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Phosphoric Acid Did This. Here’s How I Fixed It

241K views · Apr 12, 2026 · Autos & Vehicles

Comments · 690

  • @MadScienceAndy · 5 months ago (edited) · pinned

    A lot of people are asking what “ZEP” is.<br><br>ZEP here just means a heavy-duty alkaline degreaser with surfactants. The important thing is not the brand name by itself — it’s that the cleaner is alkaline, has good wetting/surfactant action, and the final mix ends up in the right pH range.<br><br>So if you’re outside the U.S. and can’t get ZEP, look for a similar heavy-duty water-based degreaser/cleaner rather than focusing on that exact brand.<br><br>For a different cleaner , you’ll have to play with the ratios or add some sodium hydroxide (drain cleaner ) to get to the right 5-6 pH range . <br><br>So important points :<br>(1) The cleaner adds alkaline , wetting agents and surfactants.<br><br>(2) use any brand you like , just adjust the concentration , and fiddle with adding NaOH to get to right pH range of 5-6 , for 1 liter of fluid and 50 g citric acid<br><br>I also forgot to describe the rinse , it’s 50/50 mix of hardware store ammonia and distilled water , and 200:1 TEA

    82

  • @---js9qz · 5 months ago

    Difference between messing around and doing science is writing it down.

    55

  • @UnveiledTracks · 1 month ago

    “Stronger wasn’t smarter” 😂 That might be the best takeaway from this whole video. Great experiment!

    3

  • @GCLgrowls · 5 months ago

    I greatly enjoyed the presentation style here. No frills straight to the information, experiments, and demos. &nbsp;Thanks!

    28

  • @edv1160 · 1 month ago

    Andy, thank you for posting this video! &nbsp;Truly appreciate your hard work in making this as I&apos;ve learned a lot and all the commentators is really an eye opener, as their comments have made me think how awesome your viewers are!.....You and your commentators are Geniuses compared to what the youth of today are learning now! &nbsp;Thanks again and putting out videos like this one!😊

    1

  • @michaelamo7593 · 4 weeks ago

    Genius. Thank you from 🇨🇦

    3

  • @seacher6637 · 5 months ago

    Thanks for all the time you put into this report.

    11

  • @Sreedon · 5 months ago

    Subscribed - great no nonsense presentation style. Thanks.

    8

  • @deankay4434 · 5 months ago

    This is the application of science and an excellent explanation of what’s going on plus how to finish. Great info, a keeper!

    21

  • @Владимир-э9о1ф · 4 months ago

    Thanks a lot, you explain a really tough issue in the restoration

    3

  • @gregkocher5352 · 5 months ago

    I have a small farm and we also have oil storage tanks, all of which keep me busy fighting rust. This discussion of the residue is timely for me. Thanks.

    34

  • @aussieausdeutschland4245 · 3 months ago (edited)

    At my work we use phosphoric acid from PPG on bare steel then we wash it off with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFr5E-CABUI&amp;t=3050">50:50</a> mix of methylated spirits and water them blow it off with compressed air before painting.

    4

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