WD 40

e999sam
e999sam Posts: 426
edited June 2011 in Workshop
There seems to be some argument as to what WD40 should be used for.

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    WD = Water Dispersant & 90% solvent
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    I said no! Nor do I use butter to grease bearings.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    edited June 2011
    It doesn't even displace or disperse water, despite the name: water wets metal surfaces much more keenly. Applied to a dry steel surface and left to evaporate, it leaves an oily residue which resists rusting from humidity, which I guess leads to the misunderstanding. Wet things stay wet, just with some WD40 on top.

    As a chain lubricant, WD40 is pretty terrible but better than nothing, which itself isn't that bad except for the squeaking. The chains on many bikes contain a grinding paste slurry –of oil, water, and grit– which is far worse, but their owners don't mind much because they shined up the outside with a baby wipe.
  • BelgianBeerGeek
    BelgianBeerGeek Posts: 5,226
    In the right circumstances/conditions and on the right materials yep...good stuff
    Ecrasez l’infame
  • Pseudonym
    Pseudonym Posts: 1,032
    it can be used as a lubricant, because it contains a light mineral oil. It's ok for gates, hinges or locks, but there are more suitable cycle lubes out there.....
  • buckmulligan
    buckmulligan Posts: 1,031
    Can an admin PLEASE shoot e999sam. This subject has been done to death.

    Since you obviously can't use a search function, let me summarise for you:

    YES, WD40 just about works as a lubricant/water disperser/degreaser/penetrant.

    NO, WD40 is not the best product for any of these functions. (1) It's too thin to be used as a lube (2) It will *not* displace water effectively (and even if it does, you're chain will still be covered in WD40, which you don't want to apply lube over the top of, so it's completely pointless) (3) It functions passably as a degreaser, but plenty of better and cheaper products out there (4) If something is stuck enough to require penetrant, WD40 is going to provide little help.

    In my opinion, WD40 is a product that *can* do a lot of jobs, but does them all poorly and you're better off spending your money on something decent for each.

    Using it as a lube is probably the worst of it's many applications, I'd rather use engine oil (seriously)!
  • al2098
    al2098 Posts: 174
    Smells funny..
  • pete.whelan
    pete.whelan Posts: 788
    WD40 = Robot deodorant
    Recipe: shave legs sparingly, rub in embrocation and drizzle with freshly squeezed baby oil.
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    I've got a jam jar full of wd40 which I use to clean my chains. I put the chains in and give it a good shake then take them out and hang them up to dry. I use a proper lube once the chain is back on.

    I used to use a jam jar full of degreaser but it was a pain having to wash it off.
  • silverpigeon
    silverpigeon Posts: 327
    Basso Astra
    Principia Ellipse SX
    Kinesis Racelight 4S
    Kinesis Crosslight Pro Disc
  • mattup
    mattup Posts: 11
    I think WD40 does have its uses.

    It’s good for freeing off seized components.
    It’s good for cleaning old lube and crud off.
    It’s great at displacing or repelling water.

    It’s too thin to be a useful lubricant.

    Matt
  • WD40 is great at cleaning off lubricant :shock:
  • Pseudonym
    Pseudonym Posts: 1,032

    that link usually gets trotted out on threads like this.

    Interestingly, a lot of motocross riders use WD40 as a chain lube on sand tracks, as it provides an acceptable level of lubrication, without attracting too much sand or grit onto the chain.
  • silverpigeon
    silverpigeon Posts: 327
    that link usually gets trotted out on threads like this.

    Maybe so but a I've yet to find a bicycle mechanic anywhere who agrees WD40 is suitable as a lubricant. It is a penetrating solvent.

    The only place I ever remember seeing it recommended for bicycle use is www.wd40.com

    . :roll:
    Basso Astra
    Principia Ellipse SX
    Kinesis Racelight 4S
    Kinesis Crosslight Pro Disc
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    that link usually gets trotted out on threads like this.

    Maybe so but a I've yet to find a bicycle mechanic anywhere who agrees WD40 is suitable as a lubricant. It is a penetrating solvent.

    The only place I ever remember seeing it recommended for bicycle use is www.wd40.com

    . :roll:
    and it is a very poor penetrating solvent at that. Plus Gas is way better.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Pseudonym
    Pseudonym Posts: 1,032
    that link usually gets trotted out on threads like this.

    Maybe so but a I've yet to find a bicycle mechanic anywhere who agrees WD40 is suitable as a lubricant. It is a penetrating solvent.

    The only place I ever remember seeing it recommended for bicycle use is www.wd40.com

    . :roll:

    I don't think anyone is claiming that it is a 'suitable' lubricant - but it is 'adequate' in some circumstances. It's not really worth getting excited about...
  • navrig
    navrig Posts: 1,352
    It's useful for getting some lubricant into areas where more viscous lubes wont go (quickly).
  • estampida
    estampida Posts: 1,008
    ah wd....

    this stuff should be kept clear of bikes unless it is the only thing to hand

    due to the solvents within the wd it can be used as a cleaner / degreaseant, as its very thin fluid this can wick into places it should'nt (such as cartridge bearings & bushes) and degrade the grease inside.

    It also improves electrical contact, with modern bikes a combination of steel, alloy, titanium, and carbon such fluids will increase galvonic corrosion between components, and lead to more stuck components or unexpected failure's

    and even with the straw on the vapour will still get on to your disc's

    GT85 is not much better, if you are not in a rush use 3 in 1 (keep clear of carbon bits) on stuck components. Remember stuck components should never be rushed.

    and assemble with high quality grease, as bearings that use oil, are used on parts that move really fast (land speed record for example)
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Pseudonym wrote:
    that link usually gets trotted out on threads like this.

    Maybe so but a I've yet to find a bicycle mechanic anywhere who agrees WD40 is suitable as a lubricant. It is a penetrating solvent.

    The only place I ever remember seeing it recommended for bicycle use is www.wd40.com

    . :roll:

    I don't think anyone is claiming that it is a 'suitable' lubricant - but it is 'adequate' in some circumstances. It's not really worth getting excited about...

    You need to read some of Procyclists posts :wink:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    You need to read some of Procyclists posts

    Heh heh :)