Why do WD40 spray cans always quit working?

[Bottlecapdigger]

This is about the 5th can of spray I've had over the years that quits working, they either lose pressure or the nozzle don't work or the stuff only dribbles out. That's it I'm not Buying this stuff anymore. It really doesn't work that good anyway. My buddy that works in a diesel shop and uses WD40 everyday say the same thing. Is they something better that lasts? BCD.

 

[blair683]

PB Blaster

 

[biggziff]

Never had that happen. Mine always end up with pressure left and no juice.

 

[Tonyuk]

Do you spray with the can upside down often? I find that drains the gas in them pretty quick.

 

[pepi]

Ditto on the new style nozzle, biggest piece of ****.... The old style can be found, I get them from places like MRC/Travers

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/55300875

https://www.travers.com/wd-40/p/81-006-146/

I have also called the WD40 folks and told them what I think of their half assed idea of an improvement ..... was quite the trip

Greg

 

[Alinnh]

The shop I'm at had a case of PB Blaster do that, no pressure just drips out. It was a new case we just received every can did the same thing. We returned and the next case worked fine. It happens.

 

[mfewtrail]

Most people don't know this, but the 40 in WD40 signifies that the can will stop working once the product level reaches 40%.

I've had the same luck as the topic starter with WD40 cans in multiple different sizes. Never sprayed upside down nor dropped.

 

[topp64]

I know what you mean, every can I've used for the last 3 or 4 years has been like that. It's usually when I'm at work doing an emergency repair on something and in a hurry, grab the 1/2 full can and only get a couple of drops. The only reason I still use it is because it's what my employer gives me. At home I use Kroil. Liquid Wrench is another option.

 

[red61cj5]

I like to cut the can open with a torch or grinding wheel and pour the remainder into a syringe for later use. Joking.

 

[White Shadow]

Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never had a WD40 can stop working until it was empty. And then it stopped working.

 

[dr_clyde]

I don't use much WD, but I prefer to buy it in the gallon and use a squirt bottle. Cheaper that way per oz, and doesn't use an aerosol.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have a PB spray bottle that empties out while it's sitting in the bowl I keep it in. It siphons thru the sprayer somehow.

 

[A**holes Garage]

Ditto on the new style nozzle, biggest piece of ****.... The old style can be found, I get them from places like MRC/Travers

I have also called the WD40 folks and told them what I think of their half assed idea of an improvement ..... was quite the trip

Greg

I did the same thing, complained to the top on that crappy nozzle pos.

They sent me a few emails and some coupons for more of the same ****.

 

[Dagny]

I blame it on the overall decline in quality of everything. All spray cans **** how bout the expanding foam cans seems half are bad.

 

[Alchymist]

I like to cut the can open with a torch or grinding wheel and pour the remainder into a syringe for later use. Joking.

When one loses pressure with liquid remaining, i remove the nozzle and punch a hole with a nail in the nozzle opening. I can then shake the liquid out as needed. Use that can mostly for removing glues and wiping stuff down.

 

[1redTA]

the older tops were the stuff, if I had spray paint that wouldn’t act right stick the old wd40 nozzle and voila fixed spray paint

 

[ishiboo]

None of my WD40 cans stop working, and I use a lot of it. Though I use it for cleaning stuff primarily.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I don't use much WD, but I prefer to buy it in the gallon and use a squirt bottle. Cheaper that way per oz, and doesn't use an aerosol.

^^^ +1 That's what I do... I actually found an old WD-40 squirt bottle where the bottle part was metal! Found an un-opened gallon can at a garage sale for less than half the cost of new at the store.

 

[D45]

Never had an issue......its cheap and I usually have 5-6 cans around the shop

 

[theoldwizard1]

Buy a gallon and one of their hand pump spray bottles.

 

[Jeepster04]

I've never really had much use for WD40. What does everyone use it for? Assuming were talking about the regular WD and not the penetrate or something.

 

[BukitCase]

Their hand pump spray bottles don't last any better for me; so far, a "professional" spray bottle from Homeless Despot is holding up a LOT better.

Mainly I don't use WD40 much anyway, it is NOT an "oil", tends to gum up, doesn't slow rust much. As mentioned, there are OTHER products that work better... Steve

 

[bdbecker]

https://www.sureshotsprayer.com/

Buy whatever you need in bulk jugs, fill up the can, top off with air when needed. Yeah, the cans are a little pricey, but they'll last a lifetime (I got mine second hand, no idea how old it is). I've seen China knock-offs floating around for much less, but have no experience with them.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I don't use much WD, but I prefer to buy it in the gallon and use a squirt bottle. Cheaper that way per oz, and doesn't use an aerosol.

Same here. Just for the record...... PB blaster stinks like a mother trucker. Bought one can of PB blaster..... and then.......? well I was done.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I've never really had much use for WD40. What does everyone use it for? Assuming were talking about the regular WD and not the penetrate or something.

Just a light oil to apply to anything when I don't want to waste the good stuff on something... Also great for drilling & tapping...

 

[haugy]

Same here. Just for the record...... PB blaster stinks like a mother trucker. Bought one can of PB blaster..... and then.......? well I was done.

I like it, mainly because I know when I break out the PB, things are about to get done.

 

[Billy Jack]

This is not WD-specific, but I've done it with various aerosol products. Remove the spray nozzle and hold a rubber tire valve on the can. Give it a couple shots of compressed air with a tire chuck, with regulator set at 75-80 psi. It will usually give you enough pressure to empty the remaining contents.

Bill

 

[graffix000]

Try some Kroil products and you will throw the wd-40 away and never look back. This great place introduced me to it and have been hooked for the past 8+ years.

 

[Hawk]

I like it, mainly because I know when I break out the PB, things are about to get done.

Same here. Just for the record...... PB blaster stinks like a mother trucker. Bought one can of PB blaster..... and then.......? well I was done.

I use PB because it works as well. I also like the new valve system of WD, so I buy cheap cans of WD, take the head with the built in straws off and put it on the PB Blaster. Use the PB nozzle on the WD and give it away to any of the neighbors that use it.

 

[pepi]

I've never really had much use for WD40. What does everyone use it for? Assuming were talking about the regular WD and not the penetrate or something.

Take your pick.................something for everyone
https://www.wd40.com/img/WD-40_2000_uses.pdf

 

[thatguysb]

Stuff that are okay for everything tends to never be good at one thing.
Yeah?

 

[isb cornbinder]

I am able to get most spray cans working again by re-pressurizing them. I use a rubber valve stem placed over the place where the spray nozzle is usually inserted. This pressurizing may have to be done several times. The original propellant was likely liquid propane to give a continuous pressure as the liquid turns to vapor.
I have not had a problem with putting 140 PSI in a can.
I think the valves in the cans leak.

 

[Bronson]

Same here. Just for the record...... PB blaster stinks like a mother trucker. Bought one can of PB blaster..... and then.......? well I was done.

I sprayed some PB on the door hinge on my F-150 and the next time I drove it, I thought I had broken a fuel line.
I stopped and checked under the hood and under the cab, nothing.
I realized it was the stinking PB Blaster.
Gives me a hell of a headache. And I don't get headaches.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I buy Amazon metal pump oilers and use sale priced synthetic motor oil of any grade. A quart lasts 3 years, maybe?

Important stuff gets Break Free or Corrosion X. Big box 3N1 in a pinch. Baby oil or diesel will work if desperate enough. Lanolin or coconut oil is nice if you need handlotion or a snack also.

Ballistisol, Kroil, or that other one from last century cause perpetual complaining from wife.

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

I'll have to try that, never thought of doing this. BCD

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

I am able to get most spray cans working again by re-pressurizing them. I use a rubber valve stem placed over the place where the spray nozzle is usually inserted. This pressurizing may have to be done several times. The original propellant was likely liquid propane to give a continuous pressure as the liquid turns to vapor.
I have not had a problem with putting 140 PSI in a can.
I think the valves in the cans leak.

This is not WD-specific, but I've done it with various aerosol products. Remove the spray nozzle and hold a rubber tire valve on the can. Give it a couple shots of compressed air with a tire chuck, with regulator set at 75-80 psi. It will usually give you enough pressure to empty the remaining contents.

Bill

I will have to try this, probably will work on spray paint cans too. BCD

Try some Kroil products and you will throw the wd-40 away and never look back. This great place introduced me to it and have been hooked for the past 8+ years.

kroil don't seem to common around here , been asking for it, every one has heard of it but no one stocks it.

 

[mixerfixer]

I like Kroil much more than WD40 for home shop. We use 5-56 at work.

 

[ishiboo]

Just a light oil to apply to anything when I don't want to waste the good stuff on something... Also great for drilling & tapping...

Is WD40 good for drilling/tapping? That hasn't been my experience. I use it when theres nothing else to use.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think I have seen more cans of PB Blaster fail than WD40.


FWIW, I cans of varying products depending on what I'm using it for.

 

[pepi]

Stuff that are okay for everything tends to never be good at one thing.
Yeah?

I just answered a question with a link.

I have SS braided fluid & fuel lines. They catch a lot of road dirt and look dull, the WD does wonders. Spray it on line holding a paper towel on the opposite side, garbage flows right out and off. The lines look just like the were freshly made, bright.

Protect machine, drill press & saw table tops, some WD a scotch bright and jitter bug, cleans the top of the welding table. I have raw steel laying around, dust it with WD, keeps the surface rust at bay. Just to mention a few..