Found this in Engine Builder online:
What’s the Best Penetrant?
A recent online article provided some information on various penetrating oils. A subjective test of all the popular penetrates with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a “scientifically rusted” environment resulted in the following numbers.
Penetrating oils ……….Average torque load to loosen
No Oil used 516 pounds
WD-40 238 pounds
PB Blaster 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench 127 pounds
Kano Kroil 106 pounds
ATF*-Acetone mix 53 pounds
The ATF*-Acetone mix was a “home brew” mix of 50% – 50% by volume automatic transmission fluid and acetone. It has been said that lacquer thinner may be used as a substitute for acetone.
From: Engine Pro Technical Committee with special thanks to Machinist’s Workshop Magazine (
www.machinistsworkshop.net) and Bert Hitzing.
R.