What's the best way to loosen up an exhaust bolt?

[Ninja Performance]

Normally the "Hot Wrench" isn't referring to a small propane torch. It's the Oxy Acetylene That gets it dun!

-Chris

[DrGonzo]

LOL... yeah a propane torch might get it hot, but nothing compared to an Oxy Acetylene torch. I don't think that propane torch will even be worth paying the money for. The point of the heat it to get it red hot so it breaks away as the metal shrinks. Propane torch is not going to get the metal hot enough to shrink it.

[MADMarc]

I was wondering how long I would have to stand there w/a propane torch to get it glowing lol oxy acetylene is definitely out of my budget

[IPD]

propane still works. it may take a bit longer, but it does work. shooter & i used a propane torch to un-fuck the bolts on my mudflaps.

[MADMarc]

Well, just an update, pb blaster already loosened up 3 of the 5 bolts that I need to get...one seems like it's almost there and one more I am still worried it will break. I'm REALLY hoping this stuff can saturate into the bolt over night. I will probably put it on 3 more times before I knock out in a while. The can says to saturate, then knock the bolts, resaturate and repeat until it loosens up. Does this sound about right?

[speedy25]

As a long time veteran of the rust belt, you CANT work on cars without oxy/acetylene torch. Propane does NOT have the heat necessary to expand fasteners enough to move them. Yes of course SOMEONE has managed to get a job done with propane somewhere. Penetrants are useful for fasteners that initially move but you may have the fastener break if you dont have some sort of lube to keep it from seizing as you try to run a bolt out with more rusty crud on the end to keep it from turning.

Make friends with someone who has a torch. It will save you a LOT of time and headaches.

-SP

[IPD]

As a long time veteran of the rust belt, you CANT work on cars without oxy/acetylene torch. Propane does NOT have the heat necessary to expand fasteners enough to move them. Yes of course SOMEONE has managed to get a job done with propane somewhere. Penetrants are useful for fasteners that initially move but you may have the fastener break if you dont have some sort of lube to keep it from seizing as you try to run a bolt out with more rusty crud on the end to keep it from turning.

Make friends with someone who has a torch. It will save you a LOT of time and headaches.

-SP

i favor using both penetrants and a torch.

[RealMcCoy]

As a long time veteran of the rust belt, you CANT work on cars without oxy/acetylene torch. Propane does NOT have the heat necessary to expand fasteners enough to move them. Yes of course SOMEONE has managed to get a job done with propane somewhere. Penetrants are useful for fasteners that initially move but you may have the fastener break if you dont have some sort of lube to keep it from seizing as you try to run a bolt out with more rusty crud on the end to keep it from turning.

Make friends with someone who has a torch. It will save you a LOT of time and headaches.

-SP

I seldom see rust belt cars here. Every time I have, I've sworn to find a new profession if I had to work on them on a daily basis. We are talking about a very different process. My use of the propane torch is primarily to wick the lube into the threads. It makes plenty of heat for that purpose. I have had to break out the Oxy/Acetylene torch periodically, but at that point we're often beyond the help of penetrating oil...

[marshallh]

If you don't have access to an acetylene rig, you can buy some mapp gas and put it on your torch instead of propane. It burns a LOT hotter, close to acetylene.

But then you may end up needing that cutting torch + rig anyway

[MADMarc]

Still cant crack the bolt Looks like I might just break the damned thing and replace it w/a new bolt. Fortunately, though, it is a bolt and not a stud...at least that's working for me right now :/