As I'm starting to get ready to leave work, I saw a co-worker putting WD-40 on his chain. His thoughts ran like this, the Snow cleared all the lube of the chain. With no other lube around, he put the stuff on the chain and rode home. Now I don't want to start a flame war but is it alright (in this case) to use the lube on a Bicycle chain or not?

I've done it when out of Tri-Flon or White Lightning. FWIW. Cheap chains, change yearly. I'm not racing.

H

Beats duct tape

It works fine, just doesn't last long - especially if the chain gets wet.

If the lube wasn't gone already.... It'll probably work to get you home though.

I'm assuming you mean the classic WD40 product. WD40 now makes bike-specific products, including chain lube. I got some samples at a CX race last year. The sample bottle is a nice size for carry along, though truth be told I haven't even opened it yet.

The last charity even I went to WD40 actually had a booth. They apparently have a bike specific lube. I suspect it is a different formulation that the original WD40, which is good for freeing seized stuff, but was never intended to be a lubricant. It was originally marketed as a metal preservative. Spray it on bare metal, the solvent evaporates and leaves a film that protects it from moisture. Same thing happens if you try to use it as a GP lubricant.

I use WD-40 to displace the water after rinsing the chain, and after cleaning the chain with mineral spirits to help the lube penetrate. Not alone as a lube, though. Not enough lubrication in the product.

I'd use WD-40 only if the chain were completely dry and didn't have anything else at hand - it's not good as a chain lube IMO.

It's the juice of teh gods.
It's all I use on my chain and during the winter, slop it all over the whole bike to minimize salt and road sploodge damage.
I WD!

I worked at a bike shop in high school, 1982-1985. We used WD-40 on chains.

That was before Teh Innernetz and people telling you it was the worst thing you could do.

WD-40 isn't magic. It's light oil in deodorized mineral spirits (kerosene, essentially). The film that's left is oil. it's not the right thing for any job, but it's hardly awful. It doesn't make a good lubricant because the ratio of oil to solvent is too low, but it's unlikely your coworker got enough into the parts of the chain that need lubrication to matter.

WD-40 is bad news bears for chains. All the mechanics in my shop would say the same thing (though probably without bad news bears) and everyone I have talked with about it would agree. I am of course talking about WD-40 and not their bike products. However I guess if you lube the chain as well it may not be so bad but then no need for WD-40

Some people put used cooking oil on their chain and that just makes my head want to explode.

As a chain lube, I'm sure it would work in a pinch, though wouldn't last long probably. WD40 was originally designed to displace water; WD = Water Displacement. I use it after I scrub down my chain to get rid of water before I lube it with my real chain lube.

WD-40 is better than nothing. If it can get you and the bike where you can give the chain a good clean and an application of a more appropriate oil then no foul..

WD40 works better than butter.

Yeah, but butter tastes better kand not bitter.

I know of a bike mechanic who uses it regularly (ie., every couple of rides).

I use bacon grease, it makes your bike smell wonderful but I do get chased by dogs (oh, well, incentive to pedal hard!!)

BTW,

Exercise,
Ex er cise
Eggs er sides
Eggs are sides,
For Bacon!!!

I still wouldn't put WD-40 on as a lube, it wasn't designed for that. People might do it and even people who should know better but me thinks maybe the bike mechanic might be using one of WD-40s bike specific products or be using lube as well or something to that effect or is just not knowledgeable about WD-40.

Your bacon comment was boring at best. I hope you didn't spend too much time perusing the internets trying to find it.

I have a bottle of their dry lube. It's ok. I stick with Rock n' Roll Absolute Dry though.

The WD-40 wet lube for bikes smells like Old Spice. It is amazing.

the my chain lasted 50,000 miles comments drive me nucking futs.

where do you live?
how many thousands of miles do you ride in sloppy wet grit/sandy slush-snow?
do you ride ss or do you run an 11 speed campy chain thinnner than a trojan?

Back in the 70s & 80s WD40 was all I used on the chain. Never had any problems. The chain lasted as long as the bike. More than 15 yrs at a guess 2500 miles/yr.

Also used my Dad's axle grease on the wheel bearings.

8 speed chains last a real long time. The one I replaced lasted two years, two chicago winters, about 7k miles. Maintenance consisted of looking at the chain and thinking "I should oil that" (I actually did oil it a few times, using an unnamed commercial chain lubricant, but I've spent more time writing this than I did oiling it. And I type fast.) That's on an IGH with pretty close to perfect chain line, not a derailleur bike, which makes a difference, but not a huge one. Chainring and cog show no obvious signs of wear.

9 speed chains are where the life gets shorter, and where concern about extending life makes sense.

There is a sizable minority that still swear by using WD-40 as a chain lube.

in a pinch, maybe ok. he may not have needed anything though. a little water melting from some snow isn't gonna wash away all his lube. not really enough info to figure out that specific situation though. hopefully he has chain lube at home and used it. doubtful a single use of WD40 is gonna be tragic if he lubed up when he got home.