The bestest penetrating oil is.....

I've been using ZEP penetrant/oil on rust and seized stuff for about, oh, 20 years now. The particular formula I have at home is ZEP 45.

ZEP 45 and no I don not work for ZEP or sell their products so hands off the CAN-KNEW button

For one thing, I've had the same two cans for over ten years - they certainly don't skimp on the quality of the can or the valve. For another, I have tried Kroil, and found it to be an acceptable (if smellier) substitute. ZEP does have a signature smell, too, though.

One thing I can do with ZEP is combine it with some serious heat (do not spray near open flames, don't go catching your oil-soaked jeans on fire, yadda yadda). I've gotten some hopelessly stuck brake calipers to free up that way, among other things.

Ive been using the ZEP 45 for about 25 years now. I bought some cans from the salesman when I worked for Mercedes. Im down to my last can.

I cant say enough about this stuff. Never had a rusty bolt I coulnt remove. Even on a junked spitfire I canibalized that had been sitting in the woods for 20+ years. I have tried PB Blaster, WD40, Freeze Off et all ad ZEP 45 is still the best. I saw some for sale at a retail store last year but foolishly didnt pick anymore up. I will when I next see any.

ZEP 45 works well for squeaky doors and sticky locks. It has Teflon in it. Just beware the odor. SWMBO doesnt like when i use it in the house for hinges and the like.

fasted58 wrote: the magazine should do a comparison test of all the brands plus the homebrews

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/penetrating-lube-test/13650/page1/

Also, I used to hate WD40 but it's my go to penetrant now. The smell is not offensive, it's relatively safe, it has so many uses, and it doesn't seem to hurt paint or really mess up the floor. It also seems to be a decent cutting oil.

When I get home I'll post the part number of the stuff I use. I'll also have to look for 45. I get my stuff form the shop I worked at so that's what they had.
I expect this can to last YEARS though. That's the nice thing. You don't use much because it stays where you spray it. In the past if I knew I was removing something that was prone to breaking, stripping, or otherwise going all FUBAR I'd spray PB on it a day or two before and keep it wet the whole 2 days till I worked in it (soaked rag or continual applications). With ZEP, I spray it on and that's it.
BTW, I do not work for ZEP or anything like that. Just figured you'd all like to try it out since grassroots usually means old and rusty.

Taiden wrote:

fasted58 wrote: the magazine should do a comparison test of all the brands plus the homebrews

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/penetrating-lube-test/13650/page1/ Also, I used to hate WD40 but it's my go to penetrant now. The smell is not offensive, it's relatively safe, it has so many uses, and it doesn't seem to hurt paint or really mess up the floor. It also seems to be a decent cutting oil.

that test got me in the habit of buying Liquid Wrench

For a real GR alternative try a 50/50 blend of acetone & ATF. Most of you already have it on hand.

triumphcorvair wrote: For a real GR alternative try a 50/50 blend of acetone & ATF. Most of you already have it on hand.

aka...weasel pee

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again. 50/50 is what I use if the WD40 isn't doing the job. That stuff is scary. I put it on a very rusty part and it started smoking and got warm.

Hmmm, I have 5 quarts of BMW's magic ATF that I just pulled out of the 750Li yesterday. Time to pick up some acetone I guess.

In reply to Taiden:

WTFBBQ!? What on Earth would explain an exothermic chemical reaction in acetone/ATF/Fe2O3? Not that I know enough about chemistry to understand it, but I didn't think any of these things was triggering a chemical reaction; just wicking in and being slippery.

I dont know if it was a fluke or not. Maybe there was something already on the part that I wasn't aware of. But I have an eye witness who actually saw it happen and called me over to see for myself. It was hardly noticeable, a few light wisps of something smokey. No strange smell. The part felt warmer in that area, but I can't say what the temperature of the mixture was before putting it on the steel.

Still, it makes an awesome anecdote.

I once mixed orange adn grey RTV and it started smoking. It was AWESOME!!

I gotta try that.

So, does anybody retail this ZEP stuff (45/2000, whatever)? The only thing on the web site appears to be a 12 can case.

Osterkraut wrote: A challenger appears!

Freeze-Off smells like elementary school bathroom cleaner. But worked well on the rusty parts.

I'll have to look into the Zep stuff.

The can I have is "prod. 4164" and is called "clear penetrating grease".

Last spring I mixed up a batch of the ATF/ Acetone 50/50 according to the recipe. From my experience, I'll say it does penetrate but nothing to write home about. It separates after sitting for a minute so keep it well mixed before and during use. I never saw the great 'smoke' storied in legend and I sprayed it on every rusty bit in the place. I'll keep the 2 quarts I have left for soaking rusty parts overnight.

I'm keeping my Kroil but will try the Zep.

dankspeed wrote: KY?

Wrong tool.

Great to hear! The company I work for is one of ZEP's suppliers- we make some of their stuff!

mouse milk

Hm. Everything WD-40 can't get heat can. Never seen the need for anything else, although something that works better is, well, better.

Fellas-

For those of you looking to try Zep 2000, hopefully this will help you secure a smaller quantity than a case:

Toll Free 1-877-428-9937

East Coast and Southeast Prospective Buyers should go to the following people and extensions:

Allentown

Ryan Zegalia x 47147, Jon Zimmerman x 47190, Cortney Moody x 47171, Ed Olearczyk x 47184, or Carlton Lovett x 47189,

From Ohio west throughout the US and Canada prospective buyers should call 1-877-428-9937 and go to the following people and extensions:

Chicago

Harry Weiskopf x 47618, Tom Bottoms x 47619, Buddy Dudczak x 47620, Dan West x 47610, Tim Shipbaugh x 47630, or Joe McCue x 47627

Hope this helps!

-Adam

Thanks Adam!

AdamAtZep wrote: Fellas- For those of you looking to try Zep 2000, hopefully this will help you secure a smaller quantity than a case: Toll Free 1-877-428-9937 East Coast and Southeast Prospective Buyers should go to the following people and extensions: Allentown Ryan Zegalia x 47147, Jon Zimmerman x 47190, Cortney Moody x 47171, Ed Olearczyk x 47184, or Carlton Lovett x 47189, From Ohio west throughout the US and Canada prospective buyers should call 1-877-428-9937 and go to the following people and extensions: Chicago Harry Weiskopf x 47618, Tom Bottoms x 47619, Buddy Dudczak x 47620, Dan West x 47610, Tim Shipbaugh x 47630, or Joe McCue x 47627 Hope this helps! -Adam

Thanks for the info. I don't know who sold his/her soul to the Devil to get that formula, but my still-skin-covered knuckles thank you.

My pleasure - would love to get thoughts from those of you who try it for the first time. Glad there seems to be a happy group of you already, too.