WD 40 the True Story

[mph]

Am I alone in thinking that WD40 is the most mis-used product ever produced ?

From my observation over the years, many of which were spent as a hands-on engineer, I have seen it primarily used as a release agent (penetrating oil). In this function it is singularly poor and yet they manage to sell zillions of gallons of the stuff.

I know it's useful for other things but I think many people only buy it for use as a release agent.

Plus Gas is probably one of the best I've used - not sure if it's still around.

[MarkwG]

Not sure - I reckon the good old flat blade screwdriver would give it a run for its money: chisel, stirring paint, levering up floorboards, bashing holes in stuff, extracting oil filters etc etc - & that was just yesterday...

[fulvia griff]

They do still make Plus Gas and its still really good, quite difficult to find though. Large chains like Halfords don't seem to sell it.

[garethj]

I get PlusGas from the local motor factors, it's the ideal place to talk to the owner who can still quote Pinto cambelt numbers from memory.

Support the local motor trade, support PlusGas, support laughing at people who use WD40 as releasing fluid

[Steffan]

I think WD40 is a classic triumph of advertising over substance.

People remember the name and use it willy nilly for everything mechanical not just the jobs its designed for.

Plus gas is a good product if it was marketed by the owners of WD40 they would be selling millions of tins.

All down to clever marketing. Its the marketing that sells look at merecats.

[Alex]

But does Plus Gas smell as nice as WD40?

[okgo]

so what is its purpose then?

same with GT85, what are they made to do?

[shirt]

okgo said:

so what is its purpose then?

same with GT85, what are they made to do?

water displacement. the name is due to the chemistry being the 40th attempt.

[Chunkychucky]

Alex said:

But does Plus Gas smell as nice as WD40?

It's not an aftershave

[na]

I found Rapideze was better than PlusGas

Can you still get Rapideze ?

[Gaspode]

garethj said:

I get PlusGas from the local motor factors, it's the ideal place to talk to the owner who can still quote Pinto cambelt numbers from memory.

Support the local motor trade, support PlusGas, support laughing at people who use WD40 as releasing fluid

Yep, my local independent place still sells it, in both conventional cans and aerosol. Marvellous stuff, much better than WD40

[RedWhiteMonkey]

olly22n said:

Hmmm, I think wd40 is most often misused as a lubricant!

That's no way to treat any lady!

[SWH]

WD40 works quite well on wasp stings, really.....

...although if you get the wasp with it, and maybe a lighter, I seem to recall it being way more satisfying.

[Efbe]

Chunkychucky said:

Alex said:

But does Plus Gas smell as nice as WD40?

It's not an aftershave

you know nothing...

[RichB]

Stolen from another site:

Machinist's Workshop magazine tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts.

Results are below; they arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment using different penetrating oils.

Nothing...... average load 516 pounds
WD-40 .................... 238 pounds
PB Blaster ............... 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ............ 127 pounds
Kano Kroil ............... 106 pounds
ATF-Acetone mix.............53 pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone.

• Note the "home brew" was better than any commercial product in this one particular test.

[Efbe]

where to get acetone from?

[RichB]

Efbe said:

where to get acetone from?

nail varnish remover

[Efbe]

RichB said:

Efbe said:

where to get acetone from?

nail varnish remover

ffs, no way am i off to buy that :/

[RedexR]

WD40 - Still the fastest way to ignite reluctant Barbecues in the Summer

[hman]

I beg to differ a blow torch is a much more effective way to start a barbeque...

Anyway, I only use WD40 to cover my bike with after I wash it- no drying and the mud wont stick to it easily - which saves me a lot of weight as I dont have 5kg of mud stuck in all the mudguards, bash plate space etc.

Its good stuff!