Introduction
I recently stumbled upon a fascinating video comparing brake fluid to popular penetrating oils for loosening rusty bolts. As someone who’s always battling rust, I was eager to see how these products compared. The video’s creator conducted a series of tests to determine which fluid was the most effective at breaking free stubborn fasteners.
Key Takeaways
- SeaFoam Deep Creep emerged as the top performer in the one-hour test.
- CRC Knock’er Loose secured the second position, demonstrating good penetrating power.
- Mixing penetrating fluids is not recommended due to potential chemical reactions and ineffective rust penetration.
Video
Experiment Setup
The video’s creator used half-inch wheel lug studs and nuts, torqued to 80 foot-pounds. The bolts were oxidized to simulate rusted conditions, and a hot blue perimeter was added to enhance the rusting process.
A control group of bolts was used to establish a baseline torque required for removal. The remaining bolts were treated with various penetrating fluids:
- DOT 3 Brake Fluid
- CRC Knock’er Loose
- SeaFoam Deep Creep
- Fluid Film
- BG In-Force
- WD-40 Specialist Rust Release Penetrant Spray
Each fluid was applied using a dripper, and a washer was added to observe fluid spread. The fluids’ penetration and evaporation were monitored over time.
One-Hour Test
After an hour, the nuts were removed to assess the effectiveness of each penetrating fluid. SeaFoam Deep Creep performed exceptionally well, showing significant penetration and requiring less torque to remove the nuts.
‘SeaFoam Deep Creep performed exceptionally well, showing significant penetration and requiring less torque to remove the nuts.’
CRC Knock’er Loose came in second, also exhibiting good penetration. The other products didn’t have enough time to work effectively in the one-hour timeframe.
Mixing Penetrating Fluids: A Failed Experiment
In response to viewer requests, the creator mixed all the penetrating fluids and applied the mixture to a rusty nut. This experiment failed miserably, as the mixture did not penetrate the rust and made the nut even harder to remove.
Plexiglass Penetration Test
A separate test involved applying the fluids to a plexiglass setup to observe penetration. The results aligned with the one-hour test, with SeaFoam and CRC Knock’er Loose showing superior penetration.
Conclusion and Next Steps
This video provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of various penetrating fluids. SeaFoam Deep Creep appears to be a powerful rust buster. However, more testing is needed to compare it with top contenders like Liquid Wrench.
I’d love to see a head-to-head comparison between SeaFoam and Liquid Wrench! What other fluids should be tested? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Attribution
This blog post is based on the YouTube video “Could Break Fluid Possibly Work Better Than Penetrating Fluid?” by Project Farm You can watch the full video here: Video.
