General Cycling Discussion - Lube your chain with WD-40?

This is bound to lead to confusion or in my case laughter.

269956

http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/08/28/wd-40-unveils-bike-line-lubricants-degreasers-other-goodies/

Yes, it will lead to much confusion, and even more arguments ...... get out the popcorn :popcorn:

WD-40 has become a brand rather then just the formula for the contents.

WD-40 has become a brand rather then just the formula for the contents.
It is very surprising that it has taken this long for them to diversify their product line to take advantage of their brand recognition. Looking at the products section of their website, it is all regular WD-40 just different packaging.

It's not on their Web Site yet, however, they are introducing a product specifically for bicycle chains.

Very many bike chain lube products out there , It's a crowded field. :innocent:

It's not on their Web Site yet, however, they are introducing a product specifically for bicycle chains.



You mean like the stuff pictured in the OP?

Extra-virgin olive oil

Everybody says don't lube your chain with WD-40. everybody's ALWAYS said don't lube your chain with WD-40. I don't lube my chain with WD-40. but before I found out it wouldn't work, I lubed my chains with WD-40 for years, and I never had any problems.

My understanding is that WD 40 is NOT a lube but is a solvent. Using regular WD 40 attracts dirt. WD 40 "Bike", as pictured, sounds like it will be a new and different product.

Everybody says don't lube your chain with WD-40. everybody's ALWAYS said don't lube your chain with WD-40. I don't lube my chain with WD-40. but before I found out it wouldn't work, I lubed my chains with WD-40 for years, and I never had any problems.

me too

Everybody says don't lube your chain with WD-40. everybody's ALWAYS said don't lube your chain with WD-40. I don't lube my chain with WD-40. but before I found out it wouldn't work, I lubed my chains with WD-40 for years, and I never had any problems.

I suffered from that misanderstunding too. If it is cold, dark and raining and I need to do some chain first aid, I may spray WD40. I dont expect it to last more than a day and I usually add some bike lube later. If I have GT-85 or some other bike lube, I prefer that but WD40 works in a crisis.

When the tin is empty, I puncture it and drain out the liquid, I usually get about 2 whiskey miniatures worth which is handy for cleaning cones and stuff.

My understanding is that WD 40 is NOT a lube but is a solvent.

It is both - it is a light lube in a solvent carrier. The idea is that the solvent allows the spray to dissolve dirt and allow the lube into tight places. After the solvent evaporates, the lube is left behind.

It's not the best chain lube, but if used regularly with a rag to clean the chain it does a decent job. It is certainly better than nothing. Assuming you wipe the chain down afterwards, my experience is that it attracts a lot less dirt than most dedicated chain lubes. There's a bit of compromise here - from the standpoint of chain lubrication, you'd like a sticky heavy lubricant, but from the standpoint of not attracting dirt, you want a dry thin lubricant.

- Mark

It is both - it is a light lube in a solvent carrier. The idea is that the solvent allows the spray to dissolve dirt and allow the lube into tight places. After the solvent evaporates, the lube is left behind.

It's not the best chain lube, but if used regularly with a rag to clean the chain it does a decent job. It is certainly better than nothing.

- Mark

IME, you can still do better.

I've used it for hundreds of years. ;) (Not like exclusively tho)

I literally can not remember ever having a chain problem in 3O+ some odd years of riding and racing road,bmx and mountain bikes.

Pretty lucky I guess.

My understanding is that WD 40 is NOT a lube but is a solvent. Using regular WD 40 attracts dirt. WD 40 "Bike", as pictured, sounds like it will be a new and different product. Of course it is a lubricant. Any liquid petroleum based product is a lubricant. Spray some on the floor and your boot will slip in it. It is not even debatable that it is a lubricant. Whether it is the ideal lubricant for a given application IS debatable.

Don in Austin

"Everybody says don't lube your chain with WD-40. everybody's ALWAYS said don't lube your chain with WD-40. I don't lube my chain with WD-40. but before I found out it wouldn't work, I lubed my chains with WD-40 for years, and I never had any problems." Velo Dog


me too

Me three

"Everybody says don't lube your chain with WD-40. everybody's ALWAYS said don't lube your chain with WD-40. I don't lube my chain with WD-40. but before I found out it wouldn't work, I lubed my chains with WD-40 for years, and I never had any problems." Velo Dog



Me three

Me four, though I now use 3-in-1 oil.

Yes, it will lead to much confusion, and even more arguments ...... get out the popcorn :popcorn:

Heh. I never get tired of popcorn. Nice.

Water Displacement formula #40 has not become Wallet Displacement #40.

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Everybody says don't lube your chain with WD-40. everybody's ALWAYS said don't lube your chain with WD-40.


Chain? Don't lube ANYTHING with WD-40, it was never intended as a lube. Before I learned that I did lube stuff with it, and I used it for a metal preservative too. It worked well enough as a metal preservative but that might have been because I was diligent with using it and I live in a dry area. As a lube I noticed that it didn't last any time at all. Now I know why. The company that makes WD-40 somehow scored a big win in customer recognition because everybody buys the stuff to use as a lube instead of buying more appropriate products.

Go to any type of hardware store and you will find REAL lubricants on the shelf next to the WD-40. I bought a product called "Super Lube" and it works very well. I still have and use WD-40, but I use it for what it was intended for and that is to displace water. Say you get your carbon steel tools wet somehow- spray them liberally with WD-40, wipe them off well, then spray them with proper oil/preservative.

Kind of expensive isn't it? Considering that you have to keep using it every ride or two?

How about using WD-40 for lubing a hub that has an oil port? The little red plastic tube would be great for spraying into the hub frequently. :D Anyone try that?

My son raced motocross from the age of 8-18. I was his self learned mechanic. He had a chain lube sponsor that supplied us with chain lube for free as long as he had their stickers on his bike. I used wd40 and gave the expensive chain lube that attracted more dirt than glue to people at the track. He never had a chain failure and never wore out a chain or sprockets faster then anyone else. I did however apply wd40 before every practice or moto. Wd40 cleans and lubes as long as you apply it often. Regular chain lube works well too, as long as you wipe off the dirt and reapply when needed.

How about using WD-40 for lubing a hub that has an oil port? The little red plastic tube would be great for spraying into the hub frequently. Anyone try that?

I would not recommend it unless it is an emergency and/or that is all that you have. It will work to some extent but there are better products available. Any good spray lube that is really a lube will also have a little red tube that will help get it into the little hole.

How about using WD-40 for lubing a hub that has an oil port? The little red plastic tube would be great for spraying into the hub frequently. :D Anyone try that?


I would not recommend it unless it is an emergency and/or that is all that you have. It will work to some extent but there are better products available. Any good spray lube that is really a lube will also have a little red tube that will help get it into the little hole.

Forgot to add the :D to my post which was mostly not serious.
But, wonder how that would compare to using oil in a hub? Been a long time since I had hubs with oil ports (nothing but grease in those hubs) so I won't be trying this out.

Fully agree that there are better products available.

Don't lube ANYTHING with WD-40, it was never intended as a lube.

How many times does it have to be said before it sinks in? It says in WD-40's own literature that it is a light lubricant. Nope, that the best lubricant for many uses, but it IS intended to lubricate after the solvent evaporates. That's the whole idea behind WD40.... a light lubricant in a solvent carrier.

- Mark

For w270769hat it's worth from the old guy. I used WD-40 to rense the dirt and metal from chain. Let it set and wipe thoroughly.
It's a solvent more than lubricant. Next I applied White Lighting. A self-cleaning wax lubricant. Let it work in and wipe off excess.
Lightening is dry wax and the chain looks and is clean. You'll have a new look. Lightning attracks the least amount of dirt. As I said, from the old guy I've used this combo for 25 years. This chain is original. Is dirty and has 10,000 miles on it. Not hard riding but frequent.

op - cool - thanks for sharing

have used WD-40 for years, especially after riding in the rain, slushy or snow sloppy conditions - taking advantage of the WD aspect of this product. a light spray and wipe off with a rag or paper towel keeps the rust at bay, plus it seems to allow the real lube to penetrate better.
another useful product for chain upkeep is Hoppes no 9, a lightly dampened rag with no 9 rubbed over the chain or deraileur parts will help clean the gunk off - it really works.

Why would you use WD40 as lube, it's more expensive than a lot of others real lubes. They are like the maglites, of lubes.

We may malign WD40, but they are stepping up to rescue the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/09/news/u-s-gran-prix-of-cyclocross-will-go-on-in-2012_237645

I'm anxious to see how it works. The company has lots more experience than most of the businesses that sell lube now. From their website:

WD-40 BIKE is a subsidiary business unit focused exclusively on cycling-specific maintenance products.
WD-40 BIKE will offer an initial product range including wet and dry chain lubricants, a heavy-duty degreaser, a foaming bike wash and a frame protectant.
The WD-40 BIKE line was developed over the past 12 months in collaboration with WD-40 scientists, professional bike mechanics and bicycle retailers.

How about using WD-40 for lubing a hub that has an oil port? The little red plastic tube would be great for spraying into the hub frequently. :D Anyone try that?

WD-40 is the reason I won't use my LBS that opened here a couple years ago. I stopped and looked at an old columbia sa 3 speed he was selling for 300 bucks, and as I was on one of my SA AW hubbed bikes the owner and I talked about them a little. I asked if he had seviced the hub(300$!!! I figured he must have done something)and he told me he had "sprayed damn near half a can of wd-40 in there, but it won't go into second. Thats ok though, you don't need that gear". He went on to tell me that the oil port in a IG hub was made for the red tube that comes with a WD-40 can.
And he has a framed UBI diploma on the wall, all I can figure is it stands for "UnBox, Install.

Me four, though I now use 3-in-1 oil.

Me five. I used to use WD-40 on my chain regularly, and never had a problem, but then someone told me it was bad, so I stopped.

Hand me some of that popcorn, would you?

I work with a guy that once told me WD-40 was "food grade", meaning it could be used on equipment that processes food. He even sprayed a shot in his mouth as proof.

WD40 is like a hammer. If you know what it's for and how to use it it's great. If not, you can do a lot of damage.

I work with a guy that once told me WD-40 was "food grade", meaning it could be used on equipment that processes food. He even sprayed a shot in his mouth as proof.

Its top secret what it really is so no one knows for absolute sure.

But..... It consists of a carrier , which is believed to be a stoddard solvent (mineral spirts) and a mineral oil based light lube plus the propellent (which has changed over the years). The carrier/solvent evaporates over time and leaves behind the mineral oil as a lube/coating.

Basically your lubing with mineral oil for better or worse.

WD-40 is the reason I won't use my LBS that opened here a couple years ago. I stopped and looked at an old columbia sa 3 speed he was selling for 300 bucks, and as I was on one of my SA AW hubbed bikes the owner and I talked about them a little. I asked if he had seviced the hub(300$!!! I figured he must have done something)and he told me he had "sprayed damn near half a can of wd-40 in there, but it won't go into second. Thats ok though, you don't need that gear". He went on to tell me that the oil port in a IG hub was made for the red tube that comes with a WD-40 can.
And he has a framed UBI diploma on the wall, all I can figure is it stands for "UnBox, Install.

Unbelievable but I believe your story.

have used WD-40 for years, especially after riding in the rain, slushy or snow sloppy conditions - taking advantage of the WD aspect of this product. a light spray and wipe off with a rag or paper towel keeps the rust at bay, plus it seems to allow the real lube to penetrate better.
Of course. WD-40 is for Water Displacement. I put a light coating on the blades of my ice skates so they don't corrode during storage over the Summer.

This is bound to lead to confusion or in my case laughter.

269956

http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/08/28/wd-40-unveils-bike-line-lubricants-degreasers-other-goodies/

Another mix of mineral spirits and wax or regular oil?

WD40 is like a hammer. If you know what it's for and how to use it it's great. If not, you can do a lot of damage.

Amen looigi im with you on this, its like saying "dont use adjustable wrenches you will strip the fastener, they make specifically designed wrenches for what size u need." just use it correctly and it wont ruin or destroy anything, it could actually save the day in many instances.(especially when its all you got at the time)

So funny reading all the people that are anti WD, im no expert on lube (for bikes ;)) by any means but all the claims of saying it is a solvent and not a lubricant, and or it attracts dirt. its just so repetitive, somehow knowing "wd-40 stands for water displacer attempt #40" makes them know it is an inferior product.

Seems like the people that are for, or even neutral about wd40 speak from personal experience of it meeting their needs. most of the WD bashing sounds like it was read off a competing brand website, or from another thread in which everyone agreed with each other.

hope no one ran out of popcorn...:P

The Company had a booth at the Las Vegas Interbike trade show. They developed a new line of products for the bike market. Its not the same as the WD-40 that you get from Home Depot.

1. Clean chain.
2. Spray WD-40, allow it to do its aforementioned job.
3. Wipe chain, lube, wipe chain again.
4. ???
5. Profit.

Seriously though, these products look like chain lube, degreaser, car/bike soap and car/bike wax...nothing new really.

People actually lube their chains?

1. Clean chain.
2. Spray WD-40, allow it to do its aforementioned job.
3. Wipe chain, lube, wipe chain again.
4. ???
5. Profit.

Seriously though, these products look like chain lube, degreaser, car/bike soap and car/bike wax...nothing new really.

This isn't rocket science for any of the manufacturers.

The Company had a booth at the Las Vegas Interbike trade show. They developed a new line of products for the bike market. Its not the same as the WD-40 that you get from Home Depot.

yep.. it's got nothing to do with WD-40 except the brand name.


This isn't rocket science for any of the manufacturers.

ironically WD-40 company's original name was Rocket Chemical Company

Of course. WD-40 is for Water Displacement. I put a light coating on the blades of my ice skates so they don't corrode during storage over the Summer.
Have you tried Boeshield? It's specifically designed for that purpose (I use it on my expensive blades (swords and knives) when they go into storage).

As a youngster I used 3in1 oil for bike chain lube because that's what dad had in the toolbox. The chain got pretty cruddy. Years later I started using WD40 on my motorcycle chain. I don't remember why I started but the chains always seemed to stay relatively clean and lasted a long time. My motorcycle has a belt now, but I still use it on my bicycle chain.

yesterday I heard that Pam cooking spray would work OK ...