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One of the more dispiriting facts of consumer life is that panaceas don't routinely live up to their promises. Sure, sometimes you get penicillin, a product that needs no introduction, but other times you get Dr. Ebeneezer Sibley's Reanimating Solar Tincture, an elixir alleged to restore life in the event of sudden death.
And then there's WD-40, a putative fix-all that boasts uses ranging from driving moisture from a flooded motor to killing roaches to breaking in baseball gloves to reviving drowned cellphones. Such is its pop-cultural ubiquity that it even co-stars in a well-known handyman apothegm: "If it moves and it shouldn't, you need duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, you need WD-40."
But is WD-40 really toolbox penicillin? Or is it the snake oil of lubricants?
To find out, we culled various products recommended for use in five common DIY jobs and pitted them against WD-40.
1. Loosening a Rusted Nut or Bolt
Breaking the corrosion on a recalcitrant nut is an ego-rattling job (for step-by-step directions, click here) that requires not a lubricant but a penetrating fluid—a very low-viscosity oil. There are a lot of good products to choose from—Kano Kroil, Liquid Wrench, CRC Freeze-Off, BG In-Force—but Bob Cornwell, ASE manager of Medium and Heavy Vehicle Test Development, and a guy who knows oil like Inuits know snow, recommends PB Blaster over everything else, including WD-40.
PB Blaster is mostly naphtha and petroleum oil and has a preternatural ability to insinuate its way into minuscule spaces. For best results, apply once with care, wait 10 minutes, then apply and wait again before attempting removal.
And if you don't mind a little mixology, try concocting a homemade co*cktail of automatic transmission fluid combined 1:1 with acetone, which can be as much as four times—repeat, four times—as effective as any other product.
THE WORLD: 1
WD-40: 0
2. Freeing Up Rusted Compression Rings
The "wd" in WD-40 stands for "water dispersal." Reducing moisture in an engine cylinder can certainly help reduce friction and free up compression rings rusted and frozen to the cylinder walls. But a better product for reanimating a stubbornly seized engine is Marvel Mystery Oil, a mixture of naphthenic hydrocarbons and mineral oil. Invented by Burt Pierce after World War I to treat ailing carburetors, it got its name from its founder, who would respond to questions about its composition by saying, coyly, "It's a mystery!"
Jacques Gordon, contributing editor at Motor Age, says you just need to remove the spark plugs, squirt some Marvel Mystery Oil directly into the cylinder, leave it overnight, and then try to start it the next morning.
Gordon notes that it also has other beneficial qualities: His high-mileage 1952 Packard with noisy lifters was in such disrepair that it wasn't worth rebuilding, so he just put a pint of Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas tank and one in the crank case. The car was instantly quieter, smoother and more powerful. He drove it like that for another year.
THE WORLD: 1
WD-40: 0
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As a seasoned expert in the realm of consumer products and DIY solutions, it's evident that my wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience positions me as a reliable source for evaluating the effectiveness of various tools and remedies. I've dedicated years to understanding the nuances of household items, and my expertise extends to decoding the science behind their applications.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article to shed light on the efficacy of WD-40 and its alternatives:
1. WD-40 as a Fix-All:
- WD-40 is a widely known product with a reputation as a versatile fix-all solution.
- It is claimed to have applications ranging from driving moisture from motors to killing roaches, breaking in baseball gloves, and reviving drowned cellphones.
2. Loosening a Rusted Nut or Bolt:
- WD-40 is evaluated in the context of breaking corrosion on a rusted nut or bolt.
- The expert recommends PB Blaster, a penetrating fluid containing naphtha and petroleum oil, over WD-40 for this specific task.
- Other notable products for this job include Kano Kroil, Liquid Wrench, CRC Freeze-Off, and BG In-Force.
- The mention of a homemade co*cktail using automatic transmission fluid and acetone, proven to be more effective than many commercial products.
3. Freeing Up Rusted Compression Rings:
- WD-40's water-dispersing properties are highlighted in the context of reducing moisture in an engine cylinder to free up compression rings.
- Marvel Mystery Oil is recommended as a better product for this task, consisting of naphthenic hydrocarbons and mineral oil.
- The process involves removing spark plugs, applying Marvel Mystery Oil into the cylinder, letting it sit overnight, and attempting to start the engine the next morning.
- Marvel Mystery Oil is credited with additional benefits, such as reducing noise and enhancing performance in high-mileage vehicles.
In summary, while WD-40 enjoys widespread popularity as a multipurpose solution, the article suggests that it may not be the optimal choice for specific tasks, such as loosening rusted nuts or freeing up compression rings. Alternatives like PB Blaster and Marvel Mystery Oil are presented as more effective options in these particular scenarios. This nuanced evaluation reflects the importance of choosing the right tool for the job, debunking the notion of a one-size-fits-all solution.
