Brand · CRC Industries

Which CRC should you buy?

Four cans, four completely different jobs. Do not mix them up.

CRC Industries covers more ground than almost any brand we review: a penetrant, a heavy-duty silicone, a saltwater corrosion inhibitor and a food-grade silicone. They share a logo and almost nothing else, so buying "the CRC can" without checking which one is how people end up spraying a corrosion inhibitor on a seized bolt.

Our scores for the four sit within a point of each other, so the choice is about the job, not the quality. Knock'er Loose is the budget fast-acting penetrant; the others are for protection and lubrication.

Pick by job

Which CRC for which job

Rusted fasteners and frozen valves, quickly and cheaply
CRC Knock'er Loose
Budget-priced, rated Deep, and fast-acting: it starts dissolving rust on contact.
Penetrating Oils · Deep · 11.5 oz · our score 91%
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Hot jobs, o-rings, conveyor belts and molds
CRC Silicone
Temperature stable from -40°F to 400°F with a transparent, high-gloss film.
Silicone Lubes · Surface · 11 oz · our score 91%
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Boat hardware, trailer hitches, anything near salt water
CRC Marine
A thick, tenacious film that stays on through spray, splash and submersion.
Sprays · Surface · 10 oz · our score 92%
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Food processing and commercial kitchen equipment
CRC Food Grade
NSF H1 registered, colorless and odorless, with no taste left on food contact surfaces.
Silicone Lubes · Surface · 10 oz · our score 91%
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Side by side

The CRC lineup, specced

Product	Type	Penetration	Size	Price	Best for	Our score
CRC Marine	Sprays	Surface	10 oz	$$	boat hardware, trailer hitches	92%
CRC Knock'er Loose	Penetrating Oils	Deep	11.5 oz	$	rusted fasteners, corroded fittings	91%
CRC Silicone	Silicone Lubes	Surface	11 oz	$$	high-temp applications, conveyor belts	91%
CRC Food Grade	Silicone Lubes	Surface	10 oz	$$	food processing, packaging equipment	91%

Rankings

Where CRC places in our best-of lists

Put it to work

Jobs we reach for CRC on

Seized-part jobs where a CRC can is one of our picks, and why.

How to Remove a Brake Rotor Stuck to the Hub

CRC Knock'er Loose: Fast-acting, which suits a joint that usually just needs the rust bond cracked.

Moderate · soak 15–30 min · no heat

How to Remove a Sway Bar Link Nut When the Stud Spins

CRC Knock'er Loose: Fast-acting for a quick job with light rust.

Moderate · soak 15–30 min · heat with care

How to Remove a Stuck Oil Drain Plug

First pick

CRC Knock'er Loose: A fast-acting penetrant for a quick job.

Easy · soak 15 min · no heat

How to Remove a Garden Hose Stuck on a Spigot

CRC Marine: Marine product for wet, outdoor hardware.

Easy · soak 15–30 min · no heat

How to Remove a Rusted Carriage Bolt That Spins

CRC Knock'er Loose: Fast-acting, listed for rusted fasteners.

Moderate · soak 15–30 min · heat with care

Asked and answered

CRC questions

Is CRC Knock'er Loose a good penetrating oil?

It is on our best penetrating oil list as the budget, fast-acting option. We rate it Deep for penetration. For the worst seized bolts, the higher-ranked picks on that list (Kroil, PB B'laster) soak in further.

Which CRC product stops rust?

CRC Marine Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor. It is a protective film, not a penetrant. Use it after a part is free and clean, not to free it.

CRC Food Grade or Super Lube Food Grade?

Both are NSF H1 registered food-grade silicones and we score them close (91 vs 94). Super Lube edges it in our scores; CRC is the colorless, odorless option.

Playing the field