Can all night soaking in WD40 cause chain rust?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 252
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Can all night soaking in WD40 cause chain rust?
Thank you
I forgot about the chain one time, and left it soaking all night.
I noticed a few weeks later that there was some corrosion on the inner plates.
It could've happened from rain, but I'm not sure.
I forgot about the chain one time, and left it soaking all night.
I noticed a few weeks later that there was some corrosion on the inner plates.
It could've happened from rain, but I'm not sure.
Last edited by Disco Stu; 02-10-09 at 08:57 PM.
#2
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
Not directly.
Indirectly; after the WD40 all evaporates away, what is left to prevent rust?
Indirectly; after the WD40 all evaporates away, what is left to prevent rust?
Last edited by JanMM; 02-11-09 at 05:54 PM.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,257
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
doubt it. WD displaces water, which usually has salts and other such catalysts that cause steel to oxidize.
after WD evaporates it leaves a fairly weak oil on top so the rust you see might have just been displaced rust from the inner plates.
after WD evaporates it leaves a fairly weak oil on top so the rust you see might have just been displaced rust from the inner plates.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,257
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
if there's no protective coating, like oil or paint, on the steel, it can rust from the moisture in the air.
it really depends on what's in the steel alloy that inhibit oxidization.
it really depends on what's in the steel alloy that inhibit oxidization.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#7
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
To prevent rust you should lubricate a newly cleaned chain with chain lube as soon as it is dry.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
#8
Senior Member
no harm in soaking w WD40
As with WD40, once power degreasers leave the chain bare with no rust protection or lubrication. Be careful with cheapo degreasers, high phosphate stuff can leave a residue of degreaser that'll damage paint, pollute drinking water and prevent oil from working. Wash thoroughly with water, dry then lube with chain oil.
#9
Great State of Varmint
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dante's Third Ring
Posts: 7,476
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
15 Posts
Yes^^^ And WD-40 doesn't leave squat for lubrication. It will work into the chain, and remove all the oil that was in there. Then it evaporates. WD-40 can actually be worse than using no lubricant at all.
https://bicycletutor.com/no-wd40-bike-chain/
https://bicycletutor.com/no-wd40-bike-chain/
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,257
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
if it's just sitting there doing nothing then WD-40 will inhibit oxidization. that is what it is designed to do.
for a chain you're actually using WD-40 is too thin.
for a chain you're actually using WD-40 is too thin.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SFBay
Posts: 2,334
Bikes: n, I would like n+1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 127 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 133 Times
in
108 Posts
The WD-40, or what ever other degreaser you use will not directly cause rust. It will however remove the former lubrication that was preventing rust. If you regrease after using the WD-40 you'll be fine.
#12
Senior Member
#13
Call me The Breeze
which washes off in the first few kms, and then it rusts.
#14
Senior Member
Yes^^^ And WD-40 doesn't leave squat for lubrication. It will work into the chain, and remove all the oil that was in there. Then it evaporates. WD-40 can actually be worse than using no lubricant at all.
https://bicycletutor.com/no-wd40-bike-chain/
https://bicycletutor.com/no-wd40-bike-chain/
WD-40 contains about 30% oil. It is a light weight oil, but it's plenty heavy enough to last for a least 100 miles on a bike chain. Flushing a chain with WD-40 is not the least bit harmful. As long as the chian is wiped before it's applied, the WD-40 will help to flush out the grit that accelerates wear.
I've used a homebrew lube that contains even more solvent and less oil for years. I apply it every 100 miles at the minimum. I've used a Campy 10 chain for 6,000 miles and measured only about 1/64 of an inch per foot elongation, so this very thin lube did a great job of preventing wear at the pins.
#15
Senior Member
#16
Call me The Breeze
Well it's wet and winter here... not sure what's happening down there!
#17
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Some of you folks will believe any ridiculous crap posted on the internet. That video is hilarious, since the guy making it apparently believes what he's saying.
WD-40 contains about 30% oil. It is a light weight oil, but it's plenty heavy enough to last for a least 100 miles on a bike chain. Flushing a chain with WD-40 is not the least bit harmful. As long as the chian is wiped before it's applied, the WD-40 will help to flush out the grit that accelerates wear.
I've used a homebrew lube that contains even more solvent and less oil for years. I apply it every 100 miles at the minimum. I've used a Campy 10 chain for 6,000 miles and measured only about 1/64 of an inch per foot elongation, so this very thin lube did a great job of preventing wear at the pins.
WD-40 contains about 30% oil. It is a light weight oil, but it's plenty heavy enough to last for a least 100 miles on a bike chain. Flushing a chain with WD-40 is not the least bit harmful. As long as the chian is wiped before it's applied, the WD-40 will help to flush out the grit that accelerates wear.
I've used a homebrew lube that contains even more solvent and less oil for years. I apply it every 100 miles at the minimum. I've used a Campy 10 chain for 6,000 miles and measured only about 1/64 of an inch per foot elongation, so this very thin lube did a great job of preventing wear at the pins.
He'll go on to tell you that WD40 is a solvent and de-greaser and the quantity and quality of the oil in WD40 is not suitable for bicycle chains whereas home brew lubes tend to use different base oils and do work very well.
He is also pretty firm on the less is better methodology of lubing chains as they only need to be lubed on the inside and any residual lube just works as a dirt magnet... we live and ride in a very dusty climate (summer) and a cold, wet (and dirty) climate in the winter that is hard on drivetrains.
He seems to know his stuff backwards and forwards... people trust his advice.
He is of course... me.
And I would also be hard pressed to find any other mechanic here who would tell anyone that WD40 is adequate as a chain lube.
Because it isn't.
#19
Recreational Commuter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 1,024
Bikes: One brand-less build-up, and a Connondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra Disc. A nicer bike than I need, but it was a good deal, so... ;-)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 2,369
Bikes: 2003 Giant OCR2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The old geezer at my shop tells people that WD40 is a poor substitute for proper chain lube and can cite many examples of folks coming in with badly rusted and seized chains that thought WD40 was adequate. Another problem is that a lot of people don't clean and lube their chains often enough or in a proper manner.
I wouldn't use WD40 as a lube, but I don't think it will cause a chain to seize overnight.
#21
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,342
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6200 Post(s)
Liked 4,204 Times
in
2,358 Posts
Some of you folks will believe any ridculous crap posted on the internet. That video is hilarious, since the guy making it apparently believes what he's saying.
WD-40 contains about 30% oil. It is a light weight oil, but it's plenty heavy enough to last for a least 100 miles on a bike chain. Flushing a chain with WD-40 is not the least bit harmful. As long as the chian is wiped before it's applied, the WD-40 will help to flush out the grit that accelerates wear.
I've used a homebrew lube that contains even more solvent and less oil for years. I apply it every 100 miles at the minimum. I've used a Campy 10 chain for 6,000 miles and measured only about 1/64 of an inch per foot elongation, so this very thin lube did a great job of preventing wear at the pins.
WD-40 contains about 30% oil. It is a light weight oil, but it's plenty heavy enough to last for a least 100 miles on a bike chain. Flushing a chain with WD-40 is not the least bit harmful. As long as the chian is wiped before it's applied, the WD-40 will help to flush out the grit that accelerates wear.
I've used a homebrew lube that contains even more solvent and less oil for years. I apply it every 100 miles at the minimum. I've used a Campy 10 chain for 6,000 miles and measured only about 1/64 of an inch per foot elongation, so this very thin lube did a great job of preventing wear at the pins.
Below is the composition of WD40 from its MSDS. Most of the stuff other then the 'Base Petroleum Oil' is there as solvent and propellent.
HTML Code:
3 - Composition/Information on Ingredients Ingredient Weight Percent Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 45-50 Petroleum Base Oil 15-25 LVP Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 12-18 Carbon Dioxide 2-3 Non-Hazardous Ingredients Mixture <10
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#22
Senior Member
The old geezer at my shop tells people that WD40 is a poor substitute for proper chain lube and can cite many examples of folks coming in with badly rusted and seized chains that thought WD40 was adequate. Another problem is that a lot of people don't clean and lube their chains often enough or in a proper manner.
He'll go on to tell you that WD40 is a solvent and de-greaser and the quantity and quality of the oil in WD40 is not suitable for bicycle chains whereas home brew lubes tend to use different base oils and do work very well.
He is also pretty firm on the less is better methodology of lubing chains as they only need to be lubed on the inside and any residual lube just works as a dirt magnet... we live and ride in a very dusty climate (summer) and a cold, wet (and dirty) climate in the winter that is hard on drivetrains.
He seems to know his stuff backwards and forwards... people trust his advice.
He is of course... me.
And I would also be hard pressed to find any other mechanic here who would tell anyone that WD40 is adequate as a chain lube.
Because it isn't.
He'll go on to tell you that WD40 is a solvent and de-greaser and the quantity and quality of the oil in WD40 is not suitable for bicycle chains whereas home brew lubes tend to use different base oils and do work very well.
He is also pretty firm on the less is better methodology of lubing chains as they only need to be lubed on the inside and any residual lube just works as a dirt magnet... we live and ride in a very dusty climate (summer) and a cold, wet (and dirty) climate in the winter that is hard on drivetrains.
He seems to know his stuff backwards and forwards... people trust his advice.
He is of course... me.
And I would also be hard pressed to find any other mechanic here who would tell anyone that WD40 is adequate as a chain lube.
Because it isn't.
I'm no spring chicken either at 55, but I'm no retrogrouch. I've got two bikes with Campy 11 speed drivetrains and a winter/trainer bike with Campy 10. I have an mechanical engineering degree and I've been wrenching on bikes for 25 years. I've done some serious chain wear testing and tried a number of different lubes, just in the last 10 years. I first tried ProLink about 10 years ago and soon found out that this pricey lube was nothing but mineral spirits and oil. Now I make my own chain lube for pennies per ounce.
I've done thorough chain cleanings with the chain off the bike and used WD-40 as the final step in the process, right after rinsing the chain in hot water and wiping it partially dry. I've had no problem at all using WD-40 as chain lube for the first couple of rides after cleaning. Beyond that, I switched back to my normal homebrew lube of 3-4 parts naptha to one part synthetic motor oil or synthetic 80/90W gear lube. Lately, I just apply my homebrew to a freshly cleaned chain and find that it displaces the water and prevents rust just as well.
I ride in Colorado wear it's dry and dusty quite a bit of the year. I don't ride in the wet. In the winter, the chances of hitting ice are too great for me, so I wait for the most of the snow to melt off before I go out. The little puddle splash or occasional stretch of mountain road dampened by snowmelt doesn't get my chain wet.
#23
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
In fairness, the OP talks about using WD40 and re-applying every 100 miles, presumably about once a week, say. For a chain to get so rusty it seizes, the bike generally has to be left unridden for quite some time and in appalling conditions. So the people you're talking about, I have a feeling that what happened is the bike was "lubed" with WD40, ridden for 2 miles, and left in the rain for 6 months. That's a bit of a different situation than the OP.
I wouldn't use WD40 as a lube, but I don't think it will cause a chain to seize overnight.
I wouldn't use WD40 as a lube, but I don't think it will cause a chain to seize overnight.
I don't unless the conditions are heinous.
One of the best mechanics I know (not me btw) makes his home brew with WD40 and motor oil in a 3 to 1 ratio... because WD40 is basically mineral spirits.
It works really well.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 2,369
Bikes: 2003 Giant OCR2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Some people also seem to claim that you shouldn't even use WD40 as a chain *cleaner*, which seems silly to me.
The whole chain cleaning thing is too much of a holy war anyway. I figure just lube it with something that will stick around (not WD40, to be sure), and wipe it down very well afterwards. Then just ride your bike.
#25
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
So much of this depends on where you live and what kinds of conditions you ride in... in a really dry climate you might be able to get by with some pretty minimal upkeep whereas most of us ride in varied conditions that has a more profound effect on our chains.
Folks who routinely use WD40 on their chains also seem to be the same folks who are not as up to speed on bike maintainence and any kind of neglect when you are using WD40 will result in some nasty looking chains.
To the OP... soaking your chain in WD40 won't cause it to rust but you should not expect that WD40 to offer any significant protection when things get nasty or the miles start piling up.
Using a proper lube avoids many of these issues.
Folks who routinely use WD40 on their chains also seem to be the same folks who are not as up to speed on bike maintainence and any kind of neglect when you are using WD40 will result in some nasty looking chains.
To the OP... soaking your chain in WD40 won't cause it to rust but you should not expect that WD40 to offer any significant protection when things get nasty or the miles start piling up.
Using a proper lube avoids many of these issues.