What ratio of ATF & Acetone?

[sidevalve8ba]

I have always used commercially available penetrants and I know a number of you use ATF & acetone for the same purpose. My question is what is a good ratio of one to the other for the best outcome? Or is there such a thing as a "best mix"? Thanks in advance.

[alexiskai]

I always heard 1:1.

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by sidevalve8ba

I have always used commercially available penetrants and I know a number of you use ATF & acetone for the same purpose. My question is what is a good ratio of one to the other for the best outcome? Or is there such a thing as a "best mix"? Thanks in advance.

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Acetone and ATF will NOT stay mixed together very long at all
They want to separate, unless you keep shaking the mix up

Also, acetone evaporates much-much-much faster than ATF




.

[The Art Doctor]

Originally Posted by Lanny

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Acetone and ATF will NOT stay mixed together very long at all
They want to separate, unless you keep shaking the mix up

Also, acetone evaporates much-much-much faster than ATF




.

The secret is you have to use mineral ATF, synthetic will separate. I'd choose odorless mineral spirits over acetone for penetration. To dissolve deposits acetone is better. You can make a cocktail using both or add naphtha or xylene for specific needs. It's all just chemistry.

[hueyhoolihan]

i'm not familiar with the use of ATF and Acetone. in fact, i'm not certain what one would use it for. claaning, lubricant?

[petehoovie]

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Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

i'm not familiar with the use of ATF and Acetone. in fact, i'm not certain what one would use it for. claaning, lubricant?

ATF (automatic transmission fluid) and acetone can be mixed in a 50/50 ratio to create a penetrating oil that helps free rusted mechanical parts

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

i'm not familiar with the use of ATF and Acetone. in fact, i'm not certain what one would use it for. claaning, lubricant?

ATF (automatic transmission fluid) and acetone can be mixed in a 50/50 ratio to create a penetrating oil that helps free rusted mechanical parts...

The ATF-acetone mix has been shown to outperform many commercial penetrating oils in tests, requiring significantly less torque to break free rusted parts...

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

i'm not familiar with the use of ATF and Acetone. in fact, i'm not certain what one would use it for. claaning, lubricant?

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huey, do yourself a favor and buy a good rust penetrent, if you are de-rusting
any metal parts that are fairly rusty.

A couple years ago, I did a few experiments on rusty bolts and a few small
rusty metal parts, and the mix of acetone and trans fluid didn't work on
anything that was fairly rusty...

Also, Menards as well as many other stores carry Quarts, and Gallons or even larger
containers of various Rust Desolvers, including Evapo-Rust and Rust Oleum, as well
as a half dozen other brands. They melt rust.




.

[demiller]

Rather than fooling around mixing acetone and ATF only to find that todays ATF doesn't mix well with acetone and wants to seperate quickly, buy a can of LPS KB88, comes in a spray can or a liquid, looks like the home remedy, smells like it, doesn't seperate and works

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by demiller

Rather than fooling around mixing acetone and ATF only to find that todays ATF doesn't mix well with acetone and wants to seperate quickly, buy a can of LPS KB88, comes in a spray can or a liquid, looks like the home remedy, smells like it, doesn't seperate and works

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

ATF (automatic transmission fluid) and acetone can be mixed in a 50/50 ratio to create a penetrating oil that helps free rusted mechanical parts

thanks. ...thought it might be some sort of homemade elixir those "in the know" added to their transmission or differential or something. you know, like mothers giving children spoonfuls of cod-liver oil every once in a while, just to keep things moving along.

[Jack E/NJ]

[tubman]

There is a comparison of the different penetrants on YouTube. It includes the ATF/Acetone mixture, as well as plain old heat. All products are essentially the same in effectiveness, with the ATF/Acetone being no better or worse than anything else, with heat being the best. It seems to be done under fairly well controlled conditions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEob2oAKVs&t=517s

[KiWinUS]

Howes Penetrant is way above the the 50/50 mix and all your parts house penetrants.

[RalphG]

Just my own experience but I've had no luck with ATF+Acetone on the 53 Mercury flathead. The block has been hanging on the engine stand, heads and manifold off with the mix in it since early 2018. Still stuck solid.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by RalphG

Just my own experience but I've had no luck with ATF+Acetone on the 53 Mercury flathead. The block has been hanging on the engine stand, heads and manifold off with the mix in it since early 2018. Still stuck solid.

The only time I’ve used acetone/ATF is a situation like this where I needed it “in bulk.” Otherwise it’s too much hassle and, as mentioned, not more effective than commercial preparations.

[Vics Stuff]

As Petehoovie indicated , studies have shown that a mix of 50/50 Acetone and ATV will out perform any other lubricants. The viscosity of acetone is very low , allowing the acetone to seep its way into those hard to penetrate areas drawing the ATV along with it as a carrier . The acetone will evaporate quickly leaving the ATV in its place ..
Always shake it up before using on the areas needing penetrant.
I always have a bottle around , ready to go.
Vic

[hueyhoolihan]

IME, the problem with penetrants is that they don't really penetrate. only once the threads break free do they actually perform a service, and that is provide lubrication for final removal.

WAIT!!! am i i really participating in a lubricant thread on an internet forum??? i swore off on this years ago! i hate myself, damnit!

[KiWinUS]

Originally Posted by Vics Stuff

As Petehoovie indicated , studies have shown that a mix of 50/50 Acetone and ATV will out perform any other lubricants. The viscosity of acetone is very low , allowing the acetone to seep its way into those hard to penetrate areas drawing the ATV along with it as a carrier . The acetone will evaporate quickly leaving the ATV in its place ..
Always shake it up before using on the areas needing penetrant.
I always have a bottle around , ready to go.
Vic

Vic I believe you changed a word. Here’s Pete’s quote.

The ATF-acetone mix has been shown to outperform many commercial penetrating oils in tests, requiring significantly less

Out performs “Many “ not “Any “!
Personally I don’t think it’s very good or even close to Howes Penetrant and I have never seen a test comparing the two.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

Howes Penetrant is way above the the 50/50 mix and all your parts house penetrants.