Tech tip: Penetrating oil test results

I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this but on another forum that I'm a member of someone posted this info and I thought it could be REALLY helpful here. Here is what he posted.


"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 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."

I would think this 50-50 mix could cause damage to a painted surface or plastics.

Holly crap. I had no clue on the atf/acetone thing. good info

I'm a big proponent of subjective testing. It is important that it is made clear in the analysis that the testing was done in a subjective manner...

Im going to try the atf thing got a couple of bolts that removing

Worth a try. Anyone found a good way to store such mixture in a way you can use it without making a mess? Perhaps a non-aerosol shop sprayer?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...toTools&sName=Automotive Specialty Toolsmv=rr

Or will it be too thick and thus require something more like this?
http://www.sears.com/powerbuilt-648...-SPM6522718007?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

I have used the 50/50 mix it works great! I have also heard of melting wax into the threads to loosen things

Speaking of lube, who was that guy once that was trying to sell his home brew grease on her and ruffed some feathers?

lewis said:

Speaking of lube, who was that guy once that was trying to sell his home brew grease on her and ruffed some feathers?

Click to expand...

Sssssshhhh, much like Beetlejuice, he listens for his name.

If you need a gallon of said lube, I've got one here. He wasn't making anything, rather than re-labeling its as his own poopgoop

I've done similar with brake cleaner and then ATF, oil, WD40, whatever's around. One of the primary ingredients in the good (flammable) brake cleaner is acetone. It is so thin is can flow right into joints, so applying some oil after the shot of cleaner, the capillary action seems to help pull it into all the little crevices. I've already got all the ingredients around, I just mix them on the bolt.

I trialed the ATF/acetone thing on rusted-on lugnuts (ocean truck), homebrew on one side and PB Blast on the other. PB Blast kicked it's trash up and down the driveway... the ATF/acetone lugnuts never did come free, I had to use PB Blast on that side too.

Kevin B. said:

I trialed the ATF/acetone thing on rusted-on lugnuts (ocean truck), homebrew on one side and PB Blast on the other. PB Blast kicked it's trash up and down the driveway... the ATF/acetone lugnuts never did come free, I had to use PB Blast on that side too.

Click to expand...

I have used PB Blaster on lots of exhaust studs, and if you let it sit long enough it does the job. I was really surprised that PB Blaster barely beat out WD-40 on their test. WD-40 sucks IMHO.

I have also heard of melting candle wax into the threads but have never tried it.

cruiseroutfit said:

Worth a try. Anyone found a good way to store such mixture in a way you can use it without making a mess? Perhaps a non-aerosol shop sprayer?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...toTools&sName=Automotive Specialty Toolsmv=rr

Or will it be too thick and thus require something more like this?
http://www.sears.com/powerbuilt-648...-SPM6522718007?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Click to expand...

Its extremely viscous and thin. O store my brew in a small mason canning jar.

I used a plant mister from the dollar store.

Interesting... Had never heard of the acetone/ATF mix. I've been using and swearing by Kroil for decades though.

- DAA

sixstringsteve said:

Its extremely viscous and thin. O store my brew in a small mason canning jar.

Click to expand...

How can it be "extremely viscous AND thin?

I know what you meant...

I really like Kroil and Tri-Flow. If you are desperate, grab a can of liquid dye penetrant. Magnaflux brand is readily available @ NAPA. It makes a mess but if it MUST come loose, it's worth it.

oh crap. That's what I get for using fancy words. I knew I should have paid more attention in physics.. or chemistry... or english... or all of the above.

It has an extremely LOW viscosit, it's very thin.

I've never found penetrating oil to be useful except to loosen up lightly rusted coarse threaded bolts or to loosen up 2 plates stuck together. It works great for something like a brake drum rusted to an axle end. I've soaked parts in it for up to a week only to resort to a torch, impact wrench, 20 ton press, or BFH.

The silver anti-seize is a great preventive measure. It works for lug nuts, frame bolts, rubber bushing bolts, TRE's, etc. Remember to reduce torque by 45%; otherwise, the threads may strip.

Last time I tried the ATF/Acetone brew, the PB blaster worked and the ATF didn't.

sixstringsteve said:

oh crap. That's what I get for using fancy words. I knew I should have paid more attention in physics.. or chemistry... or english... or all of the above.

It has an extremely LOW viscosit, it's very thin.

Click to expand...

Here you go steve. This should help, it is a very well written hypertextbook. It is actually very interesting. I think I will order a capillary viscometer and do some playing around. I wonder if different viscosities of ATF would make a difference?

http://physics.info/viscosity/