Lube up!

scarbs85

Have read in a couple of places that WD40 is no good for bikes. I must admit, it's what I had always used on my chain and sprockets etc. Could anyone explain what makes it unsuitable, and what should be used instead? Or is it actually fine, it's just somebody wants to sell something specially made for the job at 3 times the price? :?

Cheers

Arkady001

It was rumoured that WD-40 can disolve the grease in your hubs, causing them to run dry. Given that i use it to clean grease off motor-parts when i work on my cars, i can believe it...
Regardless, I never use it to clean my hubs, but cheerfully apply it to practically everything else that moves...Chain, front and rear-mech, levers, cables etc.
Just make sure if you clean your chain with it you let it dry or wipe it off then apply a 'proper' chain lube.

nicklouse

it is a Water dispersant not a lube. great for keeping the inside of steel frames in fair condition.

diy

Weldtite TF2 Teflon Bike Spray Lube is about the same price as WD40. Its good for most lubing requirements same as GT85.

WD40 is good for cleaning your chain, but paraffin is cheaper.

wordnumb

It's not that WD40 won't lubricate the various moving parts of a bike, many substances will, it's that there are better products that are designed for the job. WD40, as Nick says, is designed to displace water. I use it or GT85 to clear water from my chain after a grubby ride.

Similarly, I could wear a pair of y-fronts on my head, but I prefer to wear a hat, as it is designed for the job.