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What is penetrating oil?

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Tinster

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Now I am curious as I assemble parts to rebuild my front suspension.

What is penetrating oil? Any brand names come to mind?
Does it come in cans or bottles? Where would I start
looking for it in Puerto Rico?

Thanks,

d /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
Morning Dale.

Penetrating oil is typically used to help loosen frozen nuts and bolts. Every automotive store should have it. I never found a whole lot of use for the stuff but some people swear by it.
 
Tinster;

"You have to be Kidding"!!!!

With all the work you have/are doing; You don`t know what "Penetrating Oil Is"!!!!

Kind of Remarkable!!!!

Good Luck; Russ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif
 
Nope- I thought it was oil poured into engine
cylinders that were frozen with rust. Never paid much attention to it.

d
 
While assembling suspension parts, if you use anti seize on the threads of all the capscrews, you will never have to worry about needing penetrating oil.
I mentioned in an earlier thread that penetrant must be given time to work. PB Blaster and Kroil are a couple of the better over the counter penetrants that come to mind. WD40 is not a good penetrant. I've heard that it is good for arthritis though, just rub it into your hands. I can't think of 39 other good uses.
 
I like PB Blaster. I guess some of my stuff is so old and rusted I use it a lot. We also used it a lot in the mining industry. Things seemed to rust pretty quick in the damp.

Pete
 
If you can't find either of those (and I couldn't), my local NAPA has Liquid Wrench. That seems to do the trick too.

I'm not sure of it's relative merit, but it has allowed me to get bolts off easily when WD-40 failed completely...
 
I like to use Mouse Milk the most.

Don
 
I'll ditto the PB Blaster. IMO it works far better than Liquid Wrench. It's also readily available around here, including places like Wal-Mart & Target.

Kroil I consider the equal of PB Blaster, but I've never seen it locally. Have to mail-order from places like Eastwood or Kano Labs (the maker)
https://www.kanolabs.com/
I've been told that Sili-Kroil is even better than Kroil or PBB; but haven't tried it myself (yet).

Patience seems to count for a lot with the PBB or Kroil. I squirt a little onto any joint I think will give me trouble, then do something else for a bit (like the easy bolts) and come back. If it still won't come off, leave it overnight and try again. The stuff seems to continue to work for a long time; I've had things finally come apart after a week of trying every day (and adding more PBB).

That said, any penetrating oil is only useful for situations where the problem is steel corrosion, IMO. If the joint is just extremely tight (eg rear hubs on the axle of a TR3); or it's aluminum that is corroded (Stag head studs); then penetrating oil is a waste of time.

BTW, the folks who make WD-40 have said that the WD stands for Water Displacement and the 40 means it was the fortieth formula they tried. Works well enough for short-term water displacement, IMO, but not penetrating oil. I mostly use it on steel parts that I've just degreased in water-based solvent (aka soap and water).
 
I like PB and Kroil the best...I have both at my shop.

Last nite I squirted a little Kroil on some u-bolts that I will need to dis-assemble tonite...it will make a difference if you let it sit overnite.

I also like to squirt some onto any nut or bolt that I MAY need to remove in the future. No matter how rusted they are it makes the job easier when you finnally decide to remove the part. If I do my own oil change I'm always suuirting the shock nuts, exhaust clamps, etc. 'cuz sooner or later you will have to deal with 'em.
 
What is penetrating oil? Could have a lot of fun with this, ah, better not.
 
I have used Kroil, PB-Blaster, and Liquid Wrench. They all work to a degree and as mentioned, PB-Blaster is currently the most "available". I find they all work best if you can liberally soak the fastener, give it a few sharp raps with a hammer, then go away for a while. I repeat the soaking, hammer raps and waiting a few times before going for a wrench or socket. The hammer raps help work the fluid in to the joint and time allows the fluid to wick in to the nooks an crannies. Heat can help with this also when/where it can be safely applied.
 
TR3driver said:
.



Patience seems to count for a lot with the PBB or Kroil. I squirt a little onto any joint I think will give me trouble, then do something else for a bit (like the easy bolts) and come back. If it still won't come off, leave it overnight and try again. The stuff seems to continue to work for a long time; I've had things finally come apart after a week of trying every day (and adding more PBB).
Click to expand...

I will spray something down a whole week before servicing it. Every day I will go out to the garage and lubricate. Only takes a minute if you know what part you are servicing. Planning ahead helps a lot with old cars, I will switch off too, using WD40 and Mopar rust penetrant. PB Blaster is amazing stuff, and it can be bought at Advance Auto Parts. I don't know why I don't carry that in the trunk instead of WD40. Cheap I guess....
 
Went out this morning and was able to locate and
purchase Liquid Wrench.


Thanks,

d
 
TR3driver said:
Kroil I consider the equal of PB Blaster, but I've never seen it locally. Have to mail-order from places like Eastwood or Kano Labs (the maker)
https://www.kanolabs.com/
I've been told that Sili-Kroil is even better than Kroil or PBB; but haven't tried it myself (yet).
Click to expand...
Randall, I agree. I had a couple cans of Sili-Kroil and was amazed by how well it worked. But I ran out...and then discovered that PB Blaster was available in my local Walmart! Results are close enough that I no longer bother to mail-order the Kroil products!
 
Hi Folks;

I agree with the Majority: PB Blaster for sure! Just as TR3driver mentions; If it does`nt work the first time; Try, Try Again; It surely will:

WD40 is good stuff for Lubrication but thats about it:

Regards, Russ
 
TR6BILL said:
Morning Dale.

I never found a whole lot of use for the stuff but some people swear by it.
Click to expand...
Bill you are a lucky man living in Louisiana. If you lived in Scotland you would use the stuff regularly.
Nick
 
Andrew Mace said:
Randall, I agree. I had a couple cans of Sili-Kroil and was amazed by how well it worked.
Click to expand...
You're probably one of the people that told me that, Andy /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

I decided I'd try Sili-Kroil next time I ordered from Kano; but I've still got most of a gallon of Kroil. And since the PBB is so much handier, I use it most of the time, so that gallon should last a few more decades ...

BTW, I think I first heard about PBB from my brother-in-law, who works in the Purdue Univ maintenance department. He has to maintain equipment even older than our cars, and just loves the stuff.
 
tousrrus;
A friend of mine swears that WD is great as a H2O dryer and a rust inhibitor but is one of the worst and most misused general lubricants available. He states that it just doesn't stay put where it's needed and evaporates rapidly. He has also stated that it is very damaging to rubber and some plastics "attacks the elastomers and polymers"

Thoughts and comments?
By the way I am not spoiling for a scrap. just want some info!
 
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