TheSamba.com :: View topic - penetrating oil bake-off…for amusement purposes…

Sat May 04, 2019 5:51 pm

Maybe that is why it did not work for me. I'm not patient.

Sat May 04, 2019 5:57 pm

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Butcher wrote: No joking. I just have not seen penetrating oil work to break free a fastener. This is just my experience and is not saying it does not work for others.

Once it's broken free, YES, the stuff can get into the threads and YES, the fastener does come out easier. I just do not see that it can penetrate when everything is frozen up.

That's pretty much my experience as well. I blast the fastener with the lubricant to reduce the friction once the initial rust bond is broken, but I don't expect it to be much help prior to the break.

I dunno. I had to break an O2 sensor loose a year or two back and it didn't budge until I heated it (the old fashioned way, by driving it) and then doused it in PBlaster. Came off with a quickness.

I think the word "penetrating" is doing some work there. So many threads about the size of refrigerant molecules and how they can escape hoses but no love for the wicking of lubricants on threaded fasteners?

Sat May 04, 2019 7:01 pm

But an O2 sensor has a crush seal on it. I bet the heat loosened it up.

Sat May 04, 2019 8:28 pm

Butcher wrote: Maybe that is why it did not work for me. I'm not patient.

HEAT !!

as one mechanic said " I am the God of HELLFIRE and I bring you: FIRE,
I'll take you to burn. FIRE, I'll take you to learn."

assuming of course it is in an area safe to heat...

Sat May 04, 2019 8:34 pm

Paulbeard wrote:
I think the word "penetrating" is doing some work there. So many threads about the size of refrigerant molecules and how they can escape hoses but no love for the wicking of lubricants on threaded fasteners?

https://www.agweb.com/blog/in-the-shop/penetrating-oil-vs-rust-busters/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2rzsm1Qi6N1X-wuOg_p0Ng (for farm boyz what cain't speel break)

Use Liqqy Winch :!: :!:

Sat May 04, 2019 8:38 pm

CRC Knock-her Loose does well in his test, but I use a Wurth product 'cuz der Vanagon ist ein Fahrzeug des Allemans.

Sat May 04, 2019 8:39 pm

pb Blaster stinks!

Sat May 04, 2019 8:44 pm

Merian wrote: as one mechanic said " I am the God of HELLFIRE and I bring you: FIRE,
I'll take you to burn. FIRE, I'll take you to learn."

Hm-m-m ... an old song from singer Arthur Brown in '68 ?

For decades I've used a wire brush first, then oil and last torch heating. Never was unable to loosen a fastener although on occasion the bolt could be severely corroded and snap. Never had any issues between oil and heat as long as you're careful.

Sat May 04, 2019 8:45 pm

https://boostperformanceproducts.com/products/20-cleanboost-nano-spray-16-oz

nano-particles?

Sun May 05, 2019 3:26 am

Zeitgeist 13 wrote:

Wow, this guy must be a Canadian national treasure. That just made my morning. I think I’ve stumbled across his vids before. I may need to write some of those lines down. “Drier than a popcorn fart.” Pure YouTube gold.

Sun May 05, 2019 7:14 am

AvE is a total hoot. I've learned a ton from his vids.

Sun May 05, 2019 7:30 am

Multiman mv wrote: “Drier than a popcorn fart.” Pure YouTube gold.
My mother-in-law uses that one...I love small-town talk... :lol:

Another: "Gone like a fart on a skillet" (meaning VERY quickly)... So someone
please tell me, what is it about farts...??? <shrug>

- Dave

PS+OT: I've tried to keep an oil can of ATF+acetone around but always turns into
just a can of plain ATF. Acetone must have that fart/skillet thing going on...???

:wink:

Sun May 05, 2019 7:40 am

Butcher wrote: Maybe that is why it did not work for me. I'm not patient.

Without patience you will really struggle without much success in the stuck/broken fastener arena!

Sadly, you will probably end up with even MORE broken fasteners than those who have patience and use it when a fastener is reluctant to yield.

Dave

Sun May 05, 2019 8:11 am

Like most good mechanics, you break a few when you are young. Once you have broken the fastener, you are screwed. You learn from that. Ignorant mechanics keep breaking bolts and wonder why. Once the bolt is broken into the object, trying to drill it perfectly centered AND at the right angle is hard when it's on the bench and even worst when working around the engine compartment. Try doing #6 glow plug on a 606 Mercedes diesel and not ruin the head.

#1 rule. Do not break the fastener! If I had to wait for the oil to work AND I charged for that, I would be out of business real quick. What happens if the oil does not penetrate? Then that is more wasted time for something that does not work.

I have not broken a bolt in 25 years, I must be doing something right. And what is that something? Heat, if it's seized and oil if the fastener is turning and starting to seize.

Again, this is my experience that works for me. There are others that swear what they do works for them.

Sun May 05, 2019 8:37 am

dhaavers wrote: ...I've tried to keep an oil can of ATF+acetone around but always turns into just a can of plain ATF.

Which is the main reason I doubt the effectiveness of ATF/Acetone.

Penetrants take time to do any good and acetone is so volatile that I can't see it sticking around long enough to make a difference.

Sun May 05, 2019 11:01 am

Butcher wrote: Try doing #6 glow plug on a 606 Mercedes diesel and not ruin the head.

All those stories of DIY guys snapping off that glowplug gives me nightmares. When I bought a 606.96 to install in my S124 I winced as I preemptively unscrewed each plug. In my case the engine only has 74k and they all came out easily and with no signs of coking. I can't seem to drill a straight hole even when I'm using a drill press, so doing it with the engine in situ is highly doubtful.

Sun May 05, 2019 11:23 am

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: When I bought a 606.96 to install in my S124 I winced as I preemptively unscrewed each plug. In my case the engine only has 74k and they all came out easily and with no signs of coking.

Very smart.

BTW, the 642's are not that much better.

Sun May 05, 2019 12:44 pm

So, what exactly do we want a penetrating oil to do?

Sure, it has to penetrate as far down as possible (see the plexiglass test).

But after that, what? Why is the torque to remove the fastener so much greater than the installation torque?

Is it giant dendrites of rust holding the male and female threads together?

Or some other corrosion product?

Or are male and female threads being "welded" together where they touch?

Sun May 05, 2019 5:49 pm

Merian wrote: So, what exactly do we want a penetrating oil to do?

I've always had success lightly tapping on a rusted nut immediately after wire brushing, warming the area up (engine idle or torch) and putting WD-40 or whatever on it, the obvious idea being trying to open channels between the nut and surface if possible for the oil. Oil on the bolt head as well. And I usually did this all at the same time without waiting long periods.

Merian wrote: Why is the torque to remove the fastener so much greater than the installation torque?

Friction differences between new and used.

Merian wrote: Is it giant dendrites of rust holding the male and female threads together? Or some other corrosion product? Or are male and female threads being "welded" together where they touch?

Yes to all. My experience is any bolt/nut like those being tested by AvE are so cruded up that they are not reusable anyway so breakaway and so what because the general idea I think is to eventually get the bolt off.

Sun May 05, 2019 6:36 pm

Butcher wrote: No joking. I just have not seen penetrating oil work to break free a fastener. This is just my experience and is not saying it does not work for others.

Once it's broken free, YES, the stuff can get into the threads and YES, the fastener does come out easier. I just do not see that it can penetrate when everything is frozen up. Maybe it's I'm just impatient. In my younger years, time was money.

Huh, that's crazy. I have seen PB Blaster work, a lot. I live in MD and daily drivers get rusty, I use it all the time. It's SOP, every bolt I have never taken off before gets hit with 2 coats of PB Blaster and I am generous with my coatings.

Just today I was replacing the cv boots on the lady's TT and that axle bolt would not come out. I was hammering it with the 1/2" Milwaukee. After a few minutes I gave up, it was lunch time anyway. I sprayed it down with PB Blaster and went to lunch. While at lunch (and after a few margeritas) I decided today was the day, I'm going to Harbor Freight and buying that 1200ft/lb impact. When I got back I decided to try the Milwaukee one more time to see if the PB Blaster helped, and yep, it came off after about 5 seconds of hammering.

BTW, that HF 1200ft/lb impact broke on the 4th bolt. That's getting returned. I was impressed with AvE's tear down of it, but maybe they cheapened the manufacturing process in the mean time.