lubricants and wd40

[kay]

I always thought wd40 is a lubricant and so did a few others on here until somebody corrected us a week or so ago. Plus I noticed on wd40 it states it is silicone free. So I looked into this and found the following extract which I thought will be informative to some :

Oil Simple 3-in-One oil will work for chain lubricant, although many bike techies think this is barbaric. The main problem with this kind of oil is that, although it does lubricate the chain, its viscous nature also attracts dirt and grime from the road. Chain lubricants that are specifically made for bicycle chains are not as oily, and thus do the job of lubricating without making the chain as dirty.

WD-40 Many people use WD-40 on their chains in the belief that it is a lubricant. WD-40 is in fact not a lubricant at all, it is a cleaner designed to remove grease and grime. WD-40 should be used to clean a chain, and then a proper lubricant should be applied. WD-40 may appear to function as a lubricant when it is first applied, but it will very quickly evaporate and wear off, because it was not designed for this purpose.

Silicone Spray There are many commercial bicycle chain and gear lubricants that go by different trade names. Most of these are based on some variation of silicone spray. Silicone functions as a lubricant without the drawbacks of oil, meaning that it doesn't attract dust, dirt and grime onto your chain. Also, silicone spray has a very low viscosity, meaning that it will easily penetrate into the insides of your chain links, which is where the lubricant is needed. Contrary to what many people think when they oil their chains, the oil on the outside of the chain really isn't doing anything. The only oil or spray that is actually doing its job is the stuff that gets inside of the chain links.

[Steve_C]

IIRC, WD-40 stands for Water Displacer - 40th attempt. Its primary purpose is therefore to displace water (and hence stop corrosion) although I thought it did also have a limited lubrication function?I'd therefore have though that WD-40 would also be a pretty low viscosity?

But yes, I agree it should not be used primarily as a lubricant as there are much better things for that job.

[wrekka]

IIRC, WD-40 stands for Water Displacer - 40th attempt. Its primary purpose is therefore to displace water (and hence stop corrosion) although I thought it did also have a limited lubrication function?I'd therefore have though that WD-40 would also be a pretty low viscosity?

But yes, I agree it should not be used primarily as a lubricant as there are much better things for that job.

This was my understanding too. Discovered when a while back I kept spraying WD40 on the hinges of a creaking internal house door. Within a day it kept creaking again! A drop of 3 in 1 oil and sorted!

[Terry1948]

I always used WD-40 on distributor caps so the bloody car would stand a chance of starting on a damp morning.

[PetrolDave]

My brother-in-law uses GT-85 instead of WD-40, much longer lasting.

[sonny]

We used to use WD-40 on the GPMG (FNMAG) to stop it jamming. Great for anything.

A quote I saw on here once.

"A man only needs two things in life, duck tape and WD-40"

[alex020869]

I was speaking to a work colleauge who has undergone extensive back surgery in Asia and had problems with his spinal cord. Doctors used WD-40 in his spinal column to dissolve the debris in it!!

Alex

[sonny]

I was speaking to a work colleauge who has undergone extensive back surgery in Asia and had problems with his spinal cord. Doctors used WD-40 in his spinal column to dissolve the debris in it!!

Alex

Thats brilliant, its proof it can be used for anything.

[Terry1948]

Thats brilliant, its proof it can be used for anything.

Not sure you would want to use it instead of KY jelly!! It would bring a whole new meaning to penetrating oil

[sonny]

LMAO

[adsgreen]

Hmm - my wife is a neurosurgeon who also works in spinal surgery and seriously doubts it was wd40.

if it moves and it shouldn't then use duct tape.
If It doesn't move and it should then use wd40.

But no, Contrary to advertising it's not a lubricant.

[Steve_C]

I use GT 85 as a lubricant on my bike. I wouldn't use WD 40 as a lubricant.

[adsgreen]

I used to do alot of serious karting and always surprised me how many people used wd40 on the chains. Could always spot them usually mid way through a 6 hour race as the chain failed and launched itself into the car park

[HYFR]

We used to use WD-40 on the GPMG (FNMAG) to stop it jamming. Great for anything.

??

Guns ??

[sonny]

We used to use WD-40 on the GPMG (FNMAG) to stop it jamming. Great for anything.

??

Guns ??

Yes, 7.62 belt fed machine gun, we used to load that <beep> up with the stuff, also used to use Mr Muscle to clean it. I know your not suppose to