Notices
General Automotive Discussion

penetrating oils...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 11:36 AM
  #1  
NewEnglandHerdsman's Avatar
NewEnglandHerdsman
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
Club FTE Silver Member

penetrating oils...

I posted this in a spark plug thread over in the super duty forum, but I figured it might be of some general interest as well:


Here's something that a friend of mine emailed to me a few days ago. (I don't know what the "soak time" was...)

(I don't have a direct link to this, so I hope this is enough attribution for the mods!)


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.

*Don't forget the April 2007 "Machinist's Workshop" magazine comparison test.***

*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. ***


 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 12:25 PM
  #2  
quaddriver's Avatar
quaddriver
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 8
From: Cook Forest and Irwin PA
how big were these damn bolts such that they survived a 516ft-lb torque?
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 12:36 PM
  #3  
Nitramjr's Avatar
Nitramjr
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 1
From: North of Boston MA
Club FTE Silver Member

I've been swearing by Kroil for years - still using the last pint or so of a gallon my father got in the late 80's or early 90's before he retired. I use it sparingly because it is THAT good but also expensive to replace.

I may have to replace it with the home-brew mix. I wonder if the ATF they used was Dexron V or plain old Dexron. I wonder if the old bottle of Type F I have would work?

Thanks for the info, Jim.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 01:37 PM
  #4  
NewEnglandHerdsman's Avatar
NewEnglandHerdsman
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
Club FTE Silver Member

I'm guessing that just about any light oil such as a machine/hydraulic oil would do... Can you buy acetone at the hw store? I like to try this, but I don't want to be buying 150 bottles of nail polish remover and pouring them into a gallon jug...
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 03:22 PM
  #5  
Nitramjr's Avatar
Nitramjr
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 1
From: North of Boston MA
Club FTE Silver Member

I'm pretty sure that acetone is available in the hardware store. If not, I think that Goof-Off stuff is acetone based. But it probably isn't any cheaper than Kroil which is around $40 a gallon IIRC. But, a gallon lasts a long time since it only takes a few drops of the stuff.

The only thing I would miss making my own is I actually LIKE the smell of Kroil. Not in a "huffing it out of a bag" like but it is a pleasant scent. That and it reminds me of all those summers ago tinkering on VW Beetles and my old Ford Maverick......
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 12:06 AM
  #6  
ford2go's Avatar
ford2go
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
I've used liquid wrench a lot, but I've never seen it mentioned in previous threads about freeing bolts. So I was surprised by this test. I thought that I'd been using the wrong stuff all along.

Did the article mention technique, soak time etc?
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 12:17 AM
  #7  
Opossum's Avatar
Opossum
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
Good info Jim thanks.

Do you have a link to the original article?
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 05:37 AM
  #8  
NewEnglandHerdsman's Avatar
NewEnglandHerdsman
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by Opossum
Good info Jim thanks.

Do you have a link to the original article?
No 'possum, as I said in the OP, what I posted was emailed to me and I don't have a link. I googled "Machinist's Workshop magazine" and found some links to subscription information, but it doesn't appear to be published online. Maybe someone here on FTE is a subscriber and has that April 2007 issue, and can fill in some of the holes in what was posted...
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-6

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 05:43 AM
  #9  
Jermafenser's Avatar
Jermafenser
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
Great article.

Looks like I'll be abandoning PB Blaster for Liquid Wrench.

What type of ATF? Dexron? Mercon? Type F?
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 05:48 AM
  #10  
wendell borror's Avatar
wendell borror
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
Likes: 0
I use PB BASTER, it works for what I need it for, at least up till this point.
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 05:50 AM
  #11  
NewEnglandHerdsman's Avatar
NewEnglandHerdsman
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by wendell borror
I use PB BASTER, it works for what I need it for, at least up till this point.
I agree, I alway felt PB Blaster worked better than Liquid Wrench... but at least in this test it would appear otherwise...
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 12:09 PM
  #12  
Octane's Avatar
Octane
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 1
From: Edgerton, WI
We've always used JB-80. Great stuff!
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 12:36 PM
  #13  
quaddriver's Avatar
quaddriver
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 8
From: Cook Forest and Irwin PA
I got a crap load of PB, it cost me a lot, I aint throwing it out...
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 04:03 PM
  #14  
Flexfuel-Dave's Avatar
Flexfuel-Dave
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Central, MA
I'm going to mix a 50/50 batch of this stuff and see how it works.

Originally Posted by quaddriver
how big were these damn bolts such that they survived a 516ft-lb torque?
Good point!

According to this website, we are likely looking at a thread in the 1-inch catagory.

Bolt strengths
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2009 | 04:35 PM
  #15  
jroehl's Avatar
jroehl
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
Acetone's available all over the place. At the BORGs it's usually about $10-15/gallon.

Goof-off has a couple different formulas, but I think the more potent one is xylene-based (if it smells like the permanent markers of yesteryear, then it's xylene).

Interesting info--thanks, Jim!

Jason
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:44 AM.

story-0
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-02 21:45:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-5
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE