Penetrating Oil

[JimmyB]

I found this on the Trawler site. Kind of suprising if it is accurate.



"For all of you that are mechanically inclined..... Penetrating Oils Compared A study done by Machinist's Workshop magazine in their April 2007 issue looked at different penetrating oils to see which one did the best job of removing a rusted bolt by measuring the pounds of torque required to loosen the bolt once treated. If the study was scientifically accurate, it turns out a home brew works best! Here's the summary of the test results: 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 Automatic Transmission fluid (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. A local machinist group mixed up a batch and 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.

Jimmy

 

[jim rosenthal]

This is fascinating. I remember someone telling me that ATF was one of the ingredients in Marvel Mystery Oil. Is that true? Maybe that's why it works so well.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I don't know about MMO, but our old in-house diesel mechanic always filled fuel filters with ATF when he changed them. He claimed it was the best way to clean out the fuel system.

 

[Trojan]

ATF works great for cleaning the injectors. I mix half and half when I change the the filters. Straight it doesn't want to burn.
Wd-40 has a water dispersant and is mostly fish oil. The rest I don't know.
It's impossible to duplicate rusted bolts or to check the breakaway torque on rusted bolts of any kind. There is no way to check the coefficient of friction of rust. The best you can hope for is a good guess and your opinion of its worth. This is why everyone has there favorite.Your test is admirable but of little use. Sorry.
BILL

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Marvel Mystery oil is a great old product. Jim, the reason no one knows what the formula is is easy...It is MYSTERY oil.

 

[GJH]

Re: Mystery Oil, was Penetrating Oil

What do you folks use MMO for on a Detroit equipped boat? I have a gallon that has been on board for a couple of years now and haven't figured out a use for it.

 

[Genesis]

A fair number of people use it to either fill the fuel filters when changed or put it in the fuel. It's basically a high-detergent light oil. I personally don't do either of those things but I know plenty of people who do.

 

[jim rosenthal]

My MB mechanic used to fill the fuel filter with ATF when he did the routine servicing on my 240D or 300CD. I don't know if you could do it with modern common-rail engines. HE said the same thing; that it cleaned out the injectors etc. I think ATF does have a lot of detergents in it.

I kind of like the idea that something works better than Blaster etc etc. Of course I kind of hope I don't have an opportunity to find out any time soon.

 

[MikeP]

I have never found any of the penetrating oils to consistently work better than any other. This includes WD 40, Kroil, PB blaster, BreakFree CLP, MMO and just about anything else you can imagine. MMO does work well for seized up engines and it's a HECK of a detergent but as to what's in it...as Maynard said, there's a reason it's called Mystery Oil! I'm still trying to figure out whatever happened to WDs 1 through 39.

I have had plenty of siezed bolts that no penetrating oil - tried them all over weeks - would make even the slightest impression upon. That's why they make nut breakers and oxy/acet torches!

 

[NAN-PO 41]

The way I understand it WD's 1 thru 39 were failures. Hence the name WD40.
Fred

 

[MikeP]

Well heck then, one would think by now they could have come up with WD 41!

 

[spcoolin]

Well heck then, one would think by now they could have come up with WD 41!

Just as you inferred earlier Mike...WD 41 is a Flame Wrench !

I never put much stock in penetrating oils for breaking something loose...heat always works better...
Now once you've broken the thing loose, the oils can help the rest of the way off the threads.

If there is too much danger in heating, then yes split or bust it.


Steve~