Penetrating Oil Thread

[LowGear]

Wasn't there a thread that discussed the best oil or "stuff" to loosen tight nuts.  (Keep it clean.)

Suggestions?

Casey

[38ac]

The current rage with antique tractor types is a mixture of acetone and ATF. A few years ago it was PB Blaster, before that Kroil. 

Dad's advise on penetrating oils was always to pick the one you think smells best because your going to have it on your hands and clothes. He also said its only redeeming attribute was that  it gives a fellow a good  excuse to not work on the  old piece of junk while the magic oil  "soaks in". Close to 50 years in the shop working on old junk had put me solidly in Dad's corner. I have never seen any of it that worked one little bit better than the used solvent out of the parts washer. Best nut loosener  I have used  is proper portions of oxygen and acetylene lit on fire  and applied until red
 

[dieselgman]

I'm with you Butch! Heat works wonders on loosening all sorts of stuck situations. Everything from a tiny propane pencil torch up to the Oxy-Acetylene depending on size and location of the offending parts. I probably use a little plumbers propane torch about every day in the shop here.

dieselgman

[LowGear]

If it weren't attached to the suspension of a Honda Element I'd be under there right now but damage control is very important as this unit has to be inspected for retitling.  And I do have some acetone and ATF.

Thanks

[38ac]

Understood, didnt mean to imply that the stuff is useless but more along the lines that as long as it has portions of solvent and oil that none of it is an better or worse than the rest. If you have a solvent tank for washing parts put some in an oil can and save $$$ on buying it in town. 

[LowGear]

Wow!  That acetone is some strong stuff.  The oil can pump stopped moving oil or at least 50/50 ATF/acetone.  I'll pick up an old fashioned bottom style oil can and get back on it.

Casey

[AdeV]

If you can get it in the States - Plus Gas. Magic stuff. I dissasembled an entire 1977 Jaguar XJS using this stuff, and only lost a couple of bolts due to shearing. Didn't round a single nut. PlusGas is seriously amazing stuff.

A friend of mine was trying to dissasemble some very expensive aluminium suspension (ali tube, ali nut), which had been on a rally car for around 6 years - nothing would shift it; hammering, heat, WD40, none of them would touch it.

2 squirts of Plus Gas, they unscrewed right off without any effort.

I don't have shares in the Plus Gas company (whoever it is makes it). Just a delighted customer, amazed that something that comes out of a squirt can in 2014 actually does what it says on the tin, rather than being useless junk.

[LowGear]

Plus Gas:

Amazon - Beano lower track relief.

Google - Mileage extender

It's not looking good.

Casey

[AdeV]

Damn, that's just not fair.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Abrasives-802-10-Plusgas-Aerosol/dp/B0001P02RK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419001595&sr=8-1&keywords=plus+gas

Maybe it's only in demand here on account of all the rusty cars we make?

[32 coupe]

I've watched this thread for a while before chiming in.....

Years ago someone asked me what cause the rust ?  Water

Penetrating oils will only soak in so far before they "bridge" and hinder further penetraton.

Water and heat and are your best friends.

[LowGear]

I just pulled a couple of nuts off yesterday using the acetone and ATF concoction.  I'm using one of those plastic bottles that has a spout that goes to the bottom of the bottle.  Rule 2 or 3 is to NOT leave it in the sun or the expansion will push much of the stuff out.  It worked really nice.  I'll be putting up against some real challenges this weekend.

Casey

[NCW]

I use Penol made by Chemodex to loosen my nuts. Its great stuff.

[tropilister]

   Always was partial to a mixture of WD-40 and penetrating oil liberally applied and allowed to sit for a few days coupled with light tapping with a small hammer if possible. Muratic acid will clean rust out around the bolt heads pretty good to allow a starting point but be REAL CAREFUL as it removes your hide real fast as well ! When all else fails, brute force and ignorance coupled with heat and a "cheater pipe"?   A good friend of mine swears by some stuff called Break- Free which was developed for use on heavy weapons during Vietnam but it's wicked expensive for general work.

  tropilister

[vdubnut62]

Believe it or not, I have had about as much luck with my Stihl 2 stroke gas and oil mix as anything else.
Ron.

[guest23837]

I am trying to free the rack on an LT1 pump. I started off with poor information ie nail polish remover mixed 4 - 1 with diesel. Well my wifes nail varnish remover is acetone free and diesel is the wrong lubricant. Anyway I looked on the interweb and I thought this site was interesting

http://www.engineeringforchange.org/how-to-make-penetrating-oil/

Pump is now soaking in an 80-20 mix veg oil and acetone. I'll give it a week before see what happens