BEST PENETRATING OIL

I have seen a reference to this "home-brew" penetrating solution in some other threads on the forum.

Practical Machinist Mag™ 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 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 oil .......... Average Break-out Torque
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 Automatic Tranny Fluid-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. Also notice that Liquid Wrench was almost as good as Kroil for less than 1/2 the price.

I have used this mixture for years. Carried a spray bottle of it in my truck. I was an in-home appliance repair tech for 30+ years, and this stuff saved my ass many times getting rusted nuts or bolts off of a washer, dishwasher, whatever. A 50-50 mix of ATF and lacquer thinner works equally well. BE CAREFUL when using it around paint though.

- JAMES

 

I remember that info years ago. There is a video of someone putting force against a bearing if I recall to demonstrate.

ATF has such an awful stink though that just last but that thinner may kill it though.

thanks for posting the info.

 

Best bang for buck of regular store bought stuff I have found is Liquid Wrench.
I have been through quite a bit of it "wrenching" on my 38 year old '79 CJ.
It hasn't let me down yet.

 

Been using PB Blaster for years and think it's the best. Other than that you can soak just about anything in diesel fuel overnight and it'll break loose.

 

I hear the down side to the ATF /Acetone mix is it does not store well otherwise it would be sold .

Is this true??

I happen to like Kroil but have used them all over the years

 

ATF/acetone stinks ? what, and PB blaster doesn't ?

anyhow, all good info.

 

We used kroil in my FBO for a few years, switched to PB Blaster because we couldn't tell much difference between the two and PB seemed to be easier ro find and cheaper.

 

Kano Labs had a Super special here back maybe 10 years ago

I think I bought 10 cases split between a few of there products

A few gallons

Some of the smaller cans and some of the larger ones

I will more then likely still have enough for quite some time yet

 

We use Schaffers Penetro 90 at work and swear by it. We've tried some of the other easily accessible brands like Kroil, PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, etc. but the Penetro is what we keep going back to.

Only downside is that it's not readily available at most auto part or box stores.

http://www.schaefferoil.com/penetro.html

 

Do NOT make the mix with laquer thinner. No where near the same properties as acetone, and it is not included in the age old list of tested products either.

Often just straight ATF will work well. But I find Kearney Rust Buster pretty reliable

 

As long as you keep it in a sealed container, storage is no problem. When I was working in a tight area, and had to use a wrench w/o much leverage, the ATF/Acetone saved the day for me many times. I like RUST BUSTER too. Comes in a squeeze bottle with a long nozzle which is handy.

- JAMES

 

Kroil,
sea foam(?)
Liquid wrench

 

Spit.

Oh wait, not that kind of penetrating oil.

I've had best results with PB Blaster on my 67 International Harvester.

 

Kroil or PB blaster...

 

I've used everything except the ATF/Acetone mix. Of those, I prefer Kroil, but all of the others are fine.

 

Best initial answer so far. Every time I bust out the Kroil, my wife gives me the O face lol

 

Interesting I have never heard of the atf/acetone mix. Have always used Kroil both at home and in industrial environments at work. Love the smell and it works great. PB blaster is a close second for me.

 

I have used the ATF and Acetone mix. IMO it works better than PB Blaster, WD-40, and Liquid Wrench.

 

What type of container do you use for your ATF/Acetone home brew?