I recently received this information from a friend, and while I have not confirmed the data, I think it is worth passing along. It was attributed to Machinist Workshop Magazine.

Nuts and bolts were rusted to a uniform degree in a brine solution.

Treatment Breakout Torque (lbs)

None 516
WD 40 238
PB Blaster 214
Liquid Wrench 127
Kano Kroil 106
ATF/Acetone (50/50) 50

I don't know how many samples were tested or what the variation was, but still, it's interesting.

 

I've been mixing my own penetrating oil from that 50/50 mix for 25 years and it works! I don't even own another type of P.Oil.

I have a spray bottle that I picked up at a swap meet a few years back that I can pressurize with shop air and spray the magic fluid on a part that cannot be reached by getting above & dripping a few drops on it.

Do it.

 

Interesting and enlightening information...thanks!

I would just caution that acetone can be pretty damaging to some plastics and paints, so use care.

 

Interesting. Source article would be good to see.
Maxwdg's endorsement is pretty positive though - just don't use it on your fuel rail dampers.

 

Considering all the plastic in the engine compartment, it might be best to limit the use to the suspension and exhaust system.

 

Seems like PB Blaster is a miracle of modern marketing. At least Kroil is at the better end but so is the venerable Liquid Wrench.

The ATF mixes have been talked about for years. I wonder why some company doesn't just switch their formula.

let the fingers do the walking ...

Ed's Red' Bore Cleaner
Bore cleaner recipe

1 part Dexron II, IIe or III ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.
1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1
1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits, Fed. Spec. TT-T-2981F, CAS
#64741-49-9, or may substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or
equivalent, (aka "Varsol")
1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.

we've been using atf and kerosene in our parts washer for years, works good.

 

Plums - why no mention of our special product ?

 

I like to use KY Lubricating Gel mixed in with a dash of Grizzly Bear urine. But convincing the bears to pee into a cup is murder....

 

Steve,

After I saw you'd made several posts to the thread, I made the mistake of thinking plums must have been recommending this as a cocktail recipe.

My nuts are shiny and slack now but I'm going to have the mother of all hangovers in the morning.
Graham

 

If you approach the bear from behind, grab their dangly bits. They will then pee anywhere you want. Just be prepared when you let go.

p.s. this only works on the males, so better to be sure first.

 

ROTFLMFAO ... doesn't happen often

 

conflict of interest

 

WD-40 has a new line on products and one of them is Rust Release Penetrant Spray. I have not used it but I think it is worth trying the product. I have been using PB Blaster for years for rusted or stuck nuts and bolts and it has always done its job.

 

I mix my own "Bolt Buster" as a 50/50 ATF and Acetone mix and it works great.

Last summer I had a sticking shift cable on my boat and it's replacement would be quite extensive. A boating buddy suggested that I make a funnel arrangement and work straight ATF down the cable. It restored the cable to perfect working order in a couple of hours!

 

You should substitute eau-de-vie for the Aliphatic Mineral Spirits if you find the mix too heady - and put 50-50 Deep Heat and snake oil on the nuts.

 

Almost ready..............

 

ATF/Acetone
How corrosive is this?

 

I don't think you have grasped the purpose of this thread.

But you are right it doesn't want to hit the paintwork etc.

 

I understand completely, I just still worry. Acetone is a solvent and atf has detergents in it.

 

To be a bit pedantic you need to differentiate between corrosion which implies some sort of chemical reaction and solution where the material involved remains chemically unchanged although its physical appearance may change.
Acatone dissolves some but not all plastics so it will alter the appearance of paint finishes etc.
ATF gets on quite happily with a variety of metals and plastics inside the gearbox.
In this application I suspect the acetone is simply used as a carrier, diluting and lowering the viscosity of the ATF to get it well into the joint/thread in question, then it evaporates.
Apart from painted surfaces I don't think the quantity involved is a risk to anything.