Relaxtive oil is a petroleum-based oil with a particularly thin viscosity. It is so thin that it finds the smallest gaps between metal parts and penetrates them. Because they have very low surface tension, they can seep into almost invisible crevices and, over time, loosen the metal connection, which appears as a rusted solid.

When faced with a rusty bolt, nut, or other parts that appear to have rusted together, time is the key. After spraying the fused parts with a healthy dose of penetrant, let them sit for a few hours, or even overnight, until the penetrating oil seeps in. Then use your wrenches to loosen the pieces. If they refuse to budge, hit them with another heavy dose of penetrating oil and let it sit for a few hours again and try again. Sometimes very stubborn parts can loosen if you apply heat. For example, a stuck nut heated with a heat gun will expand enough to allow your wrench to turn it. However, do not apply flame directly to parts that are still wet with oil. Penetrating oils will evaporate fairly quickly. However, remember that these are petroleum-based products and therefore they are likely to catch fire.

Relaxing oil types can be called by different names. These are Lithium Grease: A mixture of lithium hydroxide and petroleum oils. It is a true lubricant, not a penetrating oil, and works well for lubricating parts where heavy loads or pressure are present, such as hinges on heavy doors or mechanical cranks. PTFE: This name stands for polytetrafluoroethylene, but it’s really just a Teflon spray. It is very good for lubricating chains and cables. It is a great material for lubricating parts on the bike. Silicone: This is a spray lubricant that contains approximately 1.5 percent silicone suspended in other materials to allow it to be applied as a spray. Silicone lubricants repel water and work well at extremely high or low temperatures. It is also unusual in that it can be used on rubber, wood and plastic parts without leaving any stains. However, it is not designed for applications where heavy pressure will occur. Dry Lubricants: While dry lubricants come in spray form and come out moist, the solvents used to support small, dry particles, usually graphite, evaporate quickly, leaving surfaces completely dry. Dry lubricants are ideal for locks, interior hinges and drawer slides because there is no oily residue and dirt will not stick to them. However, dry lubricants do not replace water and wear out quite quickly, so they need to be reapplied regularly.

Lubrication: Relaxtive oil provides temporary lubrication to the mechanical parts it penetrates (some products contain additives in their formulas to increase the lubricating effect). It also helps reduce friction and loosens stuck parts, tight bolts and nuts. Cleaning agents: Relaxing oil can also be used as a cleaning agent. It can effectively remove tars, greases, rust and adhesives. Since it will work as a liquid solvent, it will dissolve contaminants to a point where they can be easily removed using a tack cloth, wiping pad, or mild abrasive. Corrosion resistance: Relaxing oils are created to protect metal surfaces from corrosion. The biggest enemy of metals used in the construction of mechanical parts is corrosion. Relaxtive oil has a formula that works by removing moisture, which is a large part of the elements that cause rust and corrosion. Noise reduction: Loosening oils help reduce rust and friction on squeaky door hinges, windshield wipers, a noisy suspension, squeaky bike chain, and other noisy moving parts.