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Questions about success with penetrating oil[s]

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Mstanleyfl said:
Lubrication, redheads, blondes, blue eyes and now warming your nuts with a candle.... This thread has it all!
Click to expand...

I already mentioned my dog, so all we need is a pick-up truck or train, and we would have all the stuff to write a bad Country & Western song.

But seriously folks, I do want to thank all of you for your suggestions. I still want to research why the ATF/acetone mixture seems to work so well. There must be some interesting chemistry going on! :encouragement:
 
It's all lubrication penetration. No double entendre intended, of course!:angel2:
 
"... I still want to research why the ATF/acetone mixture seems to work so well."

Acetone is polar--somewhat unusual for an organic solvent--and, according to my research--OK, a quick google search--will dissolve rust. ATF is a lubricant and probably works to coat any fresh metal that the acetone has cleaned. However, someone on this list (Richard M?) tried it and determined ATF and acetone are not miscible--i.e. they don't 'mix,' just like vinegar and oil don't--so I question the 'double action' of the two. I also question the producers of the chart, as I tried to find them online and had no luck. Unless their experiment was performed many times, to average out any variations like thread condition, metals type--Grade 3, 5 or 8, for instance--their results should be taken with a grain of salt.

I've used Kroil for many years with good results and will continue to do so (esp. since you don't necessarily have to order direct from Kano any more). Their Floway degreaser is at least as good as Gunk and a lot more financially practical (NFI). FWIW, some aircraft mechanics I used to know swore by a product called 'Mouse Milk,' but I believe it's relatively expensive (I have a small bottle on the shelf I haven't used since I started using Kroil).
 
Thanks Bob. I agree about taking the test with a grain of salt, but I thought it was a good first-order demonstration. Kroil, and MMO (sometimes), are so far, the best I've found. My step-grandfather was a plumbing contractor, and he introduced Kroil to me when I was a kid (and also his "plumbers helper"). He thought it was the greatest stuff there was, and used it on just about every job that involved loosening pipes or fasteners.

I've heard of Mouse Milk too, but don't know anything about it, other than it seems to have mystical properties, and a bit of an "old-timer" cult following. My airplane buddies have talked about it.

I'll check out Kano's degreaser as well. The Texaco bulk plant here used to sell a really good solvent for my parts washer, but I haven't seen it in years. It wasn't obnoxious smelling, didn't seem to irritate my skin, and did a great job cleaning, so it's probably been banned. I haven't filled the washer up in several years, so I'll need to determine what's currently acceptable, and will still actually clean the parts. Jim
 
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