Best Pentrating Oil

This is going around the interweb in a lot of DIY machine and auto forums so I thought I would pass it on here. We seem to crack a lot of nuts and bolts here too.The best results were surprising to me at least.

"The April/May 2007 edition of Machinist's Workshop did a test of penetrating oils where they measured the force required to loosen rusty test devices. the test device's were clinically rusted for similar results. many bolts were used then averaged for the torque numbers. The lower the number of pounds the better. Mighty interesting results for simple acetone and tranny fluid!"

Penetrating oil... Average load.... Price per fluid ounce

None ................. 516 pounds .
WD-40 .............. 238 pounds .. $0.25
PB Blaster ......... 214 pounds .. $0.35
Liquid Wrench ... 127 pounds .. $0.21
Kano Kroil ........ 106 pounds .. $0.75
ATF-Acetone mix.. 53 pounds .. $0.10

The ATF-Acetone mix was a 50/50 mix (1 to 1 ratio)."

I read that they tested after an 8 hr immersion in the penetrating oil, but have not found the original article. However, here is a dialog with the originating author (lbender) that sheds a bit more light. Turns out the ATF was power steering fluid.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=27429&page=2&highlight=penetrating fluid test

I did the same thing with a brake line at an aluminum master cylinder on a 1989 Ford Ranger. The line wanted to turn with the fitting, so instead of twisting it off and replacing lines as well, I sprayed it a few times with PB over a couple weeks. The heat from the engine and time loosened it so well it came off like new. I was living with a master cylinder than leaked down slowly at a stop, without loosing fluid, so I knew I could wait. If it's something you're already taking apart and don't have the luxury of time to penetrate, that's a problem.

I tried the same thing on my Land Rover exhaust gasket between manifold and cross over pipe. I put that job off over a year listening to the tick tick tick of the exhaust leak. Sprayed it up hot and cold numerous times. Finally went to do it and found brass nuts on stainless studs !! I expected the worst, and it was a 10 minute job. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Perhaps the Acetone / ATF will work good on stuck rings and pistons since it may disolve carbon?
I can tell you with hit and miss engines and steam engines and pumps, a week of Coca-cola, a week of brake fluid, and a week of ATF usually gets them moving. When around a working boiler with copious amounts of steam, I use an open steam line on stuck pistons in engines and pumps. Steam does wonders, just like a torch in places yuo can't use a flame.

Also in a pinch, if you're out of carb cleaner and need to clean carb parts, boil water in a tea kettle, and hold the part with pliers in the steam. It melts the goo better than any carb cleaner. It will drip off all over the kettle, so I use a coleman stove and old kettle outside.

I always have some WD-40 around, but I don't use it in the penetrating oil context. Liquid Wrench has always been my go-to for that purpose. Never heard of PB or Kroil before right now. Certainly never heard of mixing any type of hydraulic fluid with Acetone...interesting. Rick

Well, there ya go...yet another one I've never heard of.

Rick - the power steering fluid and acetone trick is many moons old. I can remember as a kid (with dad) using this cocktail to break free some pistons in an old Packard V8 engine block. It does work wonders if you have the time to let it work for you.

I believe ya, shipmate...every day I learn something new to me that other folks have known about forever.

No doubt. It is darn rare that I don't learn something new every day.

Well, after all, everything old is new again...and All That Jazz.

Buy a two dollar quart of power steering fluid and a $4 small can of acetone. Pour off half of the bottle of power steering juice and fill it back up with Acetone. Shake. You got the best stuff money can buy. Then if you're really thinking, you will save one of the long tip spouts from a gear lube jug or jug of hydro jack juice and put it on the bottle of power steering juice. Now you have a delivery system. Done.

I use PB Blaster mostly, & I've had a lot of luck with Marvel Mystery Oil. We use Acetone at work, so I'll give the 50/50 mix with ATF a shot. Thanks for the heads up, bg...

Sounds like a sci-fi horror movie title...or maybe a heavy-metal band name...Just sayin...