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Is WD-40 a miracle product? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world to c/bicycling@lemmy.world

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Looking for some maintenance advice.

I'm about to embark on some touring. I don't have space to take more than one canned product. Is WD-40 what I need?

As I understand it from some research, WD-40 is by some magic both a degreaser and a lubricant. This is mysterious to me. In my mental model of chemistry, you degrease with detergent, not more grease. So now I'm imagining that WD-40 is a sort of "light grease" which dissolves "heavy grease". Is that right?

So if I can only take one product, is WD-40 it? PS: If not, then what? Also, is there a generic name for it, or cheaper similar products to look for which do the same thing?

PPS: The consensus seems to be that WD-40 is not a miracle product, by which really I meant "a single portable product that can somehow de-gunk and lubricate" and is less risky than what I was doing before: using chain oil for the lubrication and dish soap for the cleaning.

PPPS: This question was asked in the best possible faith. I have been a cyclist for decades and always been curious about this product. And yet still I get downvoted. What is about social media that makes people so toxic and mean-spirited? It's almost as mysterious as WD-40.

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[–] AskewLord@piefed.social -2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

You're getting downvoted because you're objectively wrong. You are putting forth false information that is not true.

WD-40 isn't for bikes. It's neither a degreaser or a lubricant. It's meant for removing water and rust.

It doesn't belong anywhere near a bicycle. Yes you can use it. You can also stick vegetable oil in your car engine and it will 'work', but it's a horrible idea.

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

This is the attitude I'm talking about... Please re-read, there is nothing for me to be "objectively wrong" about because I did not make any claim. I asked a question because I wanted to understand better. Others helped me to do so, as did you (after presumably downvoting me). This kind of ungenerous attitude is one reason why social media has such a toxic reputation.