Article on best penetrating oil for rusty nuts

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64DartGTinAZ

64DartGTinAZ

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Somebody sent this to the 39-47 Dodge Trucks group - thought y'all might be interested

Machinist’s Workshop MagTM 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 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 almost as good as “Kroil” for about 20% of the price.
Steve from Godwin-Singer says that ATF-Acetone mix is the best and you can also use ATF- lacquer thinner 50 - 50 mix.
 
I've used it with good success.
 
I've seen that several times before.

I wonder how many times the test was repeated.
 
Because I think those results are decades old.
 
i tried the atf - acetone, didn't work better than the kroil we use that's for sure!!
 
how do you control a test like that? every rusty nut and bolt has its own characteristics. how could you repeat the same exact test with different fluids?
 
(Quote) Because I think those results are decades old.

Yeah kinda what I was thinking but have never heard of Kroil and didn't know PB had been around that long. Maybe they just went on a marketing blitz, hell PB was on the counter for sale the other day but I've never used it as the Yield has always worked fine for me and when it doesn't when practical I just apply a little torch heat.
 
Very interesting! I have not seen that before. Looks like it is worth it to walk across the garage and pick up the Liquid Wrench instead of just hitting it with WD-40. Good to know.
 
I started using the acetone/atf mix-- much cheaper than pb blaster-- put it in an old 409 sprayer & so far so good. Didn't know about liquid wrench , it is much cheaper than pb blaster ,Lawrence
 
I use Castle Thrust but I might have to give some of these others a try. I'd be intrested in seeing how the Thrust stuff I have compares.
 
I admit I haven't ever tried the ATF/acetone mix, but I think the Castle Thrust works better than any of the other mentioned oils. Thrust is great stuff if you can find it!
 
Lonewolf3165 said:
I admit I haven't ever tried the ATF/acetone mix, but I think the Castle Thrust works better than any of the other mentioned oils. Thrust is great stuff if you can find it!
Click to expand...

Yeah, its the real deal! Anything with a skull and crossbones on the label you know works good!
 
Zepreserve used to be great but they changed the formula almost 20 years ago and it is not the same... (got rid of the CFC's I think)
 
WD-40=water displacement compound #40 is just that a water displacement but makes a good lubricator but doesn't do much for rust breakdown and it should be last on that list.However it lubricates miles better than PB but again PB isn't made for lubing.PB works pretty good when a stuck bolt is sprayed a few times before hand and the day before.I wonder how the test was performed,one shot then test or a timed soaking?Either way that's a huge difference between ATF mix and WD-40.
 
PB blaster has been around for ever, just look at the can art! WD40 now has several "specialist" series products. Liquid Wrench also has special purpose products.

If it were me doing the test, I'd have a bar with several studs cut from the same thread stock welded to it. I'd also build several dozen (at least), varying the location of the stud used for each product on each assembly. After a few dozen tests, I'd average the results.

Might also be worth repeating the test with grade 5 and grade 8 bolts.

Found these at the Daytona swap meet a couple years ago:
 

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I work in an industrial setting with high heat, high pressure, and high torque applied on the studs on pipe flanges. All we use is Kroil oil as a penetrant. Works great at home also.
 
Probably THE most useful post ever on the forum.
Good work.
I've known that Kroil is the best. But trying and buy the stuff in quantity if you aren't a business is darned impossible. It's like for industrial use only.
They must not like selling it to the general public.
The only better thing to add to a stuck bolt and oil is..........heat.
 
adriver said:
Probably THE most useful post ever on the forum.
Good work.
I've known that Kroil is the best. But trying and buy the stuff in quantity if you aren't a business is darned impossible. It's like for industrial use only.
They must not like selling it to the general public.
The only better thing to add to a stuck bolt and oil is..........heat.
Click to expand...

Informative,Yes !!!

Most Useful Post Ever ???
 
The new WD-40 Rust Specialist, or whatever it's called is pretty good. 100 times better than standard WD-40, imo. Figured it was junk until I had some stuck parts in my buddies shop. Within 15-20 minutes it ate thru the rust and everything came apart with a good whack of the hammer.
 
adriver said:
Probably THE most useful post ever on the forum.
Good work.
I've known that Kroil is the best. But trying and buy the stuff in quantity if you aren't a business is darned impossible. It's like for industrial use only.
They must not like selling it to the general public.
The only better thing to add to a stuck bolt and oil is..........heat.
Click to expand...

Used to have a customer who worked in a local plant who used to bring Kroil to me by the case. Never bought a can. Now that I closed down the shop I miss not having it.

The only use I've ever had for WD40 is cleaning tar off of cars. Keep a can of it in my detailing crates.

But you're right. The best thing to use is the smoke wrench.
 
some of the o reillys started carrying "nuts off", cheaper, worksd great, and doesn't spray out a gal at a push of the button.
 
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