the_jade•21d agoProlific Poster

Is WD-40 actually a lubricant or just a solvent? My neighbor Pete in Austin swore by it for everything, but my mechanic dad says it's only for cleaning.

Last month I soaked a squeaky hinge on my garage door with WD-40 and it stopped squeaking for 2 days before getting worse. Then I tried a lithium grease spray from Home Depot for $6 and it's been silent for 3 weeks now. So which side is right for everyday fixes - quick solvent or proper lube? Anyone got a strong opinion on this fight?

2 comments

2 Comments

dakota_fox21d ago

Wait... are you sure the lithium grease isn't the winner here? I've had the exact same experience with WD-40, it's like it just masks the noise for a day or two then everything gets worse than before. My dad always kept a can of that stuff around for everything but I swear it's just water displacer that happens to smell like chemicals. I finally switched to a proper white lithium grease for my bike chain and cabinet hinges and everything just works way longer now. Your neighbor Pete might be good for some things but on this one I'm with your mechanic dad all the way... WD-40 is just a light cleaner and it'll never be a real lubricant replacement.

-1

ryanh7721d ago

Wait, hold on... your dad actually knew that WD-40 is just a cleaner? That just blew my mind a little. I grew up thinking that blue and yellow can could fix literally anything, but now I'm wondering how many squeaky doors I've accidentally ruined over the years.