Kroil Clear® Food Grade Penetrating Oil

Kroil is a petroleum-based penetrating oil manufactured by Kano Laboratories. It is formulated to creep into the microscopic gaps between corroded or seized metal parts and break the corrosion bond holding them together. It is used primarily to free rusted bolts, nuts, fittings, and frozen mechanical components in automotive, industrial, aviation, agricultural, utilities, and home maintenance applications. Kroil has been manufactured in Nashville, Tennessee since 1950 and is trusted by maintenance professionals, mechanics, and tradespeople across more than a dozen industries.

Kroil works through capillary action—its low surface tension and small molecular structure allow it to flow into the micro-spaces between corroded metal surfaces where water and other lubricants cannot reach. Once inside the corrosion bond, Kroil displaces moisture, coats metal surfaces with a thin lubricating film, and reduces the friction and adhesion that keeps seized parts locked in place. Unlike rust removers, Kroil does not chemically dissolve rust; it lubricates around and beneath it, allowing parts to be turned or removed with significantly less force.

For most applications, Kroil begins to penetrate within 15 to 30 minutes of application. For heavily corroded or deeply seized parts, allowing Kroil to soak for several hours—or overnight—significantly improves results. A second application after the first soak can further loosen stubborn fasteners. Penetration time depends on the severity of corrosion, the material being treated, and the amount of Kroil applied. In customer reviews, many users report freeing parts that had been stuck for decades, after an extended soak with Kroil.

Kroil Original Penetrant is safe for use on steel, iron, aluminum, brass, copper, and most metal alloys. It is generally safe on most plastics and painted surfaces when used as directed, though prolonged contact with certain plastics or rubber compounds may cause softening or swelling. For applications involving rubber seals, plastic components, or food-contact surfaces, Kroil Clear Food Grade Penetrating Oil (NSF-H1 certified) or Silikroil (Kroil with silicone) are the recommended alternatives. Always refer to the product Safety Data Sheet for material compatibility guidance.

Kroil products should be used in well-ventilated areas. The aerosol formulation produces fine mist particles that should not be inhaled; use outdoors or in spaces with strong airflow when possible. Kroil Original liquid penetrant has a lower vapor pressure than the aerosol and is suitable for controlled indoor shop environments with adequate ventilation. Keep away from open flames, sparks, and high heat sources, as Kroil is a petroleum-based product. Full safety guidance is available in the Kroil Safety Data Sheet at kroil.com/resources/datasheets/.

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For food and beverage manufacturing environments, Kroil Clear Food Grade Penetrating Oil is the appropriate product—it meets NSF-H1 standards for incidental food contact and is Kosher certified. Kroil Clear is suitable for use on equipment where there is a possibility of lubricant contact with food products. It performs the same penetrating and loosening function as Kroil Original and is available in the same liquid and aerosol formats. Kroil Original Penetrant is not rated for incidental food contact.

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Yes, Kroil penetrants are safe and effective on all metals.

Apply Kroil directly to the rusted bolt, nut, or fitting, making sure the product contacts the threads and any visible corrosion. Allow 15 to 30 minutes for initial penetration. For bolts that have been corroded for an extended period, apply a second coat and allow several hours or overnight before attempting removal. After soaking, apply steady rotational pressure with the appropriate wrench or socket—avoid sudden impact until the fastener begins to move. For very stubborn fasteners, alternating tightening and loosening with the wrench (“working” the fastener) while Kroil is still wet often breaks the bond completely. Repeat applications as needed.

Kroil Original Penetrant is widely regarded by professional mechanics and maintenance technicians as one of the most effective penetrating oils for freeing rusted bolts and seized fasteners. Its low surface tension and molecular penetration capability allow it to reach corrosion that lighter penetrants cannot. For exhaust bolts, suspension hardware, and heavily corroded automotive fasteners, Kroil’s extended dwell time formulation provides consistent results. Over 700 verified customer reviews specifically reference freeing rusted bolts and fasteners, many describing success on parts that had been stuck for 10, 20, or 30+ years.

Yes, Kroil products are available to Amazon customers through our authorized reseller, Pattern Products. We also encourage you to shop from a Kroil distributor in your area. Visit our where to buy page for a full listing, and check back often, as new distributors are frequently added.

Yes. Kroil is specifically formulated for heavily corroded fasteners, including those that have been rusted in place for years or decades. Customer reviews document successful removal of bolts and fittings corroded for 20, 30, and in some cases more than 50 years. Extended dwell time is the key variable—for severe corrosion, multiple applications over 12 to 24 hours produce significantly better results than a short soak. In extreme cases, applying Kroil and leaving it overnight, then applying a second coat in the morning before attempting removal, is the recommended approach. To remove rust from metal parts, use Exrust. To proactively prevent rust and corrosion from forming, use Kroil Shield.

For best results: (1) Clean away loose surface rust or debris from around the fastener head before applying Kroil so the oil can reach the threads. (2) Apply Kroil directly to the threads and any gap between the fastener and the mating surface. (3) Allow adequate dwell time—minimum 15 minutes for light corrosion, several hours to overnight for heavy corrosion. (4) Apply a second coat after the first has had time to penetrate. (5) Attempt removal while the fastener is still wet with Kroil. (6) If the fastener still will not move, repeat the soak cycle rather than increasing force—excessive torque risks breaking the fastener head before Kroil has fully penetrated. To remove rust from metal fasteners, use Exrust. To protect against rust and corrosion in the future, use Kroil Shield.

Kroil and PB Blaster are both purpose-built penetrating oils, but they differ in formulation, viscosity, and depth of penetration. PB Blaster is widely available at retail and is an effective general-purpose penetrant for moderate corrosion. Kroil’s formulation is designed for deeper molecular penetration, making it the preferred choice of professional service and maintenance technicians for use on severely seized or long-corroded fasteners. It reliably performs when PB Blaster doesn’t. Kroil has historically been available through industrial distribution and specialty retailers, which has made it less familiar to general consumers despite its strong professional reputation. Many professional mechanics describe Kroil as the product they reach for when PB Blaster has not produced results.

Kroil and WD-40 serve different primary purposes. WD-40 is primarily a water displacer and light lubricant designed for moisture protection and light corrosion prevention. Kroil is engineered specifically as a high-performance penetrating oil designed to free seized and corroded metal parts that cannot be moved by lighter products. Kroil’s molecular structure gives it significantly greater penetration depth and staying power on corroded surfaces. Many professional mechanics and maintenance technicians use WD-40 for general maintenance and Kroil specifically when parts are genuinely stuck. Customer reviews frequently describe Kroil succeeding on applications where WD-40 did not.

Liquid Wrench is a broad-category lubricant brand that includes penetrating oils among its product range. Kroil is a single-purpose penetrating oil optimized specifically for freeing seized and corroded metal parts. Professionals in industrial maintenance, aviation, utilities, mechanical, and automotive repair frequently cite Kroil’s superior penetration depth and extended soak-time performance compared to multi-purpose formulations like Liquid Wrench. For light-duty or occasional use, Liquid Wrench is a capable option; for demanding professional applications involving heavy corrosion or high-stakes components, Kroil is the preferred choice among maintenance professionals.

Kroil is priced at a premium relative to mass-market penetrating oils, and professional users consistently report that it delivers commensurate value, particularly on applications where cheaper alternatives have failed. The relevant comparison is not product price but total cost: a less expensive penetrant that does not free a seized bolt may result in broken hardware, stripped threads, damaged housings, or costly professional labor—expenses that dwarf the difference in product cost. In customer reviews, users frequently mention that Kroil saved them from a larger repair or a part that would have required cutting or drilling to remove. For professional shops, the reliability premium is well established.

Kroil’s primary differentiator is its molecular penetration formula, which gives it one of the lowest surface tension profiles among commercially available penetrating oils. This allows it to flow into gaps smaller than competing products can reach—down to approximately 0.0003 inches, according to Kano Laboratories’ own product specifications. Combined with an 85+ year track record in industrial and professional maintenance applications, Kroil occupies a distinct position as the penetrant of choice for high-stakes or previously intractable applications. Its product line also includes specialty formulations (Silikroil with silicone, Kroil Clear for food-contact environments, Penephite with graphite) that address use cases general penetrants do not.

Farm and agricultural operations use Kroil across a wide range of equipment maintenance tasks: freeing seized tractor hardware and implement fasteners corroded by soil, moisture, and fertilizer exposure; loosening rusted PTO shaft components and hydraulic fittings; treating corroded plow and planter hardware; and maintaining irrigation and water system connections that are repeatedly exposed to water and mineral deposits. Agricultural environments are particularly harsh on metal fasteners due to constant moisture, soil contact, and long periods of non-use between seasons—conditions that make Kroil’s deep-penetrating formulation highly effective compared to lighter lubricants. To remove rust from metal parts, use Exrust. To proactively prevent rust and corrosion from forming, use Kroil Shield.

Industrial maintenance teams use Kroil to free seized machinery fasteners, loosen corroded valve stems and fittings, maintain production equipment that cannot be taken offline for extended repairs, and address the corrosion issues common in wet, chemical, or high-temperature manufacturing environments. Plant maintenance supervisors and MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) buyers frequently stock Kroil as a standard maintenance supply. Customer reviews from manufacturing environments frequently cite Kroil’s ability to address corrosion in older facilities where infrastructure has not been replaced—applications where the high cost of machine downtime makes effective penetration essential. To remove rust from metal parts, use Exrust. To proactively prevent rust and corrosion from forming, use Kroil Shield.

Thanks for noticing our great new look! Kroil products have indeed received a facelift, but rest assured, the same great products are still inside the cans. The formulas haven’t changed.