Applying penetrating oils to your heavily-rusted or seized car parts is a crucial step in maintaining its performance and increasing its lifespan. Damaged parts can cause a lot of damage to your car, leading to costly repair bills and sometimes replacing the whole part altogether. Penetrating oil seeps through rust and loosens the grip of tightly fused parts, making it much easier to take-off and restore the quality of the metallic surface. Neglecting these rusted car parts will result in more problems, like unwanted breakdowns that can put you in the middle of dangerous situations on the road. In this article, we came up with a guide that will help you understand the importance of applying penetrating oils to rusted car parts and offer a couple tips for application.
What is Penetrating Oil
Penetrating oil, also called penetrating fluid, is a special type of lubricant designed to dissolve rust, loosen seized nuts and bolts, and greatly reduce friction between moving parts. It is essential in removing oxides and other corrosive materials that cause rust build-up. These oils are a great solution for freeing up any tight connections, and they work best on old parts that haven’t been moved in years.
Penetrating oils are used for many different applications, including home repairs, automotive maintenance, and industrial settings. For home repairs, penetrating oils can be used on rusty door hinges, locks, or even squeaky window frames to make it easier to open and close them. DIY enthusiasts who love to repair and repurpose their household appliances can also find penetrating oils handy for their projects.
For automotive maintenance, penetrating oil is mainly used to remove rusted up nuts or bolts while also being able to free up stuck brake caliper pins. It can also be used to lubricate stiff hinges, steering linkages, throttle linkages, and even door locks. For industrial settings, penetrating oils are used to lubricate equipment or machinery, loosen up and stiff components, and also dissolve rust inside pipelines.
Penetrating oils can differ in formula, like synthetic, petroleum-based, and silicone-based products. Each type of penetrating oil comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks, so learning about them will help you choose the right product that will help you get the job done. All in all, penetrating oils are a very versatile and efficient solution that can help fix many parts affected by rust or corrosion, and lubricate them so they will be protected from any further damage.
How to Prepare the Part
Before you pour out a drop of penetrating oil, it’s essential to prepare the rusted or seized part to ensure the lubricant can do its job correctly. Here, we have listed down a few important steps to follow before applying penetrating oil:
1. Cleaning the area – The first step in preparing the affected part is to clean it properly. With a wire brush or sandpaper, use them to remove as much debris and rust on the surface. Be very careful not to affect the surrounding area or any of the more sensitive parts.
2. Applying heat – In most scenarios, heating up a rusted area will help loosen up the metal and make it much easier to take it off. Propane torches and heat guns are excellent tools for the job, but always keep the flame away from any rubber or plastic parts in the surrounding area.
3. Tapping the area – If heating it up or cleaning it properly doesn’t work, and the part still doesn’t want to budge, you can try tapping the affected area with a hammer to free it up.
4. Soaking the area – After you have flushed out and removed all the debris and contaminants, the next thing to do is apply the penetrating oil. Apply the right amount of oil to the affected area so it can get saturated completely. Give the oil enough time to do its thing so it can penetrate the metal’s surface before you try and remove the part.
Remember, staying patient throughout this process is important when dealing with rusted parts. Rushing through the process will lead to even more damage and you risk destroying your parts. By following these steps, you can prepare the affected area and apply the correct amount of oil to get the job done with no issues whatsoever.
How to Apply Penetrating Oil
When applying penetrating oil to rusted up parts, you need to have the patience and know-how to do it the right way. Here, we have listed down the things you should keep in mind when applying penetrating oil:
1. Choose the right penetrating oil – With so many different kinds of penetrating oil available, doing a little research on what oil will suit your specific application and give you the best results will go a long way.
2. Apply penetrating oil – Once you have prepared the affected area, shake the bottle of penetrating oil thoroughly, and apply it generously.
3. Allow time to soak – After you apply the oil, you should give it some time to penetrate the affected area so it can dissolve the rust entirely. Most penetrating oils take about 10 to 30 minutes to take full effect. If you feel it wasn’t enough to get it cleaned, then you can re-apply.
4. Check for progress – After letting it soak for some time, check to see if the affected area has loosened up. If you confirmed that it has, remove it with a wrench or some pliers. If the part still won’t budge, re-apply more oil and wait a little longer until it gets looser.
5. Clean residual oil – After all is said and done, clean all the residual oil from the affected area once it’s free. You can use a degreaser, paper towels, or some workshop towels to clean out all of the excess oil.
In almost all scenarios, penetrating oil will free up any rusty parts fast and efficiently. But you should never try to rush anything in the process. If the part doesn’t move after your first application, the best thing to do is wait and try again after a while. When you use the right method with a little patience, you will be able to make this a smooth and hassle-free repair.
Conclusion
Applying penetrating oil to any damaged or rusty parts is very crucial in maintaining your vehicle’s performance and longevity while preventing any unwanted repairs or replacements down the road (literally). We made this article to give the readers a detailed overview of penetrating oil, its uses, as well as the necessary steps to prepare as well as how to properly apply it. It’s essential to take things slow and be patient throughout the entire process to avoid any damages to your engine or its parts. As a key takeaway, it’s vital to stay ahead of rusted and seized parts and consider applying penetrating oil as part of your regular car maintenance routine to keep it functioning optimally throughout its lifespan. Making sure that your investments are well-maintained will improve their longevity, so always be sure to get the best penetrating oil for the job!