Have you heard of Valera? We have heard and even know him a little closer than you do, because VMPAUTO invited us to closed testing of the same Valera master lubricant and we are ready to share the test results with you "without cuts".
Valera, according to his "parents", is surprisingly talented. The St. Petersburg company OOO, a developer and manufacturer, immodestly declares that his talents are multifaceted! It simultaneously "penetrates, lubricates and protects against corrosion" - promising for a single mid-range bottle.
“Valera” is sincerely loved and, perhaps, out of great love they are over-praised: he is strong in mathematics, and plays the violin, and a weight as heavy as a feather ....
Therefore, we tear off the "" from the parents and send it to the Russian State University of Oil and Gas (NII) named after I.M. Gubkin - the famous Moscow "kerosene". Let professionals deal with Valeria's talents, true or imaginary. So that "Valera" does not get bored alone, he was chosen a sparring partner - a popular penetrating tool. After all, consumers compare it out of habit with this popular favorite. Let's check...
"Valera" soulful
The first and most important property for any tool that we used to call a "liquid key" is penetrating power. The speed and success of our work, and sometimes its cost, depend on how deeply and how quickly the lubricant penetrates. "Liquid keys" help to unscrew the part faster and without damage.
Therefore, we are one of the first to test the penetrating ability of the master lubricant.
We take two steel plates, tighten these plates with a bolt and seal the structure from three sides. We spray our funds into the fourth hole and in a minute we disassemble the structure. The inner surface of the plates is pre-coated with chalk, so the grease that has penetrated into the joint is clearly visible.
Both lubricants penetrated, but with different results. penetrated to the full depth, but the coverage area is lower than in sample No. 2. The standard tells us that the second sample worked more effectively in this test. At the same time, the second agent reached the lower segment of the plate in a smaller volume. However, in general, the results can be interpreted as positive. In practice, everything will depend on the duration of the soaking of the compound in the lubricant.
Burnt spark plugs? Drilling them can cost thousands of dollars and many hours of work. Periodic cold treatment of spark plugs for three to five days before replacement softens the oxides and allows you to unscrew the spark plugs in one go without loss.
Slippery "Valera"
We pass from "theoretical" exercises to harsh life practice. We unscrew the rusty nuts! After all, this is the most popular application for penetrating lubricants.
We tightened the nuts with the same torque of 62.4 Nm and then corroded the joints. We got such absolutely identical nodes of 3 pcs. for each remedy.
Samples treated with 26 Nm, 27 Nm and 29 Nm were untwisted. At the same time, samples treated with a popular tool could only be disassembled with a force of 32 Nm, 37 Nm and 40 Nm. The difference is significant. Turns out getting in is half the battle. It's all about lubrication.
Evgeny Ilyin (a researcher at LLC): “Yes, ordinary kerosene penetrates quickly. But "Valera" does not just soak a layer of rust. The organic rust modifier in the composition actively transforms the corrosion layer, while the synthetic base and antifriction additives reduce friction in the joint.”
Let other drugs penetrate somewhat better. According to the complex of properties, "Valera" is more optimal. Really "penetrates" and "facilitates".
"Valera" pulls rubber
You suffered, for example, with a ball joint nut. A liter of "liquid" key was exhausted, but still unscrewed! A month later, the CV joint crunched. They climbed to look, and its rubber cover fell apart into pieces ... It was their own fault - they poured penetrating lubricant without looking back anywhere. That's where she got the rubber. And most penetrating lubricants are aggressive to rubber. This is the flip side of their high penetrating power.
We test preparations for compatibility with rubber parts.
Here, the developers had special hopes for the master lubricant. Because they knew for sure that they would not let you down. It, unlike the "liquid keys", has a composition based on synthetic oil and special solvents, which have a lesser effect on rubber. Let's see how the week-long holding of rubber samples in the penetrating composition and Valera master lubricant ended.
In a conventional penetrating lubricant, the rubber became very swollen, became soft and lost its elasticity. But bathing in the master lubricant, if it changed the characteristics of the rubber, then very slightly. "Valera" can safely water silent blocks, pillows and other anthers!
On this device, calibrated rubber strips were pulled to break and the elasticity and breaking force were evaluated. Verdict: Valera treatment had little effect on these rubber properties. But the penetrating lubricant made the rubber samples unusable - they were torn at a minimum elongation and with a minimum effort.
On this device, calibrated rubber strips were pulled to break and the elasticity and breaking force were evaluated. Verdict: Valera treatment had little effect on these rubber properties. But the penetrating lubricant made the rubber samples unusable - they were torn at a minimum elongation and with a minimum effort.
"Valera" all-rounder
Do you know the difference between champion sprinters and champion decathletes? The latter are developed much more harmoniously, but in certain types they are, of course, inferior to narrow specialists. So are lubricants and other preparations: there are special penetrating ones, there are anti-creak ones, there are rust converters. All of them are designed for specific tasks and have a narrow scope. - quite a successful attempt to create a universal lubricant with ample opportunities. From locks to silent blocks, from threads to elements of the brake system. And also the fight against soured compounds and the conversion of rust, which we did not have time to talk about today.
The tests are over, the skeptics are discouraged ... Well, what are you, "Valera"? Still you work!
The penetrating lubricant that we will talk about is many times superior to the most common WD-40 tool, which everyone loves to use when unscrewing old, rusted bolts and nuts.
Very often, when trying to unscrew a rusted threaded connection, we fail and the bolt breaks. This is not so scary if it has free access and is easy to replace. But our life is not devoid of irony, and on an evil occasion, scrapping occurs in the most inaccessible place. Or a place where the stud breaks at the root and, apart from drilling a hole, there is no other way out.
To avoid such cases, or to extremely minimize this result, a proprietary lubricant was developed.
Everything was learned through experience.
The first recipe for a powerful penetrating lubricant
This option is great for heavily rusted parts.The composition is this:
- White spirit - 50 gr.
- Dry lubricant, type Forum - 5 gr. Another one is also suitable - graphite, molybdenum, etc.
- Rust converter, such as Zinkar, Zinkor, etc. - 50 gr.
Making a penetrating lubricant
Pour white spirit into a container.
Then add dry lubricant.
And a rust converter.
Mix everything well and pour into a spray bottle.
Testing on a friction machine.
The result is that the shaft of the machine could not be slowed down with a load on the lever above 11 kg! Although the purchased WD-40 made the shaft stop already at 4 kg of effort.
Now let's test a homemade penetrating lubricant in real conditions. Clamp the rusty stud with the bolt in a vise. Spray with lubricant. The reaction will immediately be visible, since the composition contains a rust converter that will react to corrosion.
And as a result, the nut is very easily unscrewed.
The secret of such a lubricant is simple: Rust converter corrodes rust, white spirit promotes good penetration, and solid lubricant has a good lubricating effect. As a result, our goal is achieved - the nut is unscrewed, the stud is intact.
But this miracle lubricant also has its drawbacks: it must be shaken each time before use. Also, particles of dry lubricant can clog in the spray nozzle.
Well, it is desirable to make such a composition in small quantities and only before use, since the properties after prolonged storage, in my opinion, are significantly lost.
The second recipe for a powerful do-it-yourself penetrating lubricant
The second composition is more stable and is designed to radically reduce friction in threaded assemblies during their unwinding.Compound:
- White spirit solvent, 646 - 50 gr.
- Waterproof grease, graphite, Zelenka type - 5 gr.
- Anti-friction additive Prolong - 10 gr.
Then pour in the solvent.
Stir until the lubricant is completely dissolved in the solvent.
We add an additive.
Mix everything well again and pour into a spray bottle.
Comparative test in real conditions with WD-40
Clamp the rusty bracket with nuts in a vise. Spray with WD-40 first. Let's make a turn so that the lubricant gets into the thread. Next, take a torque wrench and measure the force.
Initial force without lubrication - 56 N/m. With WD-40, the force was just over 42 N/m. Lubricant from its own composition showed a force much less than 42 N / m. But it was not possible to measure below, since the key does not allow - the scale has ended. But it feels like the effort applied to unscrew it is significantly lower.
As you can see, such homemade lubricants work great and easily outperform the available purchased counterparts. So friends, make your composition and you will forget about broken bolts and keys! For more detailed lubricant production and detailed testing and recommendations, see the video clip.
For a comparative test, we took five products: Nanoprotech, WD-40, "Liquid Key" from Runway, LV-40 from Lavr and "Valera" from VMPAUTO. We will not divide them by cost - they all cost about the same, and their cost varies in different stores within the margin of error. Although the volumes differ almost twice.
We will compare all these products according to various parameters. I will say right away: the evaluation of the results of some of the experiments will be somewhat subjective, since some things simply cannot be evaluated in numbers. But we definitely measure something in the laboratory.
So, what parameters will we compare? We will test these products for volatility, ability to withstand frost (remain fluid), evaluate their effect on rubber, lubrication properties and the effect on corrosion. I will say a few words about each of these characteristics.
Evaporation is a somewhat controversial characteristic. It cannot be said that the agent that will evaporate first or last is the best. Too fast evaporation indicates too much volatile components (primarily solvents and kerosene), too slow - an excess of conventional oil, which is added to increase lubricity. It would seem, what's wrong with oil? It turns out that excess oil for the “liquid key” is also not very good. The oil increases the viscosity of the product, reducing its penetrating power. In other words, a tool that is too viscous simply cannot seep into the thread and help unscrew the rusty nut. Based on this, we will give preference to the agent, the volatility of which will be somewhere in the middle of our list. So to speak, it will maintain a balance between lubricating and penetrating abilities.
There is no need to remind that the “liquid key” should work in cold weather. This is especially true for those who like to splash “Vedashka” into the frozen lock of their car. This really often helps, but ... However, we'll talk about this below. Here it is easier to determine the leader: what will remain fluid longer during freezing will win.
The degree of impact on rubber is, oddly enough, one of the most important characteristics. A rare detail in the car does without the use of rubber seals. Cables, seals, hoses, belts, some elements of the suspension, brake system - all this is made of rubber and is lubricated. Somewhere from a creak, somewhere from cracking, and somewhere along with the main mechanism. However, few people think that “liquid keys” interact very actively with rubber, changing many of its characteristics. Perhaps the experiment with anthers turned out to be the most obvious.
We will evaluate the lubricating properties on a friction machine. It is clear that the better they are, the more we will rate the tool. By the way, all manufacturers claim that their products are good lubricants. As it turned out, they are very cunning.
The last test is also quite clear, although extremely simple. Here it will be just interesting for us to see what will happen to the rusty piece of iron after processing by each of the means.
Before proceeding to the experiments, let's evaluate the packaging of each product. All of them are aerosols, and there are no cardinal differences between them. WD-40 traditionally pleases with a tube-nozzle, which other cartridges do not have. True, everyone knows that it usually turns out to use this tube once: it is not glued back with adhesive tape, but it is easily lost. But still, with it you can splash where you need it, and not where you need it, and even a meter around.
There is something similar in "Valera". True, this is not a separate tube, but its embryo on the valve. Well, this is also quite convenient, although you won’t be able to get somewhere deep into the mechanism.
Well, we note the packaging of Runway. There, manufacturers have not decided how long their product will be absorbed into the compound. A few minutes, hours, days or years...
Evaporation
So, let's start with the first experiment. To do this, we take Petri dishes, weigh them empty and pour approximately 5 g of liquids into each.
At the same time, you can pay attention to the color of each tool. The first (this is Nanoprotech) has a color hinting at a significant oil content. The fourth sample (LV-40) also turns a little yellow, all the rest are almost colorless.
We will speed up the evaporation process by sending all samples to the oven, setting the temperature to 50°C and the time to 3.5 hours. After - pull out and re-weigh. I will not give all the boring figures, I will only announce the final ones. They are shown in the table.
Nanoprotech and LV-40 surprised the most. The first is a very large percentage of the evaporated share. Apparently, there are too many volatile fractions. But the LV-40 (however, like the Runway) volatility was too low. Perhaps their penetrating power will not be very large. But the performance of WD-40 and Valera matched, and they can be considered the best.
Freeze test
And now we will lock our Petri dishes with all the means in the freezer. It is clear that if you freeze to -70 degrees, then everything will freeze. We will not do this, but we will check how the liquids behave at a completely achievable winter temperature of -30 C. The freezing time is 15 minutes.
What can I say ... Personally, I will never again try to defrost something with a “Vedashka”. Let's see what could leak after fifteen minutes in the cold.
The first and second samples - Nanoprotech and WD-40 - were frozen solid.
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The third sample - we had Runway - at least a little, but it dripped.
The fourth - LV-40 - also retained a little ability to flow, although it thickened very noticeably.
But “Valera” turned out to be cold at all, it didn’t even really thicken. The synthetic basis of the product makes itself felt.
Think very carefully before you try to splash something into the castle in the cold! Yes, in the first second, even WD-40 will be able to melt the ice, and you will open the lock. But after the evaporation of volatile components, this liquid will freeze, depriving the lock mechanism of mobility.
impact on rubber
The next test, it seems to me, is one of the most interesting. Some experienced craftsmen and official services use “liquid wrenches” to lubricate the caliper guides by simply moving the anther. So less work and labor costs. But what happens to rubber from exposure to such agents? It turns out that this procedure does not bring any benefit to them at all, from the word “completely”.
We take five cups and fill them with our liquids. By the way, the Runway cylinder is under such pressure that it turned out to be very difficult to do this. But accuracy, perseverance and childish curiosity prevailed.
We lower one brake caliper boot from Mercedes into each container, after which we send them all to the oven. We will not heat strongly, only up to 50 ° C. We do not have a goal to weld them, just at an elevated temperature the process will go a little faster. By the way, even these 50 ° C - the temperature is quite achievable, the calipers heat up much more. The limit for guides is usually around 200 ° C.
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Three hours later we take out our samples and are surprised.
Almost all the anthers have added great volume. The sample that was in the LV-40 liquid from Lavr was especially successful in this. For comparison, here it is next to the new boot from the box.
By and large, this is not at all the size that is provided by the manufacturer. This means that it will no longer protect and seal, water, road reagents and dirt will begin to get under it. It threatens that the guide will simply rust to the bracket, and the caliper will jam. In addition, after absorbing so much funds, it softened noticeably. Such excessive elasticity leads to a loss of strength, that is, to rupture. And then - again pollution, corrosion and a wedge of the entire assembly. However, what did the others show? The anther, which had lain in Nanoprotech products, suffered quite a bit from the impact of the composition. And the anther, which visited the "Valera", remained unchanged at all. So here the winner can be unequivocally determined (this is the same "Valera"), second place - for Nanoprotech, third - for WD-40, fourth - for Runway. The ugly LV-40 from Lavr failed the test with shame and became the fifth.
Lubricating properties
And now let's go in for sports - we will pull the handle of the friction machine, thereby trying to stop its roller. Yes, strength and, perhaps, accuracy are needed here - our device is very original. Factory friction machines don't allow you to test anything other than engine oils, so we put together our own device. However, it is suitable for comparing compositions.
It works simply. The machine has a pair of friction - a roller and a fixed metal wedge. The wedge is brought to the roller by the handle and presses it until the electric motor stops completely. Attached to the end of the handle is an ordinary steelyard, which in kilograms measures the force required to stop the motor.
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This design, ingenious in its simplicity, of course, does not give any absolute figures. But she can measure the difference between the friction force in a pair quite accurately. Well, we don't need more. Let's get started.
First, we measure the force at which it will be possible to stop the roller without lubrication at all. It turns out 2.2 kg.
Now we begin to take all the funds in turn, apply them to the roller and check at what effort on the lever the friction will stop the roller. The higher the number, the better. This means that the liquid from the spray can lubricate.
Nanoprotech is the first to be tested. And immediately shows a very decent result - 7.1 kg.
But, to be honest, this figure does not give us a damn thing, because everything is known in comparison. Therefore, we remove the remnants of Nano protech from the roller and apply WD-40. This tool, as it turned out, almost does not lubricate at all - 3.1 kg
Runway turned out to be not much better - 3.4 kg.
LV-40 showed a result even lower than the previous means - exactly 3 kg.
But “Valera” here again turned out to be the leader - 8.9 kg.
What conclusions can be drawn? Valera turned out to be the most “slippery type”, who copes well with lubrication. Nanoprotech also showed itself well, but the rest of the products are not given to lubricate by nature.
Impact on corrosion
Here we will conduct two experiments at once. They are not complicated, but quite visual. The first one will show us how the remedy can eliminate corrosion, the second - how to prevent it.
To begin with, let's take five identical rusty bolts with nuts and process them with our aerosols.
Now let's leave our bolts for an hour, after which we will check what happened to us with rust.
There will be no measurements here, so we arm ourselves only with visual acuity and look at what happened.
Nanoprotech left a layer of oil, under which rust remained. He simply moistened it without stopping the process of further destruction of the metal.
But WD-40 softened the plaque, but it really could not remove this unpleasant redhead.
Means Runway practically in front of our eyes glass on the table. The bolt, as it was rusty, remained.
The LV-40 didn't really do anything with the rust either.
And "Valera" not only eliminated rust visually, but also covered the surface with a modifier layer that prevents future corrosion. At least that's what the manufacturer promises. By the way, oily sheen is a lubricating component that is so necessary to shake off a classic stuck bolt.
The second part of the experiment with corrosion is as follows. We take six metal plates and degrease them. At five, we apply funds, after which we drip a drop of water. The sixth plate is a control one, we do not process it with anything, but immediately drip H2O onto it.
We wait a couple of hours and see what happens.
Corrosion is visible on the control plate. The remaining samples equally prevented the development of corrosion. But it is worth noting that only "Valera" caused the formation of a protective layer on the record, which visually seems more reliable.
What else has been done and what has not been done?
Of course, I would very much like to check the real penetrating ability, but where can you find five absolutely identical rusted joints that were once twisted with the same force? They do not exist in nature. To paraphrase Tolstoy, I will say that all new bolts are equally new, and each one rusts in its own way. It is possible that penetrating abilities will be able to be evaluated in practice, through their own “rake”, by twisting more than one thousand bolts with these tools, but all the same, the results will have to be averaged.
We will give the first place to "Valera", the second - to Nanoprotech, which froze surprisingly quickly and severely. The third place will go to Runway, the fourth - WD-40. In fact, they're very close, so it's possible to be even, although the Runway lubricates a little better. The last place is occupied by LV-40, which almost does not freeze, but professionally destroys rubber products.
And so, what is a “Liquid Key” or penetrating lubricants and what are they for? With rusted bolts or nuts, which are sometimes simply impossible to unscrew without breaking it, all motorists who prefer to independently repair and maintain their car have probably encountered. And if earlier craftsmen used folk remedies to solve this problem, wetting them with brake fluid, kerosene or turpentine, now penetrating lubricant has come to their aid. Recently, a completely new product has appeared on the market: http://uni-m.com.ru universal grease EFELE UNI-M Spray, which surpasses all analogues below in its characteristics. Thanks to this, the universal hybrid lubricant EFELE UNI-M Spray finds more than 100 applications, and is the market leader in penetrating lubricants.
Reasons for the popularity of penetrating lubricants
Having first appeared on the market, this tool very quickly gained recognition, not only among motorists, but also simply in everyday life. Why this happened is due to several reasons, first of all, of course, ease of use. After all, the penetrating lubricant itself is placed in a spray can, and it is convenient to use it, processing the desired part, without getting your hands dirty. For hard-to-reach places, a tube is specially provided, which is put on the nozzle of the can. With its help, hidden elements of nodes and mechanisms are processed, for example, door locks.
Another reason is its versatility: displacing moisture, softening and removing rust, creating an anti-corrosion protective film on the treated surface.
Lubricant penetrating WD-40
Perhaps the most famous representative of such sprays is the universal penetrating lubricant WD-40 or “Vedashka”, as it was nicknamed by the people. It was developed more than half a century ago in the United States, but continues to be at the peak of popularity, however, due to successful marketing rather than its characteristics. So what is the legendary "Vedeshka"?
Composition of WD-40
Officially, the manufacturer continues to keep the composition of the liquid a secret, although in fact this secret has long been revealed: a mixture of white spirit (petroleum solvent) and paraffin distillate. Moreover, from the moment of its creation and up to the present day, this lubricant has not undergone practically any changes, except for the addition of flavors to its composition, and from time to time changing packaging.
For the sake of justice, it should be noted that the WD-40 penetrating lubricant is primarily a water displacer, as evidenced by its name: WD - Water Displacement. But the manufacturer also attributes to it anti-corrosion and protective properties. Nevertheless, it is not worth delving into this.
Disadvantages and advantages of "Vedashki"
The main problem of "vedeshka" is that the petroleum distillates that make up it really form a protective film on the treated surface, but it is so thin that it evaporates very quickly. In this regard, corrosion protection turns out to be short-term, and the lubricating properties of WD-40, which is positioned by sellers as a penetrating lubricant, are virtually absent.
In addition, the practical experience of using the “weed” has revealed another unpleasant moment: after removing moisture, it contributes to its rapid adsorption from the surrounding air, which again leads to the formation and development of corrosion. And also do not forget that while processing is in progress, the remnants of the lubricant that was in it earlier are also washed out. Therefore, after using this fluid, the mechanism must be lubricated with oil.
But, one way or another, the “weed” really penetrates well even into complex mechanisms, while freeing rusted parts. In addition, WD-40 is excellent at cleaning a wide variety of stains, including black shoe marks and hard-to-wash marker, as well as grease, adhesive residue and bituminous stains.
Possible alternative to WD-40
Of course, Vedeshka, despite its shortcomings, is able to help out in a difficult situation, but this is not the only penetrating lubricant offered on the market.
Unisma-1 is a product developed by domestic chemists back in the Soviet period as a counterweight to WD-40. Moreover, in some properties, it is not only not inferior to the famous competitor, but also surpasses it. However, Unisma-1 also inherited the shortcomings inherent in American grease. Therefore, both liquids can hardly be called multifunctional, and their use is mainly reduced to facilitating the dismantling of parts damaged by rust.
But Molykote Multigliss, a universal penetrating lubricant, can be said to fully comply with this definition. In it, the manufacturer tried to get rid of the shortcomings inherent in the above lubricants.
In addition to high penetrating power and rapid softening of rust, this liquid displaces moisture and at the same time does not allow it to be adsorbed on the surface. And due to the fact that inhibitors were introduced into its composition, Molykote Multigliss continues to protect the part from corrosion after application.
The lubricating film formed on the surface effectively reduces the wear that occurs during friction, while it is quite durable and retains its inherent properties for a long time.
Lubricant universal penetrating WD-40
Thus, the manufacturing company - Dow Corning, really managed to create a multifunctional product.
Another tool that is also considered quite effective, and, importantly, relatively inexpensive, is called EFELE UNI-M Spray.
A feature of this product is that, penetrating into the assembly, it does not flow out from there, forming not just a film, but a whole lubricating layer capable of withstanding various loads and preventing the formation of corrosion.
The anti-wear properties of UNI-M Spray are enhanced by the addition of anti-friction fillers to its composition. And inhibitors protect against rust.
What to choose?
It is difficult to give an unequivocal answer to this question. In addition, the penetrating liquids discussed above are just a small example of what you can buy in the store today. In fact, their selection is huge. One thing is clear, there are substitutes for such a popular WD-40 that work much better than this fluid.
In the end, if you only need to unscrew a rusty bolt, you can do without special mixtures, but try to do it with the help of folk remedies: vinegar essence or Coca-Cola, which contains orthophosphoric acid. Both of them do an excellent job with corrosion. By the way, it is phosphoric acid that manufacturers use in the manufacture of many rust converters that are used to treat car bodies.
In general, before going to the store for a “liquid key”, as penetrating lubricants are also called by the people, you should decide whether it is really needed to perform the work that is planned to be done or you can get by with what is at hand.
Allows you to loosen nuts, bolts or other rusted threaded connections. As a rule, they are produced in the form of liquids or aerosols. The choice of a particular product is based on its composition, ease of use, efficiency, price, packaging volume, and so on. A liquid key for a car is desirable for all vehicle owners, since situations where a screwed connection cannot be unscrewed can happen unexpectedly. In addition, the mentioned tool can be used in everyday life, for example, when repairing household or various auxiliary equipment.
How liquid key works
Regardless of the aggregate form (liquid or aerosol) in which the mentioned agent is implemented, its main task is to dissolve the rust formed in the thread, thereby giving the opportunity to unscrew it. Accordingly, when a liquid car key is applied to the surface of a part near the thread, the liquid flows inside, and under the influence of the chemical compounds contained in the composition, iron oxides and other metals are destroyed, as well as banal dried debris and dirt.
However, when choosing the best liquid key, you need to pay attention to additional factors. In particular, the tool must have as much penetrating power as possible. It depends on how deep the reagent gets into the metal compound and what contact area it treats. The second factor is composition efficiency. It directly depends on the chemical compounds used in it. The third is a protective function. It is desirable that after processing the surface with a product, a protective film remains on it. It is needed to provide lubricating properties, as well as the further formation of corrosion. By the way, such means can pretreat threaded connections so that in the future there will be no problems with their unscrewing. Often, a liquid key with molybdenum disulfide is used for these purposes.
liquid key rating
On the Internet, you can find a large number of different drugs designed to help loosen rusted nuts. However, not all of them are equally effective, and besides, they differ in ease of use and price. This section contains information that will allow you to choose the best liquid key, based not only on its description, but also on real tests and comparisons with analogues. In addition, the choice of one or another means often depends on logistics, since different compositions can be sold on the shelves in different regions of the country. The tests were carried out on rusted bolts with a nut with a diameter of 12 mm. The moment of unscrewing was monitored after 3 minutes of exposure to the applied agent using a torque wrench. The initial force was taken to be about 11 kgf m.
| Tool name | Torque, kgf m | Aggregate state and description | Package volume, ml | Price as of the beginning of 2018, rub |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,76 | Aerosol. Professional rust remover. | 100; 250 | 150; 200 | |
| 8,54 | Aerosol. Multipurpose grease for moisture displacement, corrosion protection, rust dissolution. | 300 | 440 | |
| Agat-Auto "Master-Key" | 8,76 | Aerosol. Penetrating lubricant. Protects against corrosion and dissolves rust. | 350 | 120 |
| 8,96 | Aerosol. A penetrating universal remedy. | 200; 400 | 260; 400 | |
| 9,08 | Aerosol. Rust converter with molybdenum sulfate. | 300 | 300 | |
| WD-40 | no data | Aerosol. Universal lubricant. | 100; 200; 300; 400 | 170; 210; 320; 400 |
| Felix | no data | Aerosol. Multifunctional penetrating lubricant. | 210; 400 | 150; 300 |
| Lavr ("Laurel") | 6,17 | Spray. Penetrating lubrication (there is an option with a trigger). | 210; 330; 400; 500 | 200 (for 330 ml) |
| no data | Aerosol. Liquid key. | 443 | 400 | |
| 10,68 | Aerosol. Liquid key with molybdenum disulfide. Tool for unscrewing rusted parts | 335 | 100 |
The following is a detailed description of all these tools with their advantages, disadvantages and some features. We hope that based on the information provided, it will be easier for you to make a choice.
If you have had experience using liquid wrench penetrating lubricant, please comment below this material. By doing so, you will help other car owners.
It is positioned as a professional tool for use in cases where threaded pairs are strongly stuck to each other. Therefore, it can be used not only in private garages, but also at professional service stations. Real tests of the product showed that it really has the declared characteristics. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the small size of the spout, which is why it is sometimes difficult to get to remote parts. Also, a liquid key is a bit expensive.
It is sold in two types of packages - 100 ml and 250 ml. Their price is respectively 150 and 200 rubles.
This tool is a universal "7 in 1" type. So, it is positioned as a composition for protecting against moisture, protecting the electrical system of a car, dissolving rust, protecting surfaces from corrosion, and also as a lubricant. Multi-Spray Plus 7 can be used in professional workshops as a liquid wrench or universal tool. The only drawback is the high cost.
Sold in a 300 ml bottle. Its article number is 3304. The price of such a liquid key is 440 rubles.
Agat-Auto "Master-Key"
This is a domestic penetrating lubricant produced by Agat-Avto LLC. According to manufacturers and test results, it can be argued that the product facilitates unscrewing threaded connections, lubricates surfaces, eliminates creaking, removes moisture, protects and cleans plastic and rubber surfaces, prevents corrosion, and dissolves technical contamination.
The disadvantages of the tool include the fact that the spray tube is attached to the balloon with an elastic band, so it is easy to lose it. The second drawback is the unpleasant odor that the drug has.
It is sold in a 350 ml bottle, the price of which is 120 rubles.
It is a penetrating agent commonly used in various parts of the car. Designed to displace moisture, protect the electrical system of the machine, dissolve rust and prevent its further occurrence, as well as lubricate. The manufacturer positions this tool rather as a universal one.
A positive feature of the cylinder is the reliable fastening of the spout with a bracket. The fragrance is added to the composition of the product, so it is pleasant to work with it. As practice shows, Liqui Moly LM-40 can be used not only in car components, but also for domestic purposes (for example, when repairing or dismantling any equipment).
It is sold in two types of cylinders - 200 ml and 400 ml. Their article numbers are 8048 and 3391, and the prices are 260 and 400 rubles, respectively.
This product is a rust converter containing molybdenum sulfide. Therefore, it is extremely effective against rust. In addition, the product prevents creaking, protects surfaces from corrosion and oxidation. The composition is not aggressive to rubber, plastic and paint. Therefore, it can be used next to the corresponding parts. Some masters use Liqui Moly MOS2 Rostloser as a prophylactic. In particular, threaded connections are treated with it before they are tightened.
A feature of the balloon is the absence of a spout. In some cases, this makes it difficult to accurately and deeply apply the product. But despite this, the drug can be used not only at home, but also at professional service stations. Of the shortcomings, perhaps only low lubricating properties can be noted.
The liquid key is sold in a 300 ml bottle, the price of which is 300 rubles.
WD-40
This is one of the oldest and most famous multi-purpose lubricants. It is used in many car systems and in everyday life. Including as a liquid key. Lubrication eliminates creaking, displaces moisture, cleans resins, glue, grease, and reliably protects metal surfaces from corrosion.
The advantage of the tool can be called its versatility. For example, it can be used as or . Of the disadvantages of the packaging, only the fact that the tube on the spout is attached to the wall of the cylinder with adhesive tape or rubber bands can be noted. Therefore, there is a great risk of losing it over time.
The product is sold in cans of four different volumes - 100 ml, 200 ml, 300 ml and 400 ml. Their article numbers are 24142, 24153, 24154, 24155. Prices are 170, 210, 320, 400 rubles.
Felix
Felix is a universal multifunctional penetrating lubricant of domestic production. With its help, it is possible to process rusted, jammed and frozen elements of various mechanisms. After application, a reliable protective film is formed on the treated surface, which prevents further corrosion and deposits. The kit includes a tube nozzle.
The disadvantages of a liquid key include mediocre efficiency and an unpleasant odor that occurs when using it. The advantages are a relatively low price with a significant volume of the cylinder. Therefore, the tool may well be used for private purposes.
Is issued in cylinders of two volumes - 210 ml and 400 ml. Their prices are respectively 150 and 300 rubles.
Lavr ("Laurel")
Under this trademark, a liquid key is produced in four packages. Three of them are aerosols (canister volume 210, 400 and 500 ml) and a hand sprayer (volume 330 ml). The manual sprayer has two modes of operation - spraying the product with a thin jet and a wide torch. The latter option, according to manufacturers, allows you to save money and use it more efficiently.
As for his penetrating abilities, they are at an average level. Despite this, the liquid key "Laurel" may well be used in the garage and even at home as a relatively inexpensive and moderately effective tool.
The price of the mentioned cylinder with a sprayer with a volume of 330 ml is 200 rubles. Its article number is Ln1406.
The composition is also intended for lubrication of soured threaded connections. It can be used to lubricate car locks, their larvae, telescopic antennas and so on. However, together with automotive technology, it can also be used in everyday life. It contains no silicone. Produced in the USA.
Of the advantages, it is worth noting the large volume of the bottle - 443 ml, and the quality of the packaging. Of the shortcomings - the average performance. The product is more suitable for use in private garages than in professional car repair shops.
The price of the mentioned cylinder with a volume of 443 ml is 400 rubles.
This is a domestic tool for unscrewing rusted parts. In addition, a liquid key can be used to lubricate creaking hinges, springs, sticking locks, to displace moisture from electrical contacts. Unfortunately, the performance of objective tests showed that the effectiveness of the Kerry KR-940 leaves much to be desired, so it is placed in the last place in the ranking.
In addition to low efficiency, it has a couple of drawbacks. The first is the presence of an unpleasant odor. The second one - the tube for the spout is attached to the wall of the cylinder with an elastic band, so there is a high probability of losing it over time. Accordingly, the decision to purchase this tool lies entirely with the car owner and the purpose of the application.
This liquid key is sold in a 335 ml can, its price is 100 rubles, and the article is KR9403.
Additional funds
In addition to the TOP 10 liquid keys listed above, you can also find many other similar tools on store shelves at the present time. We list some of them:
If for some reason you are not satisfied with the price or quality of a particular liquid key, then such compositions can be made independently.
The composition of the liquid key is simple, so there are several simple, "folk" methods that allow you to make the mentioned tool yourself. Moreover, this does not require expensive components, and the preparation procedure is not difficult and is within the power of almost every car owner. So you will significantly save money on the purchase, while creating a liquid key, almost the same as the factory one.
There are several "folk" recipes. Let's focus on the simplest and most popular. For cooking you will need:
- kerosene;
- transmission oil;
- solvent 646;
- plastic spray bottle (with oil-resistant rubber).
The listed liquids must be mixed in a clean container in the following proportions: kerosene - 75%, gear oil - 20%, solvent - 5%. As for gear oil, in this case its brand does not really matter. The main thing is that it should not be old and clean, it should not contain impurities in the form of dirt and / or clots. Instead of solvent 646, you can use any other available to you (for example, white spirit).
However, this recipe is not the only one. For more information on how to make a liquid key, you will find in another material.
How to make a liquid key
The composition of the penetrating lubricant is quite simple: kerosene, oil and solvent. Therefore, it is better not to buy a liquid key, but to do it yourself. There are 9 working recipes that make it easy to prepare an analogue with the properties of VD-40
Instead of an afterword
We recommend that you always have a liquid key tool at your disposal. If not in the car, then definitely in the garage or at home. It will help you in the most unforeseen situations, concerning not only problems with the car, but also in everyday life. As for the choice, at present the range of these funds is quite large, and allows you to purchase an effective liquid key at an affordable price. Do not forget that purchases must be made in trusted stores in order to minimize the likelihood of buying a fake. Try not to buy a liquid key in car markets from dubious sellers. It is also an effective and inexpensive option to make the product yourself. This will allow you to save a lot, especially if you have the components listed above in your garage.
