Penetrating oil, also known as penetrating fluid, is very low-viscosity oil. It can be used to free rusted mechanical parts (such as nuts and bolts) so that they can be removed, because it can penetrate into the narrow space between the threads of two parts. It can also be used as a general-purpose lubricant, a cleaner, or a corrosion stopper. Using penetrating fluids as general-purpose lubricants is not advisable, because such oils are relatively volatile. As a result, much of the penetrating oil will evaporate in a short amount of time, leaving little residual lubricant. However, this is not true of certain formulations (such as WD-40) which contain a non-volatile lubricating component.
Other uses include: removing chewing gum and adhesive stickers, lessening friction on metal-stringed musical instruments, displacing moisture on and within electrical ignition systems, various gardening purposes and household repair tasks.
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Famous quotes containing the words penetrating and/or oil:
“Life is very narrow. Bring any club or company of intelligent men together again after ten years, and if the presence of some penetrating and calming genius could dispose them to frankness, what a confession of insanities would come up!”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“I became increasingly anarchistic. I began to find people of my own class vicious, people in clean collars uninteresting. I even accepted smells, personal as well as official. Everyone who came to the studio smelled either of machine oil or herring.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)