Caught a newbie trying to use WD-40 on a turbine seal today

So I'm walking through the hangar and I see this younger guy, maybe 6 months in, spraying WD-40 all over a CFM56 exhaust section. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was trying to loosen a stuck seal ring. I had to stop him and explain that stuff burns off at high temps and can mess with the seal material. He gave me this blank stare for a solid 10 seconds before grabbing the right penetrant from the tool crib. Has anyone else had to rescue a new guy from their own good intentions?

2 comments

2 Comments

karenf401mo ago

Read somewhere that WD-40 leaves a nasty residue that can actually weld itself to hot turbine parts over time. Your mileage may vary but that kid dodged a bullet with you catching him.

felixb251mo ago

I remember my first year I genuinely thought WD-40 was the answer to everything too lol. @karenf40 I actually read that same thing and it convinced me to switch. Saw a seal that looked almost melted from someone using it years ago and that was enough for me. The kid will learn fast after seeing what the right stuff can do.