Had to choose between penetrating oil and heat for a rusted bolt on a 98 F-150 in Phoenix

Spent 45 minutes soaking a control arm bolt with PB Blaster and it barely moved, then hit it with a torch for 30 seconds and it spun right out. Has anyone else found heat just flat out works better than any spray?

3 comments

3 Comments

harper9141mo ago

Seems like overthinking a stuck bolt to me.

phoenix_lewis1mo ago

Why not just take it one step further and ask how many people have snapped a cheap bolt and then spent the whole day drilling and extracting? I've been there more times than I can count, and it always starts with the same "it's just a bolt" attitude. A little patience and some penetrating oil on the front end saves you from buying a whole new bracket later. My neighbor bent his vise trying to muscle one out instead of just heating it first. It's basically free insurance for your tools and your time.

felix4141mo ago

You said "it's basic free insurance for your tools and your time" and honestly that's the whole thing right there. A few minutes of prep saves you from a whole day of cussing and broken drill bits. I've learned that lesson the hard way too many times to skip it anymore.