Best penetrating oil

[Dr Stan]

What's the best penetrating oil?  There are a lot of opinions out there, some based on experience, AKA subjective data.  i was e-mail this link to a video of a guy who put together a scientific test to see if he could come up with a objective data based answer.

You can view it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEob2oAKVs

[TomG]

Interesting.
Guess I'll keep using the ATF/acetone mixture. It's cheap (like me) and effective.

Tom

[f350ca]

Looks like I'll stick with ATF and Acetone as well. Wonder which one works quickest, my attention deficit disorder would never let them soak for 3 hours. Soak, pull on wrench, round nut or break off bolt, then drill it out.

[rleete]

I've been making my own for years. It's a well known "secret" on automotive forums.

Also works well for a parts wash, like when you're scrubbing all the accumulated junk off a part with a wire brush.

[Vinny]

The neighbor swears by Kroil. I've seen it loosen up some really stuck stuff.

[TomG]

Yet it ranked second from last on the test. Other than heat, I don't think any of them do much to break loose a rusted bolt. Other than Liquid Wrench, most of them only reduced the breakaway torque by around 5%. Where the oils do help is in keeping a nut from seizing on a rusty bolt after it does break loose. Then, pretty much any oil will work.

Tom

[Hawkeye]

After my house fire, I picked up a can of something called Javelin at Restore. When I was cleaning and reconditioning my machines, if I had a nut that the wrench wouldn't move, I gave it a shot of javelin. Within seconds, the same wrench would spin it loose. I don't know what's in it, but it definitely had some nasty solvents.

I haven't heard of this stuff before or since, but it does work.

[Dr Stan]

Interesting replies.  I always swore by Kroil, but like most was put off by the price.

As previously stated a like bit of prevention is the best cure.  I learned about Never Seize when I worked for a short time in a Florida boat yard after my stint in the US Navy.  Amazing how it would keep aluminum housings & steel fasteners and of course steel on steel from becoming a solid unit in salt water.  It's also the best battery terminal corrosion prevention material I've ever used.  I also always use it on wheel lug bolts/nuts.

I also give a +1 for heat when ever possible.  When I tore down a '68 Mustang for rebuild I only broke one bolt by using WD-40 or heat when it appeared to be necessary.  Keep in mind it had been a North Dakota car, lots of road salt.

Hawkeye, can you post a pic of the can of Javelin?

[Hawkeye]

(01-15-2019, 12:51 PM)Dr Stan Wrote: Hawkeye, can you post a pic of the can of Javelin?

Here it is.

   

[ScrapMetal]

Hawkeye,

For what it's worth I found a place selling it...


Javelin @ AMRE Supply

-Ron