Penetrating Oil

rusnak · 10-19-2009, 03:24 PM

I thought that it would be interesting to post a thread about penetraing oil (sorry if one already exists) because I've been experimenting with some of the newer ones out there due to a squeak in my rear anti-roll bar, and with stiction issues relating to the recent rubber bushing replacement (Weltmeister) that I did this past summer.

My friend Mitch also forwarded this interesting email to me, which I took the liberty to cut and paste:
-------------------------------------------email note-----------------------------------

"For those of us who do our own restoration work, here's some interesting comparisons on penetrating oils sent by a friend.

Happy knuckle busting !

Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker.

They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment.

*Penetrating oil ..... Average load*
None ..................... 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 was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note the "home brew" was 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 about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price. "
-----------------------------------end note-----------------------------------------

My current favorite penetrating oils for breaking free rusty bolts are:

brake fluid (just drip it on with a screwdriver);
PB Blaster;
Tri-Flow (the liquid one);
Corrosion X (this stuff is really good and does not leave a residue);
Corrosion X works well on metal to metal applications such as door hinges, radio antenna, hood latch, etc.

Sometimes a spray lube works well, such as on GM truck hood hinges. In these heavy duty applications, and on door striker plates, I use a spray-on lube made by Bel-Ray. It's their chain lube with molyphos
http://www.google.com/product_url?q=...hl=en&sa=title

cal44 · 10-20-2009, 06:16 PM

I've been using Kano forever. They also (off topic) have a fuel additive that seems to well.

Roc Doc · 10-20-2009, 07:01 PM

Those results are interesting. Me? I've never had much luck with WD-40 (which is mostly kerosene), but PB blaster has always worked great. But then again I live where rust is not an issue.

The ATF/Acetone is interesting. I wonder if it makes a difference between Mercon and Dextron?

jakeflyer · 10-20-2009, 08:56 PM

I am going to try the atf/acetone. PB works well. used to use marvel.

theiceman · 10-20-2009, 08:58 PM

Acetone is brutaly harsh , don't splash any ..

WPOZZZ · 10-20-2009, 11:55 PM

Do you have test results for Zepreserve?

Ed Hughes · 10-21-2009, 01:42 AM

I've never been all that impressed by PB. The numbers seem to bear this as true-not much better than WD40. I'm going back to Liquid Wrench (I remember my dad using this in the 60's) as that is a significant improvement.

I'd be interested in the home brew, but it is hard to argue the convenience of pre-canned either aerosol or spout.

amjf088 · 10-21-2009, 09:47 AM

Hey Rus...

Did your friend indicate how many trials of each were used to determine the average?

Very interesting...

rusnak · 10-21-2009, 02:14 PM

Hi amf,

No he did not, but he knows some very good machinists. They are amazing dudes, so I trust their results.

I want to try to find the Kano stuff.

SeanR · 10-21-2009, 02:19 PM

www.kanolabs.com

It's great stuff.

Ed Hughes · 10-22-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanR

www.kanolabs.com

It's great stuff.

I'll have to try this then.

I still have to get a replacement set of oxy-acetylene tanks. I've not unpacked my torches since I got back to Calif. Heat is still the ultimate loosening agent.

PS- Getting closer to my trip to DFW and my day at MSR!

SeanR · 10-22-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Hughes

I'll have to try this then.

I still have to get a replacement set of oxy-acetylene tanks. I've not unpacked my torches since I got back to Calif. Heat is still the ultimate loosening agent.

PS- Getting closer to my trip to DFW and my day at MSR!

It seems to be some good stuff. I like it better than PB. I really need to do the other home brew mix but that will wait until I'm out of the Kroil.

Ed, looking forward to it, how much luggage space do you have?

Ed Hughes · 10-22-2009, 12:40 AM

Ha! Not enough for what you're thinking.

SeanR · 10-22-2009, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Hughes

Ha! Not enough for what you're thinking.

randywebb · 10-23-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakeflyer

I am going to try the atf/acetone. PB works well. used to use marvel.

I would never use Acetone anywhere without a laboratory hood

it is extremely toxic

10-19-2009, 03:24 PM	#1
rusnak Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 5,133	Penetrating Oil I thought that it would be interesting to post a thread about penetraing oil (sorry if one already exists) because I've been experimenting with some of the newer ones out there due to a squeak in my rear anti-roll bar, and with stiction issues relating to the recent rubber bushing replacement (Weltmeister) that I did this past summer. My friend Mitch also forwarded this interesting email to me, which I took the liberty to cut and paste: -------------------------------------------email note----------------------------------- "For those of us who do our own restoration work, here's some interesting comparisons on penetrating oils sent by a friend. Happy knuckle busting ! Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker. They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment. Penetrating oil ..... Average load None ..................... 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 was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note the "home brew" was 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 about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price. " -----------------------------------end note----------------------------------------- My current favorite penetrating oils for breaking free rusty bolts are: brake fluid (just drip it on with a screwdriver); PB Blaster; Tri-Flow (the liquid one); Corrosion X (this stuff is really good and does not leave a residue); Corrosion X works well on metal to metal applications such as door hinges, radio antenna, hood latch, etc. Sometimes a spray lube works well, such as on GM truck hood hinges. In these heavy duty applications, and on door striker plates, I use a spray-on lube made by Bel-Ray. It's their chain lube with molyphos http://www.google.com/product_url?q=...hl=en&sa=title __________________ I run from earth-crossing asteroids...or from cross, earthy women on steroids. Last edited by rusnak; 03-05-2010 at 12:07 AM.

10-20-2009, 06:16 PM	#2
cal44 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 736	I've been using Kano forever. They also (off topic) have a fuel additive that seems to well. __________________ Sports.... Opiate of Fools

10-20-2009, 08:58 PM	#5
theiceman Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cambridge Ontario Posts: 9,903	Acetone is brutaly harsh , don't splash any .. __________________ 78 SC Targa 76 XS360 95 Audi 90 Sport 09 Maxima Gone but not forgotten 87 944S " I'm not very smart but I know how to google "

10-20-2009, 11:55 PM	#6
WPOZZZ Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Aloha State Posts: 599	Do you have test results for Zepreserve? __________________ 86 930 turbo, 3.4, K29, sc cams, B&B headers/exhaust/IC... 80 911 Weissach 01 4Runner, TRD sc'd 03 CLK500

10-21-2009, 01:42 AM	#7
Ed Hughes Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Avocadoland Posts: 5,106	I've never been all that impressed by PB. The numbers seem to bear this as true-not much better than WD40. I'm going back to Liquid Wrench (I remember my dad using this in the 60's) as that is a significant improvement. I'd be interested in the home brew, but it is hard to argue the convenience of pre-canned either aerosol or spout. __________________ Ed Hughes 1984 911 "Ruby" (TrackTarga™) COMING SOON in 2010: The New/Improved Ruby!

10-20-2009, 07:01 PM	#3
Roc Doc User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Las Vegas, Hell Posts: 35	Those results are interesting. Me? I've never had much luck with WD-40 (which is mostly kerosene), but PB blaster has always worked great. But then again I live where rust is not an issue. The ATF/Acetone is interesting. I wonder if it makes a difference between Mercon and Dextron?

10-20-2009, 08:56 PM	#4
jakeflyer User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 481	I am going to try the atf/acetone. PB works well. used to use marvel.

10-21-2009, 09:47 AM	#8
amjf088 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,806	Hey Rus... Did your friend indicate how many trials of each were used to determine the average? Very interesting... __________________ 1985 911 Carrera: The fun car 1987 944 S: The project car 2002 Subaru WRX: The daily car Visit My P-Car Projects!

10-21-2009, 02:14 PM	#9
rusnak Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 5,133	Hi amf, No he did not, but he knows some very good machinists. They are amazing dudes, so I trust their results. I want to try to find the Kano stuff. __________________ I run from earth-crossing asteroids...or from cross, earthy women on steroids.

10-21-2009, 02:19 PM	#10
SeanR Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Denton Texas Posts: 7,848	www.kanolabs.com It's great stuff. __________________ http://www.928srus.com/ Anotherplace -------------------------- '88 S4 •• Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.

10-22-2009, 12:40 AM	#13
Ed Hughes Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Avocadoland Posts: 5,106	Ha! Not enough for what you're thinking. __________________ Ed Hughes 1984 911 "Ruby" (TrackTarga™) COMING SOON in 2010: The New/Improved Ruby!