Let me start by admitting something: This will be less a review and more like a full-throated endorsement of PB B'laster, the magical magnetic penetrating solvent that breaks loose stuck lugnuts or rusted TPMS valve stems like nothing else on the planet. I used PB in my shop for 10 years, and it proved capable of dealing with problems that simply laughed off the efforts of any other penetrating oil or mixture.
PB B'laster is the brainchild of William Westley, a successful entrepreneur who retired in 1955 at the age of 38 and unretired in 1957. “An avid Lake Erie boater, Westley discovered that flat head marine engines have a lubrication problem that causes major mechanical problems. He developed an oil additive that collects moisture in oil, stops foaming, decarbonizes the engine and includes a high-pressure additive.”
Westley also invented PB B'laster the same year, and the Westley's company became known as B'laster.. Designed to deal with heavy phosphate corrosion in mining equipment, PB combines a petroleum-based solvent that cuts through rust and corrosion, a magnetic penetrating oil that pulls itself between surfaces, and a lasting rust inhibitor into what is quite probably the best penetrating lubricant known to humankind.
If that sounds like I've joined the PB Pod People, well it turns out I have. I've been talking to service managers and installers all over for an upcoming TPMS article, and whenever I ask about their secret weapon for badly corroded, fragile TPMS parts that stick, they all say the same thing:
“A little PB B'laster, let it sit and just work it out, as opposed to one good pull...”
“We were able to take PB B'laster and basically just soak the living heck out of the area where they're stuck together... they were able to break free if you move it slowly.”
“We got the PB one off, and then we had to clean the [other lubricant] off and use PB on it to get it.”
Here's how to use it best:
Soak It: Don't be stingy. Wet down the whole lugnut, concentrating on the thread areas. You want it pooled up, not misted on. Simply wipe off overspray. The petroleum solvents in PB can damage rubber if left in contact with it for a long time, but as B'laster points out, the solvents will evaporate before being in contact with a tire for anywhere near long enough to cause damage. Smaller rubber parts like TPMS gaskets, however, should always be replaced after using PB, but then they should be replaced anyway.
Wait: Give it 10 or even 15 minutes or more for badly corroded parts. Imagine the little molecules pulling themselves between stuck threads and dissolving the rust, lubricating the surfaces nanometers at a time.
Work It: You want to start by just wiggling the threads back and forth a bit, to work the PB deeper in. With lugnuts, a couple of shots back and forth with an impact wrench may help. If the piece still feels particularly stuck, follow up with a second shot of PB and a bit more time. When you're ready to apply real pressure, the same principle applies and this is where what we call “mechanic's feel” comes into play. You want to give it slow pressure in pulses rather than one mighty pull, feeling for the threads starting to slip without giving it enough torque to break the piece.
Whether you're in a professional shop or a home garage, you're going to want some PB B'laster to break loose rusted lugnuts, TPMS parts or any other kind of stuck threads, especially when corrosion is an issue. Ask for it by name.
PB B'laster is the brainchild of William Westley, a successful entrepreneur who retired in 1955 at the age of 38 and unretired in 1957. “An avid Lake Erie boater, Westley discovered that flat head marine engines have a lubrication problem that causes major mechanical problems. He developed an oil additive that collects moisture in oil, stops foaming, decarbonizes the engine and includes a high-pressure additive.”
Westley also invented PB B'laster the same year, and the Westley's company became known as B'laster.. Designed to deal with heavy phosphate corrosion in mining equipment, PB combines a petroleum-based solvent that cuts through rust and corrosion, a magnetic penetrating oil that pulls itself between surfaces, and a lasting rust inhibitor into what is quite probably the best penetrating lubricant known to humankind.
If that sounds like I've joined the PB Pod People, well it turns out I have. I've been talking to service managers and installers all over for an upcoming TPMS article, and whenever I ask about their secret weapon for badly corroded, fragile TPMS parts that stick, they all say the same thing:
“A little PB B'laster, let it sit and just work it out, as opposed to one good pull...”
“We were able to take PB B'laster and basically just soak the living heck out of the area where they're stuck together... they were able to break free if you move it slowly.”
“We got the PB one off, and then we had to clean the [other lubricant] off and use PB on it to get it.”
Here's how to use it best:
Soak It: Don't be stingy. Wet down the whole lugnut, concentrating on the thread areas. You want it pooled up, not misted on. Simply wipe off overspray. The petroleum solvents in PB can damage rubber if left in contact with it for a long time, but as B'laster points out, the solvents will evaporate before being in contact with a tire for anywhere near long enough to cause damage. Smaller rubber parts like TPMS gaskets, however, should always be replaced after using PB, but then they should be replaced anyway.
Wait: Give it 10 or even 15 minutes or more for badly corroded parts. Imagine the little molecules pulling themselves between stuck threads and dissolving the rust, lubricating the surfaces nanometers at a time.
Work It: You want to start by just wiggling the threads back and forth a bit, to work the PB deeper in. With lugnuts, a couple of shots back and forth with an impact wrench may help. If the piece still feels particularly stuck, follow up with a second shot of PB and a bit more time. When you're ready to apply real pressure, the same principle applies and this is where what we call “mechanic's feel” comes into play. You want to give it slow pressure in pulses rather than one mighty pull, feeling for the threads starting to slip without giving it enough torque to break the piece.
Whether you're in a professional shop or a home garage, you're going to want some PB B'laster to break loose rusted lugnuts, TPMS parts or any other kind of stuck threads, especially when corrosion is an issue. Ask for it by name.
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