Originally Posted by I_bRAD
WD-40 is NOT a lubricant. In cycling or anything else. It does have some lubricating properties, and some misinformed people assume that makes it a lubricant, but in fact, it is not.
WD stands for "water displacement" it is a rust inhibitor.
Oddly enough, many things have applications outside the original design. I'd say a pretty good definition of 'lubricant' is something that has lubricating properties, but maybe that's just common sense talking.
Tell the lock on my front door that WD-40 isn't a lubricant.
I could delve into the chemistry of lubricants, and possibly explain why pretty much any low-weight hydrocarbon will act as a lubricant (especially in a relatively humid environment), but I'll restrain myself.