Rubber Softening Experiment : Wintergreen Oil, Brake Fluid, ATF & More

Rubber parts may harden as they age from oxidation, oils dissolving in chemicals that parts are in contact with or evaportaion, and other reasons. That makes them tough to use or unable to function properly. I used a couple of old rubber scooter intake tubes to test some rubber softening techniques and see what worked and what didn't.
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[@jasonanderson6271]

As someone currently finishing his PhD, I am amazed at your fantastic and well planned methodology. If every informational video was like this the world would be a smarter place. Thank you, and keep up the good work!

[@49ccscoot]

Thanks!

[@Brian-jz1pi]

I watch this video because of your comment

[@applekidn1]

Getting a phd from your master doesn’t make you sound anymore intelligent you slave 🤣

[@luismontes3769]

This is how all internet supposed to be! Good and excellent job!!

[@DomiEE]

Shut up boomer

[@NineZeroHero]

Shut up hater

[@vandoren156]

Wintergreen oil (Methyl Salicylate) is an actual plasticizer, and used in many rubber formulations so it can renew properly many types of rubber. Other fluids like brake fluid etc instead contain oils that will degrade plain rubber (that is why there are particular oil resistant rubbers used in certain applications), the temporary softening is just due to the solvents in the fluids. Avoid boiling the rubber, the temperature is too high, for large parts just use glass beads to fill the voids when soaking and change position of the part every so often.

[@jgteoh]

Nice explaination

[@jmc5341]

That glass bead trick is great. Im kinda embarrassed I've never thought of that before

[@roum22]

Used the 3-1 mix on carburettor intake stubs. They swelled up slightly at first, but softened up nicely, about 10 days later they were back to their original size, and were ready for use. The softening effect lasted about nine months, then the returned to being rock hard.

[@analyticalmastermind2569]

Thanks for taking the time to run these tests, this has helped me out. Good work.

[@AlienRelics]

Back in the days of cassette decks and VCRs, I used ATF as a cheaper alternative to Rubber Renew. Wipe down every new belt or rubber roller, make sure you wipe it clean. Gets rid of the wax and dust from manufacture, gives the surface good grip without soaking into the body of the rubber. Much, much cheaper for a quart of ATF than for a tiny 4 ounce bottle of Rubber Renew.

[@aneesahmed2978]

This video deserves a million likes and views. Thanks for the Great Job.

[@lindafoxwood78]

Best example of perseverance I have even seen! This guy sure can get the job done with enthusiasm. Great video.

[@tabbydays226]

one of the best videos i found on youtube so far..no words to thank!

[@ejs6097]

Lol, this was perfect timing. I told you all my rubber pieces were bad on my kart. Great tips friend : )

[@KDM--xm9fh]

Very very well done. Thank you for your thoughtful and methodical approach. Very helpful.

[@TheLargit]

Thank you that's a good methodical approach, you have dispelled a few myths and shown which solutions work and don't! Many thanks JD

[@josephk2958]

You did such a wonderfully thorough job on this vid! Thank you so much!

[@Jaemon4Eva]

This is an excellent video because it is so thorough and meticulous. Thank you for taking the time to put this together in such a detailed manor. You've helped more people than you think.

[@weediebloke]

Well done mate.. so very nice of you to take the time in this experiment.. many thanks,I'm off to get some Wintergreen oil .

[@AtmaS]

Thanks for sharing your findings and recording the details of your experiment. Very informative.

[@thehorizontalphilosopher]

Excellent video presentation.and comments. Its great when people work together. Thank you

[@rogerborg]

This is Project Farm levels of commitment. Well done, sir.

[@TechiePocket1]

Thank you for taking all the time to make this informative video!

[@julioperez-delgadojr2976]

This experiment was amazing I have been able to restore and modify a lot of plastic or rubbery materials and its truly great information to have. Thank you so much.

[@KnightSwan]

Very well done. Excellent test procedure and A/V documentation. Nice job.

[@nobodynoone2500]

This is the best comparison I have seen. Everyone is mostly just recalling what grandpa did in 1950s nascar. Thank you!

[@Geopolitic157]

Great experiment. Thanks for the information, and for taking the time to do and share.

[@FilterYT]

That was a comprehensive comparison, well done, thanks.

[@obtainiumgaming4472]

Excellent execution and scientific. This is the kind of content people look for. Useful, interesting and well edited. I want to rejuvenate some cassette deck idlers from 1982 that are impossible to find, and this may do it with the 3:1 alcohol wintergreen solution. Thank you.

[@mwood1012]

Great work, intensive attention to detail with each test given fair & objective due diligence... and most importantly, a generous disclosure of very useful information for anyone who is invested in a project, facing similar issues with material in similar condition. Thanks so much for your service.

[@jonathanfadden9299]

Fantastic video! Just subscribed. Nice methodology and narration.

[@StuntRidersSwiss]

Awesome detailed job ! Great explanation of the different process !

[@nancyg243]

Well run experiments! Am looking to soften small parts, so I'll use the 3:1 alcohol/wintergreen mix. Thanks.

[@2dmaxauto]

Nice work, your experiment and information helped greatly with an issue I've got with my vehicle transmission :-)

[@randyb3347]

Excellent. I just went to utube to find out if smearing some brake fluid on the outside of my brake cylinder piston boots would help keep them pliable and make them last long. After see this I don't think I'll try it. Thanks.

[@Mixerhd3]

thank you so much for this video !! it helped me a lot !❤️❤️ YOU ARE THE BEST MAN 😘✨

[@wregils]

I watched a windshield replacement on a vintage Jeep. Varsol which is a paint thinner was used . The old gasket was cleaned and reused. The appearance was amazing. I am not having success finding Varsol locally . I appreciate your presentation and wish every KZbin video had the same quality.

[@rikityrik]

I'm back, Lol. Man I enjoy your videos. This one was top notch, big thumbs up! I'd love to see more content of yours with tests like this. Not sure if you've made others but just to let you know you did a good job.👍

[@MrThp8251]

This is a very well shot video with great experimental lab techniques. The voice over is straight forward and well descriptive. The conclusion made sense. He gets FIVE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@49ccscoot]

Thanks very much!

[@michaelarnold417]

Outstanding video! Well done and thanks

[@allanmaureenmacintyre4474]

Informative and to the point. 10 out of 10

[@douglasjackson9058]

Thanks for taking the time and doing this. I restore old typewriters. They have rubber platens,rollers,and feet. They are very difficult to find replacement. Expensive. I'm going to try this. Thus video could be invaluable to saving pieces of history. Thanks again,very appreciated!

[@Rob8]

Use a product called "rubber renue".

[@deandeibler8363]

Excellent! Very nice job. You must have some experience in carrying out scientific experiments because of the way you handled this investigation. As someone who has been involved in such endeavors for several decades, I'd say you did a great job here.

[@air_cooled_andy]

Absolutely superb video. Thanks for taking the time to make it buddy. It’s take all the guesswork out of the multiple online opinions. 😄🙌

[@anomie6788]

I like the fact you didn't quit , well been two days I wonder what a week will do, still not the result you were looking for so lets add some heat. Very well done. I have expensive rubber boots, the rubber is starting to crack , looking for a way to soften the rubber back up. I don't think this will help but it was fun to watch. I think I will try the heat and the wintergreen oil, with controlled heat.

[@kristianribchev4039]

Thank you for your experiment, I have learned something.

[@MixedGoku]

Absolutely beautiful experiment thank you for your help

[@xivix6710]

Your scientific method here is outstanding.

[@RidingOff]

wow what a thorough test, thanks for your help

[@edgewatersbestguitarist1524]

Great video! Exactly the explanation i was looking for. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@NKPGarage]

Great testing methodology. Love all of the detail. Subscribed!

[@rkstew]

Damn! you are extremely thorough! Great video. thank you

[@michaelrs8010]

GREAT video. Thanks for your time and effort and the info.

[@49ccscoot]

Thanks!

[@wayneschmidt490]

Great video with outstanding scientific technique! Thank you very much!

[@spenton1979]

Very well done. So thoughou in controlling the variables. Applying this to my Roland v drum pedal rubber notoriously known for hardening. Much appreciated.

[@nadeemnabi7044]

A very good experimental review, thanks for sharing.

[@Daimler-Jensen]

That is pretty scientific, well done and very informative!

[@luxzartheglorious]

Thank you I'm looking to preserve some old gas masks I recently bought and this is very help ful

[@rvfrick2355]

Thanks for this! Your review is more credible and relevant than many of the others I have run across. Your experimental conditions are controlled and identical. I ran my own experiment last month with three solvents and wintergreen oil using a 3:1 ratio by weight. I am rebuilding a grey-market Honda RVF400. Parts are expensive and hard to come by in the US. Anyway, I have some old rubber parts to try my own experiment with. After reading many articles and postings online about the magic of methyl salIcylate were true and I wanted to see if the solvent used made a difference. The three solvents I compared were: 1) Xylene (Renue Rubber product MSDS says this is the solvent they use). 2) Denatured ethanol 3) Acetone RESULTS After a 24 hour soak the acetone parts swelled the most by far 22%! Ethanol and xylene also swelled but "only" about 10%. No rubber was damaged just swollen. After 24 of drying out the Acetone part was most flexible. The Ethanol part a very close second (almost the same as acetone) The Xylene part was least flexible but definitely better than untreated. After 2 weeks of airing out they all essentially returned to the original and all the same size but are still flexible thought they are hardening. I do not (yet) have factory OEM parts to compare with. DISCUSSION If I wanted to use this technique to soften some rubber parts I would choose 100% denatured ethanol or acetone. Both are readily available. I believe the solvents help swell the rubber allowing the wintergreen oil to penetrate into the parts more easily. SUMMARY I agree with 990GTVert's recommendation: buy replacement parts if you can and reserve this method for hard to find or unavailable parts. This is simply a back-up technique if you have no other options.

[@49ccscoot]

Thanks for sharing the results of your tests!

[@segitazautoszerelo]

Very nice! So do you just soaked it, do not need to put in boiling water? And after a year, does it hardened?

[@brucemorton13]

Well done. Excellent use of the scientific method. I appreciate the information.

[@49ccscoot]

Thank you!

[@billarroo1]

Always wanted to know what to soften rubber with, VERY Interesting, Thanks

[@robsutherland9284]

that was a great comparison test, thanks for making things clear for all of us

[@49ccscoot]

Thanks. I'm glad if it's helpful.

[@jeffbanfieldsflwr3537]

Very nice video. Please continue to give us great videos!

[@emo65170.]

Great video. Good info to keep in mind. Thanks!

[@zacharygillette7810]

Dude you have videos on everything! I was looking up tire softener and came across this.

[@alcatelevolve2859]

Very well put together video. I found this useful to add to my own experience.

[@hlmartelli]

Great comparison! Thank you very much!

[@marcussmith9444]

Am trying the 3:1 Rubbing alcohol/wintergreen oil this weekend for my hard-as-nails carburettor boots.Thanks for all your hard work

[@49ccscoot]

Hope it works well for you!

[@baxrok2.]

Outstanding experiment. Thanks!

[@brittanywright9646]

Great video! This will help if anyone is in a pinch and needs to reuse some rubber that has hardened. Also, one thing to note, wintergreen can be extremely dangerous and fatal, so use caution, especially around children whether it is ingested or absorbed topically.

[@fredderpst459]

very informative and interesting thank you. I am wondring about silicone spray

[@bigal7561]

Well done. I'm going to try this on the rubber intake manifolds on my 1975 Honda CB 360t. I've restored it from the ground up and everything is perfect. I've beat myself to death on these two parts. They have zero cracks and look factory grade but hard as heck. I hate the though of ordering new ones when these look great but air leaks on an old honda will drive you crazy (and after this full restore....it's a short drive).Thanks

[@michaelknight2897]

Thank you for you test. I found the information useful.

[@johncollins8304]

I wish someone from the Nobel Prize committee was interested in rejuvenating rubber.

[@Marcoosianism]

The world just does NOT know what's important!!

[@tmack1]

To control temp of the water & Winter Green tests, try using a double boiling method. That is a pot inside a pot. They use this method in cooking/heating candy. Outer pot is water only, inner pot is the solution. The water in outer pot more evenly distributes the heat.

[@007mercucio]

great classical experiment, thank you

[@markbaxter8799]

Thanks for sharing - very good detailed experiment, will give it a go on my window rubbers.

[@Rustin-wy6yf]

How did it go? Mine swelled up after an hour of leaving them in a 3:1 mix of alcohol + wintergreen oil rendering them useless.

[@PARDS2]

SUPERB!!! OUTSTANDING !!!! BEAUTIFUL JOB!

[@yves3560]

Great job !!! Usefull and interesting.

[@grndhg86d]

Excellent job. Thank you for making and sharing this video.

[@CheapCheerful]

This is a quality video mate, super useful. Thank you, and subscribed.

[@gurcsik]

This is awesome. Probably saving thousands of dollars for people combined!

[@drmarine1771]

Thanks for your effort . well done.

[@alvaroochoa6739]

nice video!! I like the way you did it! like really making sure about the results. . .

[@49ccscoot]

Thanks!

[@micdal22]

Thanks for a very informative experiment. I need to revive two washing machine shaft seals, so your video clip is just what I needed. I read somewhere that almond oil is supposed to rejuvenate rubber, which might be a cheaper option (if it works as well as wintergreen oil)

[@CarlosDelaoGunEngraver]

did you ever try the almond oil?

[@thomasrowan5951]

Very understandable experiment. I have an old toy fire truck (50+years) that has hard rubber tires. I will try your method on them.

[@whips_and_buckets]

Thanks for this work! Very helpful.

[@philwarner6604]

I found your video while researching ways to soften the hard rubber seals on my collection of Sunbeam C30 Coffeemaster vacuum coffee pots, but I also have a collection of old cars and bikes so I ordered 32 Oz of wintergreen oil from Big Dee's vet supplies for 12.95/16Oz + $6.50 shipping (which was the best price I saw in a short search). Thanks for your well thought out approach. The wintergreen oil cost about the same as one new seal for these coffeemakers, so I hope it works for several of them. If not, I'll have it on the shelf for my rubber car part needs. Thanks again

[@Marcoosianism]

Big Dee's wanted to charge me $60 shipping to Canada for 16oz., haha. They can eat it.

[@kevin15776]

I have vintage sneakers whose rubber soles have hardened. I'm going to try this. Thanks for the video!

[@mikailsameerraifmikailsame9436]

Wow you really took the time and effort to go through so many methods and i truly appreciate what you did. Your Awesomeeeeeeeee in my books brother!!

[@49ccscoot]

Thanks!

[@randalmontgomery4595]

My mother often used a "double boiler" in the 1950-70 era, for cooking, now I understand the concept.

[@utube321piotr]

Thank you for this video. Well experimented.

[@cramersclassics]

Excellent Summary! Just subscribed, thanks.

[@larrywhitesell4139]

Thanks so much. Very helpful!

[@kathys9999]

Thank you! great information.

[@Pete4875]

Thank you for your effort.

[@bhotsnax]

Great video! Thanks!

[@zap3642]

Great video! Thanks a lot it may the day come i will try it out :-)

[@ANDYMCNET]

Very useful real world review thanks. ❤️

[@Swallabat]

Very good work, well done.

[@MrFarmcountry]

Very thorough and well executed. Love it

[@49ccscoot]

Thanks!

[@MrFarmcountry]

90GTVert you should do tests for vinyl seats next!

[@inhocsigno9151]

Good investigation and analysis.

[@gsx600racer]

Thanks for sharing.

[@CypressVintage]

Great job and very useful experiment. Perhaps using a crockpot will help to limit the smell and help regulate temperature better. That's what I am going to try.

[@d2ddad]

Very useful information, thanks!