Originally Posted by
Duragrouch
I think WD-40 (original) may be formulated a bit different now. Back in the day, it was *prohibited* for use on aircraft linkage spherical rods ends (Heim joints) as over time it would dry to a varnish and the joints would stick or jam. WD-40 was originally developed as a Water Displacer, and perhaps the original formula had an intentional varnish to stay behind to help keep out water and/or corrosion resistance. Currently, it doesn't seem too bad as a chain lube if you have nothing else, it doesn't seem to get sticky over time. That said, chain lubes with "anti-wear additives" have been shown to reduce chain wear. You know what has that? Plain old motor oil (which I used to deride as too pedestrian for a serious biker). Recent tests have shown melted wax to be superior; I used wax for 15 years on my road bike because it was cleaner, went to oils thinking it was better lube, but I was wrong. I'm going back to wax with my next new chain and cassette.
According to
this history from WD-40, the mixture is the same as it was when first introduced. I suspect that some components are more highly refined than they were in 1953 so that reactive double and triple bonded hydrocarbons have been removed as well as the solvent contains less benzene. As to “anti-wear additives” in chain lubes, they don’t do a whole lot. Additives to wax or liquid lubricants don’t really seem to increase chain life. Plan old Gulf canning wax provides just about the same chain life as oil does. There’s not much that can be done to a bicycle chain to extend life much past about 3500 miles on average. If “anti-wear additives” actually worked, I’d expect a significant increase in chain life…on the order of at least 25%…but that just doesn’t happen.
Motor oil additives are to prevent break down under the high temperature conditions that motor oil is subjected to. At low temperatures, the oil really doesn’t do much in the way of preventing wear.