WD-40 - What is it actually good for??

[darkzero]

great lubricant for rubber.

Depends on the "rubber". IIRC WD-40 has petroleum in it & petroleum will attack natural rubber. I've experienced it breaking down neoprene rubber. I'm no rubber expert so I avoid using WD-40 on rubbers that I don't know what kind they are. I'll use silicone spray instead just to be safe.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Used in the "Industrial Maintenance World" all the time. It's an excellent, gentle degreaser that doesn't remove paint. Uses include: disconnect maintenance, cleaning of control cabinets and industrial equipment.

Only bought in gallons.

 

[GeoBruin]

Machining aluminum.

 

[DugT]

I believe the main ingredient in WD40 is kerosene which is the main ingredient in diesel fuel which is much cheaper. I use diesel fuel as a degreaser and I use Goo Gone or lighter fluid (xylene) to remove labels. I use alcohol to displace water. If I wanted a painted surface to look good I would use car wax.

I took a year of chemistry and know just enough to be dangerous so take all of this with a grain of salt.

 

[Wyoming09]

I believe the main ingredient in WD40 is kerosene which is the main ingredient in diesel fuel which is much cheaper. I use diesel fuel as a degreaser and I use Goo Gone or lighter fluid (xylene) to remove labels. I use alcohol to displace water. If I wanted a painted surface to look good I would use car wax.

I took a year of chemistry and know just enough to be dangerous so take all of this with a grain of salt.

I don't know what type of lighter fluid you're using that contains xylene but it isn't something I would use. As someone who uses xylene on a regular basis to thin specialty paints I find it too highly flammable even in small amounts to get anywhere an open flame.

 

[coljar]

Several years ago, I remember reading about old people rubbing it on their joints for arthritis.

 

[03ranger]

I noticed that no-one is using WD-40 for its original purpose: to protect the outer skin of their Atlas Missiles from rust and corrosion. According to the company that makes it, WD-40 literally stands for "Water Displacement 40th” attempt.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Depends on the "rubber". IIRC WD-40 has petroleum in it & petroleum will attack natural rubber. I've experienced it breaking down neoprene rubber. I'm no rubber expert so I avoid using WD-40 on rubbers that I don't know what kind they are. I'll use silicone spray instead just to be safe.

Yeah wd40 eats neoprene rubber. Not safe. In the recording studio we use windex to clean the rubber pinch rollers and other bits on $20k tape machines. Windex or plain old soap and water.

I honestly can't remember the last time I reached for wd40. Forever ago. I probably have a can somewhere... Some interesting uses here as a cleaner. Might have to reinvestigate and buy a new can. Does it go bad after a decade??

For a quick lube kinda thing I'll use PB blaster and even that's kinda rare.

 

[bczygan]

We used it on freshly machined parts to keep them from flash rusting, just long enough to get them to the customer.

Bill

 

[GeoBruin]

Wd40 is just fine if you know what to use it for, where it gets a bad name is by dills who think it's great for rust removal or lubrication or penetrating oil. It's like using a hammer in place of a screwdriver, it won't end well. Some things outside of displacing water that wd40 does well is cleaning soft grip screwdriver handles or to remove bubble gum out of a girls hair or to dissolve glue from a label in a jar. It's probably the most misused product that I'm aware of, people will start a thread about it, yet won't read the friggin label. I feel like I'm trying to fix stupid answering this thread.

I suppose those folks can't really be blamed when the can itself says it excels as a lubricant, penetrating oil, and rust inhibitor...

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Haha. I expected this to be a touchy subject but 3 pages so fast!

I guess the problem for me is that with all the crazy things they claim it can do, being a gentle cleaner is buried a bit. When I need to clean something, why would I reach for a product that claims to do everything including saving my marriage when I also have brake clean or other dedicated cleaners at hand?

I'll give it a try on some gentle cleaning tasks where brake clean would ruin something.

 

[darkzero]

It's like those multi tools. Can do all the things claimed but doesn't mean it does them well.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I suppose those folks can't really be blamed when the can itself says it excels as a lubricant, penetrating oil, and rust inhibitor...

Exactly that! Cleaning isn't even listed on that can (edit) or maybe it's on the other side. Either way, once you learn it ***** at all those things compared to any specialized product, why would you keep trying it for other stuff?

 

[darkzero]

Exactly that! Cleaning isn't even listed on that can

It's a closely guarded secret, don't tell anyone!

 

[old_smokey]

I have a mild steel workbench top and use it to clean and wipe down after a project. It’s been a few years and zero rust on the bench so far.

Also good for cleaning up tools, moto chains, prevent flash rust, that’s about all I use it for.


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[Olafur]

Depends on the "rubber". IIRC WD-40 has petroleum in it & petroleum will attack natural rubber. I've experienced it breaking down neoprene rubber. I'm no rubber expert so I avoid using WD-40 on rubbers that I don't know what kind they are. I'll use silicone spray instead just to be safe.

Something to consider. Thanks. Few years ago I read somewhere (possibly here on G.J) the lubricant in WD-40 was indeed "fish oil". Since the formula is trade secret it's hard to tell.

Wikipedia has this:

Formulation

WD-40's formula is a trade secret, and has not changed over the years, according to historian Iris Engstrand.[3]

To avoid disclosing its composition, the product was not patented in 1953, and the window of opportunity for patenting it has long since closed.[7]

WD-40's main ingredients as supplied in aerosol cans, according to the US Material Safety Data Sheet information,[14] and with the CAS numbers interpreted:[15]

45-50 % low vapor pressure aliphatic hydrocarbon (isoparaffin)
<35% petroleum base oil (non hazardous heavy paraffins)
<25% aliphatic hydrocarbons (same CAS number as the first item, but flammable)
2-3% carbon dioxide (propellant)

The UK (and EU) formulation is stated[16] according to the REACH regulations:

60-80% hydrocarbons C9-C11 n-alkanes, iso-alkanes, cyclics <2% aromatics
1-5% carbon dioxide

The Australian formulation is stated [17] as

50-60% Naphtha (Petroleum), hydrotreated heavy
<25% Petroleum Base Oils
<10% Naphtha (petroleum), hydrodesulfurized heavy (contains: 1,2,4-Trimethyl benzene, 1,3,5-Trimethyl benzene, Xylene, Mixed Isomers)
2-4% Carbon Dioxide

In 2009, Wired published an article with the results of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry tests on WD-40, showing that the principal components were C9 to C14 alkanes and mineral oil.[18]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40

So I guess the "fish oil" story isn't correct. And like you point out safer to use Silicone to lubricate "rubber". Still my anecdotal experience tells me it doesn't hurt hoses and whatever you might find in the engine compartment of a vehicle or machinery.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Damn straight. It doesn't rip my skin off like Fast Orange either.

Wait really? I use fast orange xtreme and I find it to be quite gentle and it doesn't dry out my hands either.

 

[r0ckh0und]

I use it for cleaning vintage bicycle parts. I think it degreases better than some of the degreasers like SimpleGreen. It also cleans the bike frames up pretty well. I go over the frame really well with a soaked rag and then use lighter fluid for the really stubborn stuff.

 

[dwcon1431]

The question is in the title. What is WD-40 even good for? I know the standard answer their marketing team has drilled into people is "everything".



But seriously. I've found it to be pretty bad at everything. Its not a good rust penetrant. I'd never use it to lubricate anything. Its a pretty lousy anti-corrosion coating.



For me at least, I don't think it even makes the "better than nothing" or the "deserted island and you only get to take one can of something with you" cut offs.

I use it to keep the corrosion on my battery cables and posts away. It's also good for door squeaks. Forget the line in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. WD-40 isn't that good.

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[tanukiboy]

WD-40 is great for removing permanent marker ink from plastic surfaces. Spray a little on a tissue and wipe it right off. (Don't really use it for much more than that, come to think of it.)

 

[MarvinBerry]

WD-40 is great for removing permanent marker ink from plastic surfaces. Spray a little on a tissue and wipe it right off. (Don't really use it for much more than that, come to think of it.)

99% isopropyl alcohol does the same thing on plastic & metal.

One of my other favorite cleaners is good old naphtha.

 

[anndel]

Lubricating and penetrating oil.

 

[fasteddie313]

Engine bay detailing..

 

[FuzzyTiger]

99% isopropyl alcohol does the same thing on plastic & metal.

One of my other favorite cleaners is good old naphtha.

I love isopropyl alcohol. Fantastic stuff. Doesn't work on everything but the things it does work on, nothing is better.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I use it to keep the corrosion on my battery cables and posts away. It's also good for door squeaks. Forget the line in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. WD-40 isn't that good.

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Dielectric grease for the former and white lithium for the later? Both will out perform WD-40 at those particular things.

And I think you might be thinking of Windex. No one is questioning it's magical abilities. That can cure cancer and solve global warming if only we had enough of the stuff!

 

[HenryAZ]

I love isopropyl alcohol. Fantastic stuff. Doesn't work on everything but the things it does work on, nothing is better.

Denatured alcohol is better, IMO. It is excellent as a cleaner/degreaser, and not as harsh as acetone which I use only when I have to. I buy the denatured at the local Ace hardware by the gallon and use that to fill all sorts of smaller containers that are kept around the house and garage. It is also in my SureShot sprayer.

 

[steves_001]

I've used it as a starting fluid on small engines. Works well.

 

[BFBOB]

Click bait.
And I bit.

Everyone knows WD-40 is good for everything, great for nothing.

 

[bwringer]

Yep, I use it for "general gentle cleaning" quite a bit too. For degreasing it works pretty much as well as diesel or kerosene, but doesn't stink. It won't hurt paint, plastics, wires, or most rubber.

Interesting how many here also do this.

Yet the label makes all sorts of weird totally false claims about lubrication and such...


And yep, I also keep isopropyl and denatured alcohol in spray containers for cleaning tasks where I don't want to leave a residue, but don't want to risk the solvents in brake cleaner.

 

[javyLSU]

Yep, I use it for "general gentle cleaning" quite a bit too. For degreasing it works pretty much as well as diesel or kerosene, but doesn't stink. It won't hurt paint, plastics, wires, or most rubber.

Interesting how many here also do this.

Yet the label makes all sorts of weird totally false claims about lubrication and such...


And yep, I also keep isopropyl and denatured alcohol in spray containers for cleaning tasks where I don't want to leave a residue, but don't want to risk the solvents in brake cleaner.

Exactly how I use it - general tool and engine cleaning/degreasing.

 

[ex-x-fire]

I've used it to help get an olds diesel started on the recommendation of a guy I trusted. It did work.
Its great at reducing friction on threaded parts. Spray some on a lug nut stud and torque it down. You'll be stretching that stud easily.

 

[2oolhound]

I've been using it as a penetrating fluid for years. No one told me it doesn't work. My E brake was sticking on a truck that had been sitting. I sprayed the hell out of the 2 into 1 linkage at all the friction spots and it freed everything up really well. Worked great on stuck pliers from the swap meet etc. I guess my stuff hasn't been really stuck although yeah, there have been times when it didn't work and I broke out the torch or a bfh or something else but that isn't too often. I'll have to keep some of the other stuff on hand to try next time it fails.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I've been using it as a penetrating fluid for years. No one told me it doesn't work. My E brake was sticking on a truck that had been sitting. I sprayed the hell out of the 2 into 1 linkage at all the friction spots and it freed everything up really well. Worked great on stuck pliers from the swap meet etc. I guess my stuff hasn't been really stuck although yeah, there have been times when it didn't work and I broke out the torch or a bfh or something else but that isn't too often. I'll have to keep some of the other stuff on hand to try next time it fails.

Give Liquid Wrench Penetrating Oil a try. It works really well.

Here's a pretty decent comparison of a proper penetrating oil vs WD40 and heat. WD40 ends up being barely better than dry while Liquid Wrench is almost as good as heat.

 

[jobo1004]

Another vote for using it as a degreaser. The previous owners of my home found it necessary to literally grease the tracks for the garage doors and WD-40 did an excellent job of removing all the caked on grease from the tracks.

 

[Wakefield]

Is WD 40 varsol with a little paraffin dissolved in it?

 

[IndyGarage]

40 years ago it was practically the only thing in the class - you did use it for everything.

Today, there are specialty sprays that work better on most everything, but nothing works as well on as many things, so it's still useful.

I still use it quite frequently on stuck mechanisms - just the other day we were trying to get a door latch that hadn't been used in a long time loosened up. Couple shots with WD and about a hundred cycles and it was working great.

 

[jonshonda]

I've heard it's great to put on bait when ice fishing.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I use it for squeaks and stuff also since my Beetle leaks around the door in rain I spray it on the door frame to prevent rust it has worked fine so far. As for being a penetrating oil it’s ehh it’s a lubricant I use PB Blaster, Knock’er Loose and Freeze Off for penetrating oils.


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[Robinson1]

Its cheap, can buy it anywhere, and does a wide variety of things "good enough"

I go through 3 or 4 cans a year mostly spraying stubborn parts and fasteners on farm equipment. Its not really a penetrating oil but more of an assembly lube.

When sprayed on 0000 steel wool it does a great job removing paint overspray from glass

 

[Ilikeike]

Exactly that! Cleaning isn't even listed on that can (edit) or maybe it's on the other side. Either way, once you learn it ***** at all those things compared to any specialized product, why would you keep trying it for other stuff?

Alcohol isn't designed for getting drunk, but it does excel at it.
I can't even fathom all the products that are better at what they aren't actually designed for, like WD-40 is,
If you can, you are a bad ***