"Machinist's Workshop" recently published information on various penetrating oils.  The magazine reports they tested these products for "break out "torque" on rusted nuts and bolts.  A test was made of popular penetrating oils, with the unit of merit being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted"  bolt.

Average torque load to loosen nut:

No Oil used ........................516 foot pounds

WD-40 ..................... ........238 foot pounds

PB Blaster .........................214 foot pounds

Liquid Wrench ......................127 foot pounds

Kano Kroil .........................106 foot pounds

ATF/Acetone mix...................... 53 foot 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.  Note also that Liquid Wrench is almost as good as Kroil for 20% of the price.

ATF/Acetone mix is best, but you can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50/50 mix.  ATF = Any type of Automatic Transmission Fluid

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

I've tried them all except the kroil, and the homebrew, I've had success with pb blaster where liquid wrench was no help. When I'm disassembling an old car, I try to soak the bolts a day or two ahead, If I have doubts I use a good sharp phillips on the screws, and a pop with a hammer. Works well






thanks, Mark

I bought a can of that Gibbs lubricant a few months ago and it seems to work pretty well.  Didn't test with a torque wrench though.


Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

I just mixed up a batch of the atf/acetone and will be using it on a 15 year old exhaust system over the weekend. I'll report back.


Marc

'54 Merc ragtop

Pt Townsend, WA   

                                                                                                                                   

All I have ever used was ATF and Kerosene or deisel mix and its worked great, haven't tried with the laquer thinner yet, sounds a little flammable!

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Here is Canada I've found Lloyd's "Moovit" quite good. I worked in waterfront maintenance for years, so I've seen lots of rust problems. When the Moovit can is shaken, it has some foaming action which seems to help. And as previously mentioned, soaking for a while is helpful & in bad cases, the use of some kind of shock to the part is often helpful. Unfortunately, many users of pentitrating oils don't give them a chance to work.. it's oil, it's not magic!  


Paul