Machinist’s Workshop Magazine actually tested penetrates for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They arranged a subjective test of all popular penetrates with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a “Scientifically Rusted” Environment.  Here is what they found.

No Penetrates

Average Load………………… 516 Pounds

WD-40

Average Load………………… 238 Pounds

PB Blaster

Average Load………………… 214 Pounds

Liquid Wrench

Average Load………………… 127 Pounds

Kroil Oil

Average Load………………… 106 Pounds

ATF-Acetone Mix

Average Load………………… 53 Pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix was a “Home Brew” Mix of 50-50 automatic Transmission Fluid and acetone.

Note: The “Home Brew” was better than any commercial product in this particular test. A local Machinist group mixed up a batch and all now use it with equally good results. Note also that “Liquid Wrench” is about as good as “Kroil” for about 20% of the price.  Hope this helps some of you out there.

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