Do any of you use this to clean your bike or certain parts of your bike? Just curious if this is damaging in any way to the componentry of a bike or if this is a safe way to remove dirt off your frame and components.
Not damaging, and yes it will remove dirt & grime. However, not recommended. I work at a bike shop, we’ve tried it before and it just does not give good results. WD-40 actually attracts grit and grime if you leave it on the chain, cables, cassette, etc. In a pinch its ok to use, but there are much better alternatives. Try something like GT-85 (almost any bike shop will have it or can get you some). It’s Teflon based, works really well, and won’t attract dirt. No more expensive than WD-40 or anything else either. Hope this helps.
WD-40 is the original Powercranks…people for generations have argued passionately for it and against it. I read an article on chain lubricants in the past year or so that said it was actually a very good lubricant in their testing…and by it’s reputation it is pretty good at cleaning…so I use it now as a cleaner and lubricant, and it works great…attracts much less dirt than my previous lube.
i don’t use it, but an article yesterday listed it as an essential tool. perhaps that explains this thread.
I do really like the fact that it comes with a sweet little red straw! (red seems more appropriate than pink here)
WD-40 is more a penetrant than a lubricant. It works as a lubricant, but will attract impurities and deliver them to the moving parts through its penetrating qualities. You’re better off using a true lubricant made for cycling specific uses.
I’ve used it to remove the glue after pulling decals off.
I use soapy water to clean my bike and sometimes a citrus based degreaser. Go buy a cheap spray bottle and you’re off!
After a trainer workout, I’ll rinse the headset area with water and spritz with WD-40 to displace the water.
I agree with the others that it will clean well but it’s not a great lubricant and it attracts dirt. The way I use it is to spray the greasy bits (cassettes, front/rear der, pedals, etc) with it and let it soak for 5-10 minutes (but don’t let it completely dry), then wash the whole bike with soapy water. This gets all the WD-40 off. I remove the chain and dunk it in paint thinner (it has a quick link on it) and then lube everything with a proper lube. Personally, I think WD-40 is a better degreaser than the citrus degreasers or simple green, but part of that is the high pressure straw attachment.
Not damaging, and yes it will remove dirt & grime. However, not recommended. I work at a bike shop, we’ve tried it before and it just does not give good results. WD-40 actually attracts grit and grime if you leave it on the chain, cables, cassette, etc. In a pinch its ok to use, but there are much better alternatives. Try something like GT-85 (almost any bike shop will have it or can get you some). It’s Teflon based, works really well, and won’t attract dirt. No more expensive than WD-40 or anything else either. Hope this helps.
I only use WD-40 after returning from a ride in the rain. I pretty much spray all the wet areas I think may rust. Is this not correct? Is there a better “quick” fix (read - I’m not going to take apart my bike). I do wipe down the chain and relube.
I use it to clean my chain but then I also lubricate with somthing else afterwards.
jaret
I also use the soapy water for the frame and the citrus degreaser for the chain.
I don’t use WD40 it on my bike…but last month after I cleaned my bike in the garage I put some on my squeaky garage door opener and it worked wonders!
I use it to polish the Ti sections of my frame, but never on any moving parts.
Not damaging, and yes it will remove dirt & grime. However, not recommended. I work at a bike shop, we’ve tried it before and it just does not give good results. WD-40 actually attracts grit and grime if you leave it on the chain, cables, cassette, etc. In a pinch its ok to use, but there are much better alternatives. Try something like GT-85 (almost any bike shop will have it or can get you some). It’s Teflon based, works really well, and won’t attract dirt. No more expensive than WD-40 or anything else either. Hope this helps.
+1 - I used it as a teen and it ruined a chain and made my shifting unbearable.
maybe after wet ride or a clean. WD = water displacer, so i use it before wiping drivetrain clean and lubing, otherwise oil will just sit on the water still in your chain.
GT85 is often known around here as bearing stripper.
Use either of these (WD40/GT85) with care around bearings.
Yes I use it. It’s my backup plan for lubing a chain if I’m out of my 3-in-1 or need a quick spray. It lubes fine. It won’t be a last-a-month lube. If I use it, the chain will be dry in less than a week.
So I typically will use it when cleaning. I’ll spray the drivetrain then wipe down because it works as a solvent. I have also used it to clean my frame after it was splattered with grease.
The main concern IMO stems from it being a solvent (or being suspended in a solvent). You will eventually wash the grease out of your jockey wheels or your hubs, crank, headset if you apply it too liberally in those areas.
So for cleaning I would spray a cloth then rub down.
I use it after washing my bike with soap and water. It spray it in the bolt heads and other places where water sits and is not easy to displace or dry. It helps stop corrosion. I also use it to displace grease from the chain and cassette. After using it I always wash it off and use a real lubricant or wax on the chain.
I used it a lot in my speed skating days:
- Great to clean bearings - very good lubrification.
- Great to spray on after a wet race to prevent rust.
- The lubrification only lasts long enough for a 10 000m track race, any longer and SKF race oil or similar is needed.
- Worthless in the rain.
- I would clean out the bearings with WD40 in a shaker, dry them out face down on toilet paper, then put a drop of lube corresponding to the situation.
- Never use it to “top up lube” between races, it just makes them way slower (and noisy).
- Strange fact: don’t spray steel parts with it before storing, they will rust. Use light car engine oil.
I have used another brand sometimes found in filling stations in europe to better effect, will look it up.
G
Interesting responses, it seems that using it to clean of dirt and then washing down with soapy water, and lubing the chain after seems to be the popular response. Thanks for the help guys!
I use it after washing my bike with soap and water. It spray it in the bolt heads and other places where water sits and is not easy to displace or dry. It helps stop corrosion. I also use it to displace grease from the chain and cassette. After using it I always wash it off and use a real lubricant or wax on the chain.
Just after some clarification- so you spray WD-40 on bolt heads here and there and maybe the RD and FD to displace water. Then wash it off with water?