mm wrote:
On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:46:44 -0500, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

mm writes:

....
Liquid Wrench is just a petroleum distillate of about kerosene weight.
....

Well, it's not "just" kerosene, it's a mixture with naptha-like
fractions for its penetrating ability. Kerosene or diesel alone don't
have the lower viscosity and reduced surface tension to penetrate
nearly as well. It definitely has some beneficial effects. One could,
of course, make their own blend, but the packaging in aerosols is one
beneficial result altho OP was apparently looking for the liquid.
Here's Section II of the MSDS which, of course, never gives away the
entire secret, but certainly gives a clue as to what is in any
product...

Liquid Wrench MSDS Chemical Makeup Info

CAS No. Chemical Name % Range
64742525 Naphthenic Petroleum Distillate 40 - 60
8008206 Petroleum Base Oil 40 - 60

I won't argue w/ the other poster that some more recent entrants may be
more effective (Kroil was mentioned, so here is the data from the MSDS
for it as well. More stuff, w/ some other trace ingredients, but
interestingly (yet not _too_ surprising) the two primary ingredients
are essentially the same...

Liquid Wrench MSDS Chemical Makeup Info

CAS No. % Range Chemical Name
64742-46-7 30%- 50% Petroleum Base Oil
78-92-2 1% - 10% Aliphatic Petroleum Distillate
64742-95-6 1% - 10% Petroleum Solvent
111-76-2 1% - 10% Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Solvent
1% - 20% Proprietary Mixture
64742-47-8 20%-40% Petroleum Naptha
123-42-2 1% - 10% Hydrocarbon Solvent