Good Penetrating Fluids?

[Beemer]

I have to get some suspension parts off that haven't been touched in 16 years and been through nasty winters so I'm looking for penetrating fluid recommendations that might help free the bolts.
I should add that there are rubber bushings on the bolts involved.

 

[Beauregard]

Oh boy, now you've done it!

But seriously, Kroil, if the price is no object. Otherwise PB Blaster.
Personally, I mix ATF with Acetone in a squirt bottle and get great results.
You're sure to get a lot of opinions.

 

[vssjim]

I have to say this will blow up with everybody giving you opinions but I always say pick what ever can you like as I have not seen a ton of difference really, right now I have Lucas oil penetrating oil in spray can, A lot of time an air hammer and a torch get involved in the process. Yes I have tried them all as far as I know,

 

[Shiftless]

I’ve settled into my recliner and started sipping some bourbon waiting for the flood of responses.

As for me, I found that Kroil works great. I now use PB Blaster. Is it “better” or “worse” ?

 

[Bob Peach]

Kroil works the best for me here on the salt coast !

 

[Theronswanson]

I've always liked Lucas Oil Tool Box Buddy, which I think they've renamed now.

 

[tarmy]

Bang his wife or something like that.

I use kroil but hate the smell. Otherwise I just use penetrating oil that is handy and some heat or a BFH.

Seems like the rubber is probably shot anyway so not sure how protective you need to be. Just replace them with updated materials/bushings.

 

[vssjim]

I've always liked Lucas Oil Tool Box Buddy, which I think they've renamed now.

just called Lucas penetrating oil now

 

[isb cornbinder]

I use MOOVIT. Follow the instructions.

 

[darkzero]

Yup, plenty of threads on this & everyone who chimes in will list their favorite that works for them but maybe not others or other reasons why they like what they like.

I like Kroil but ever since their prices sky rocketed & can't buy direct from Kano anymore I won't buy it anymore. I have one can left & when it's gone that's it for me. I don't have the patience to mix ATF & acetone.

I switched to Knock'er Loose. But there's two formulas, a clearish/amber one & one that reminds me of Kroil. I use the latter. Both seem to work fine for me, as does PB Blaster but I can't stand the smell of PB Blaster so I'll never buy it again. But then again where I live rust ain't real rust.

 

[Beemer]

Oh boy, now you've done it!

But seriously, Kroil, if the price is no object. Otherwise PB Blaster.
Personally, I mix ATF with Acetone in a squirt bottle and get great results.
You're sure to get a lot of opinions.

I thought acetone is not rubber friendly. I think it definitely is not blacktop friendly but thanks for the thought.

 

[Beemer]

I have to say this will blow up with everybody giving you opinions but I always say pick what ever can you like as I have not seen a ton of difference really, right now I have Lucas oil penetrating oil in spray can, A lot of time an air hammer and a torch get involved in the process. Yes I have tried them all as far as I know,

Torch is out of the question for this job. Plastic gas tank near the fastener end of the bolt.

 

[Shiftless]

10 replies in 24 minutes. Pretty good response rate.

 

[belvedere]

See if you can get ahold of some Conklin Rust bomb.



Next up: what's the best brand of motor oil?

 

[Beemer]

There are a few mentions of Kroil.
I see that they have an "original" and one with "silicone" (for plastic/ maybe rubber contact).
Anyone if the are both as effective?

 

[Beauregard]

I thought acetone is not rubber friendly.
That's important at the beginning of the attempt but will be abandoned if something more serious id needed.

After 16 years in nasty winters, the rubber bushing will be ready to be replaced. The ATF/Acetone mix is just to get them loose so they can be replaced. Might look at poly bushings.

 

[Shiftless]

Torch is out of the question for this job. Plastic gas tank near the fastener end of the bolt.

Maybe use an Induction heater?

 

[darkzero]

Next up: what's the best brand of motor oil?

I usually stay out threads like this but at least the OP asked what are good instead of what is the best. No such thing as the best & I usually won't even view those threads.

 

[vssjim]

Torch is out of the question for this job. Plastic gas tank near the fastener end of the bolt.

I suggest then spray and really long tools to give you a chance air hammers and saws sometime come in to play if really bad.

 

[Beemer]

I suggest then spray and really long tools to give you a chance air hammers and saws sometime come in to play if really bad.

My iron worker accomplice asked me to douse them with penetrating fluid for a few days before he gets involved but if I fail at it I know he won't. It would be better to avoid brute force until necessary.

 

[vssjim]

My iron worker accomplice asked me to douse them with penetrating fluid for a few days before he gets involved but if I fail at it I know he won't. It would be better to avoid brute force until necessary.

When a nasty looking bolt I am sometimes pleasantly surprised when they come right out, the larger the bolt the better the chance.

 

[finn]

Kroil isgood, but not as good as the hype would lead you to believe. I tried the acetone/atf concoction a while ago. but it didn’t perform miracles. My go to is PN Blaster in the gallon can, with a plastic spray bottle.

The only thing that works 100%, though , is the oxy acetylene torch.

 

[Beauregard]

We had large farm equipment with big fasteners that set out in the elements. We made large quantities of homebrew ATF/Acetone mixes. Soak it, then soak it again the next day if time allows.
Sometimes brute force is the answer when rust is involved.

 

[CGarage]

Aaaaaaaaaaaand……….

Still NO MENTION of Liquid Wrench, which performed only slightly below that of Acetone+ATF during Project Farm testing and I bought it last off Amazon for ~ $3.00 US per can!

 

[scooby074]

Kroil.

Then O/A. Or maybe one of those new fangled induction heaters

 

[Beemer]

We had large farm equipment with big fasteners that set out in the elements. We made large quantities of homebrew ATF/Acetone mixes. Soak it, then soak it again the next day if time allows.
Sometimes brute force is the answer when rust is involved.

I've got three days to soak it.

 

[sparky 1971]

In my shop I have several flavors including Kroil, PB, Liquid Wrench, Jigaloo, Knock'r Loose, Sea Foam Deep Creep, WD 40 Blue Torch, the home brew of ATF and acetone, and Lord only knows how many others. They all work equally poor on rust belt suspension parts. I have found that when underneath a 15+ year old vehicle from the Midwest, nothing works as well as brute force and leverage. Impact wrench, 24+" 1/2" drive ratchet, sledge hammers, etc and maybe even the old hot wrench.

 

[Beemer]

Kroil.

Then O/A. Or maybe one of those new fangled induction heaters

I do have a heat gun that gets hot as heck. The tank could use a layer of gyp board to insulate it.

 

[Beemer]

In my shop I have several flavors including Kroil, PB, Liquid Wrench, Jigaloo, Knock'r Loose, Sea Foam Deep Creep, WD 40 Blue Torch, the home brew of ATF and acetone, and Lord only knows how many others. They all work equally poor on rust belt suspension parts. I have found that when underneath a 15+ year old vehicle from the Midwest, nothing works as well as brute force and leverage. Impact wrench, 24+" 1/2" drive ratchet, sledge hammers, etc and maybe even the old hot wrench.

I thought of impact wrench but feared breaking the bolt off.

 

[plinker]

At work, a vendor had dropped off a sample of Free all a couple months ago, so far it has worked very well and fairly fast for penatrating oil. Not the best as a lubricating oil, but for wicking in places it has done very well. Better then Kroil, IMO. https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCBRE12

CRC freeze off has been pretty good for brake line fittings and such.

1st ayd penatrating gel lube works nicely and clings to metal well. https://1stayd.com/penetrating-gel-lube-wptfe24x13-ozcase

Howe's multi-puropse is good stuff, very good lubricating oil. https://howesproducts.com/products/multi-purpose

I've had pretty good results with an ATF & diesel mix as well.

Sometimes heat is the only answer, Spring bushing bolts tend to be a PITA no matter what. But these have worked well depending on the situation. I was impressed enough with the Free all to get some for home.

 

[pbon]

I use Kroil and using it for a few days is great if time permits. I live in the Northeast and am thinking about an Induction heater tool to help,

 

[CGarage]

Why does hardly anyone want to watch or read these days?

 

[BioNerd]

I have to get some suspension parts off that haven't been touched in 16 years and been through nasty winters so I'm looking for penetrating fluid recommendations that might help free the bolts.
I should add that there are rubber bushings on the bolts involved.

Mix 1/2 acetone, 1/2 atf. I’ve used on rusty classics

 

[dogdog]

I do have a heat gun that gets hot as heck. The tank could use a layer of gyp board to insulate it

O/A or induction heater if the. Nut is stuck. Heat gun will just tickle its balls. Metal needs to be dull red. You can try to tighten the stuck nut before loosen it sometimes is easier to break loose that way.

 

[Beemer]

Why does hardly anyone want to watch or read these days?

I only went to college. I didn't learn to read, only use numbers.
A variety of opinions based in experience are better and one person's via video.
Although that video is entertaining, I don't see a way to establish why there is such a range of results for each product. Thank goodness we don't use averages when testing building construction structural bolts.

 

[Meursault74]

Astroglide


oops, wrong forum.

 

[Beemer]

Astroglide


oops, wrong forum.

No good without pictures

 

[Meursault74]

No good without pictures

Anything more risque than this, check with @PelicanPines. He has quite the collection I've heard.

 

[Jswain]

Whatever you use don't wait two days waiting for replies then spray it on thinking In an hour everything's gonna come loose.

Spray the **** outta it multiple times a day. If it's really rusty 3 days is probably the minimum to do any good, if at all other then lubricating the external threads.

I like deep creep from seafoam, but I think any liquid wrench/pb blaster/kroil/ATF-acetone will work somewhat equally.

 

[gatewaysysop]

If you can find either one, Kroil and Mouse Milk are both fantastic products. Neither one has failed me so far, and I will keep buying them both, price be damned.