!

[Plymouthy Adams]

Thats because u r always looking in a mirror while u r reading over the forum !!

either you did not understand my last PM to you or you have not left the house since then...but if I recall I told you that next time you were down by the river...drop in....what you into today Chance?

[Ed Griffin]

Thank you for the list. Something I've been curious about ever sense I picked up some Kroil. I used to see all the boilermakers use it along with plant maintenance employees at different job sights. I figured if it works for these guys on those old rusted pumps, etc then it should surely work on the cars and motors which it does very well.

Just as a personal reference I liked it also because it didnt smell like moth balls like the PB Blaster did Kroil was a better penetrating oil in my opinion not to mention that it takes so little for it to work which makes it last a very long time. Long enough to make up for the cost.

[pflaming]

Per the suggestion of a highly respected local auto shop, I'm going to rub down my original patina with ATC. I wonder if adding 10% of the acetone would 'clean' any 'invisible' rust in the protection process?

[Don Coatney]

Per the suggestion of a highly respected local auto shop, I'm going to rub down my original patina with ATC. I wonder if adding 10% of the acetone would 'clean' any 'invisible' rust in the protection process?

What is ATC?

[pflaming]

ATC = Automatic Transmission Fluid. The body shop said locals also used WD 40 but it is very difficult to get out if one wants to paint, ATC is not. I will give my truck one more rub with a very fine brillo pad then rub it with ATC for a nice shine and as anti rust. Since I will garage the truck it will last for quite a while.

[Don Coatney]

???? ATF is Automatic Transmission Fluid

I have no idea what ATC is?????

[pflaming]

I stand corrected. You should make a video showing your car going down the road with you singing "On the road again". I'm serious, would like to hear your group play and sing.

Paul