Comment by littlestymaar
12 hours ago
> It's not really a lubricant, but in a pinch it can temporarily function as one.
That's wrong. WD-40 is a literally a lubricant mixed with a solvent that makes it very fluid so it can enter small interstices, the solvent then evaporates quickly, leaving the lubricant in place.
There's not a lot of lubricant in there compared to a pure lubricant, because the solvent takes a significant share of the volume, but it's still a lubricant once the solvent dries up.
wd40 is not a lubricant.
It literally says it is a lubricant on the can but you can’t find a thread on the Internet about it without someone saying that. It is a lubricant, just not a very good one for most situations.
I can't believe you're being downvoted for that comment, that's legit insanity.
3 replies →
One (not recommended) way to test this statement is to spray some on the kitchen floor and see what happens later.
that's fine, but because it is sometimes slippery does not make it a lubricant.
2 replies →
Repeating bullshit many times doesn't make it true.
It is a mixture of a lubricant and a solvent. And once the solvent evaporates, only the lubricant remains.
You're technically correct, the best kind of correct.
However, if you're looking to lubricate something and have it last for a reasonable time, then WD-40 is a poor choice. However, using WD-40 first to hopefully dissolve contaminants/rust and remove water and then after a quick wipe to remove excess, applying something better such as 3-in-1 or silicone grease etc is a good idea.
The clue is in the name - Water Displacement 40.
If you want a spray on penetrating lubricant, then GT-85 is usually better as it has PTFE included to better lubricate. It still won't last that long though as it'll only make a thin film.
Edit: I've just seen that WD-40 make mention of a bus driver in Asia using WD-40 to remove a python from his bus' under-carriage. If in doubt, spray it with WD-40.