Can Brake Fluid Be Used As Penetrating Oil?

This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

Penetrating oil is used to either soften or loosen objects that are stuck by the rust in metallic tools or other equipment.

Penetrating oils function in this way by reducing the grip on all stuck objects, which will enable you to twist bolts, nuts, rivets, or whatever is holding the object so that you can easily remove it.

How is penetrating oil able to do this? We shall look at some of these processes along with other issues that relate to the topic.

In addition, penetrating oils can also be effectively used to prevent and equally protect these stuck metallic components from becoming stuck in the first place.

Furthermore, they also quieten squeaks and noises from rubbing or interacting with metal parts.

Another very desirable function of penetrating oils that closely relates to their function as freeing agents is when they are used as cleaning agents for the rusted and stuck metal components.

To this effect, they can be used to remove tar, grease, adhesives, and rust too. They can discharge this function because they are very good solvent cleaners or degreasers for dissolving all sorts of contaminants.

Yes, brake fluids are very effective penetrants that are composed mainly of esters and corrosion inhibitors, which can provide excellent surfactants when applied on stuck metallic components.

Brake fluids are also very good as rust or dirt removers, a function they perform without leaving behind any residues whatsoever.

Whenever 3 light coats of this rust treatment with brake fluid are applied on any object with about 15 minutes intervals between every application, the NAPA Rust Treatment will affect the removal of rust if left on the affected surface overnight.

The excellent qualities of brake fluid it equally very good as penetrant with low viscosity. Ideally, most penetrating oils boast of low viscosity or a sort of medium that is volatile.

Thus, brake fluid like penetrating oils can also squeeze through even very tiny pores of the metal and deposit layers of oil that will cause any water present to be displaced such that a protective layer is provided for the metal against any presence of moisture.

To summarize everything, brake fluids are very effective as penetrating oils since they have many characteristics in common.(Read Also:Can Brake Fluid Cure Eczema?)

Table Of Contents

What is a penetrating oil?

Penetrating oils are chemical substances containing oils that can find their way through even very tiny pores in rusted and stuck metallic parts, to enable you to remove the stuck parts. In addition to this function, most penetrating oils are used effectively as cleaning agents for rust too.

They provide lubrication for a short period as well. This lubrication reduces friction too, but they can become contaminated in the process since penetrating oils contain volatile solvents. Whenever they evaporate, they leave behind a residual film.

It is for this reason that penetrating oils contain additives mixed in them so that they can improve the longevity of the liquid.

They can be used to eliminate tar, grease, adhesives, and rust too. Fortunately, once the fluid has mobilized the residues, it can then be easily wiped away with just a wipe using any clean cloth, wipe, or even light abrasive substances.

Penetrating oils are known to disperse moisture which causes oxidation, while others may leave behind a filmy coat that is non-conductive.

Other fluids can be dispensed with the aid of corrosion inhibitors that cause a passivation layer to be produced, as a sort of barrier against corrosion.

There are also straight oils that are non-falsifiable used effectively in machining procedures even in their undiluted forms.

Usually, they are produced from either base petroleum or mineral oils and they also contain polar additives such as vegetable oils, fats, esters, or strong pressure additives.

Constituents are sulfur, chlorine, and even phosphorus too. Most, if not all, penetrating oils that are either emulsions or water-soluble have comparatively higher dilution and may include a category of fluids designated as high water content fluids(HWCF).

Furthermore, fluids that have soluble oil can create an emulsion when mixed with water. They are subsequently diluted for use and the level of their concentration can go up by about 10 percent.

All penetrating oils are either synthetic or semi-synthetic, which are made up of polymers such as poly glycol, diesters, esters, silicone, chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs), in addition to a mixture containing water and other synthetic fluids too.

These synthetic fluids are famous for their extremely high resistance to fire, but they can be very expensive on the market.

How do I use brake fluid for penetrating oil?

Penetrating oils can be substituted for brake fluids mainly due to similarities in many properties which they share.

In essence, brake fluids, which are kind of very special hydraulic fluids are made up of esters and many corrosion inhibitors too, just like the penetrating oils are.

These inhibitors provide an effective surfactant. Like penetrating oils, brake fluids can also be used effectively as rust removers too.

This is more so since they are completely safe for use on rubber objects and can also dry up quickly without leaving behind any residue.

Therefore, when any rusted component is thoroughly cleaned, the application of just three coats of any good rust treatment sprayed about 15 minutes between each coat will do just as fine in terms of rust removal.

That is basically why NAPA Rust Treatment is applied in three coats too before you leave them to stay on overnight.

Is it safe to use brake fluid as penetrating oil?

Yes, it is indeed very safe to use brake fluids as penetrating oils because, for the most part, the two fluids have the same properties. They are both very invasive and also have corrosion-resistant properties too.

In addition, brake fluids, like most penetrating oils, can be very effective in seeping through even tiny pores and crevices in rust-covered places thereby loosening them for easy removal of stuck metallic components.

Notably, brake fluids are composed of esters and other corrosion inhibitors which can effectively provide very good surfactants too.

Furthermore, brake fluids, much like penetrating oils, are manufactured from blends of several substances that include lower alkanes, lower alkyl benzene, alky succinic acid, tert-dibutyl-p-cresol, polymethacrylate, zine dialkyl triphosphate, and methyl silicone usually in a stock of paraffin that is as bright as stock lube oil.

All these constituent substances in brake fluids are safe for use on either rubber or metallic objects without any harm. This makes brake fluids perfectly safe for use as penetrating oils.

Trending Searches

How long does it take penetrating oils to work?

Ideally, after the application of penetrating oils, you may have to wait for about 15 minutes or thereabouts for the oil to work properly as you wish.

However, a lot will depend on the quality of the penetrating oil and the nature of the substance it is used on, as well as the strength of the rust too.

For this reason, a lot of penetrating oils will require a full 60 minutes and the use of some wrenching equipment to get stubborn stuck nuts loose from their holds. Luckily, the use of precision applicators can effectively reduce the time the whole process may take to complete.

Are there substitutes for penetrating oils?

Many other substances can be used, and very effectively too, as excellent substitutes for penetrating oils. Chief among which is brake fluid. Other good substitutes are vegetable oils and automatic transmission fluids that have about five percent of acetone in them.

Furthermore, it is very possible to increase the performance of the mixture by increasing its acetone content. In other words, the more acetone there is, the better automatic transmission fluids will work as penetrating oils.

Frequently asked questions(FAQ)

Can I make my penetrating oil?

Yes, it is both possible and easy to produce your own penetrating oil at home or anywhere else too. To get this done, you need a few items which may include vegetable oil, acetone, and some paint thinners.

When these ingredients are mixed in the correct proportions, they give an excellent penetrating oil.

How can I make my penetrating oil at home?

Before you can make a good penetrating oil, you should make sure that you mix the ingredients in the correct proportions.

Therefore, you need to have a 50-50 percentage mixture of 100 percent acetone and dextran or micron automatic transmission oil.

The blend of these substances will separate just like oil and vinegar can, but you have to shake the bottle well before you spray.

You should mix up these substances and allow them to soak for about 15 minutes on the rotor and with just a couple of taps, it can come right off as you want.