Interesting—

Marc

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Subject: Penetrating Oil

"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 subjective test was made of popular penetrating oils, with the unit of measurement 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.  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.

ATF/Acetone mix is best, but you can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50/50 mix.

ATF = Automatic Transmission Fluid