Penetrating Oils

[Sam Mac]

This was sent to me by a racer friend. I have not tried it.

Penetrating Oils

Machinist's Workshop magazine
recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found very interesting.
Some of 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 one particular 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.

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

[cubby102]

And I just used up all my pb and kroil. Maybe I should try and make up a batch of the acetone and Wtf and give that a shot. Thanks for the info I never seen it actually broke down like that before

[Matt G.]

I'm not sure how one 'scientifically rusts' a bunch of bolts to the exact same degree. That and it looks like only one bolt was tried for each penetrant, so you can't really claim one is better than another, particularly for ones that were close together. Additionally, they don't even have their units right- torque is ft-lbs or in-lbs...

And FWIW, I have tried the ATF/acetone mixture. It kept separating unless I stirred it constantly, and it didn't really work at all. I'll stick with PB blaster and liquid wrench.

[Yamaguy]

Ever since I found PB BLaster that is all I use!!

[cubs-n-bxrs]

PB Blaster is my penetrating oil of choice. Never tried the mixture of tranny oil and acetone but will probably give it a try at some point in the near future. I have a couple qts of dextron been sitting on the shelf for years might as well use it for somthing.

[Oak]

I was a Kroil man but PB kicks butt. I did mix up a batch of ATF & acetone and put it in a squirt do-hicky but I think if you don't seal it off the acetone evaporates and all your left with is ATF in a squirt do-hicky.

[ACecil]

We also use PB Blaster. It's some good stuff.

[johncub7172]

Here is one for you guys: www.pai-net.com Company is named Areo-Chem. Now this stuff is good! Look for Brute Magic, part # 85078. Shake well before using. Recommended for uses:

- automotive vehicles
- farm equipment
- laundry equipment
- electrical equipment
- motors and windings
- generators
- transformers
- circuit breakers
- relays
- controls
- terminals
- fuse and junction boxes
- ignition systems
- starter motors
- distributor caps
- spark plugs
- alternators
- multiple connections
- switches and switchgear
- steel, copper, brass, aluminum, iron, brass, painted surfaces, bronze, ceramics, tools and machinery.
- frees nuts, bolts, electrical panel board, parking meters, home work shops, outboard motors.
- will not harm most plastic.
- stops and prevents corrosion, lubricates locks, hinges, snow removal equipment, refrigeration equipment, battery terminals.
- will not craze, become hard, dry, or brittle.
- loosens scale, dirt.

Just got a can today! Company from Cleveland, OH., and Atlanta, GA.
ph.# 1-800-321-1128

[gcbailey]

I wonder how Seafoam's Deep Creep rates compared to those others... I've been using it for a while (since I got a free case) and it's pretty good stuff.

[gcbailey]

Originally Posted by Oak

I was a Kroil man but PB kicks butt. I did mix up a batch of ATF & acetone and put it in a squirt do-hicky but I think if you don't seal it off the acetone evaporates and all your left with is ATF in a squirt do-hicky.

Can you verify your scientific methods for the "do-hicky" in question?