Can I use WD-40 to lube my bicycle chain?
No. You should never use WD40 as chain lubricant since WD-40 is NOT a true lubricant. WD40 is primarily a solvent or rust dissolver.
However, WD40 can be used to clean your chain and cogs (apply a proper bicycle lubricant after)
What is WD-40
What is WD-40?
WD-40 = Water Displacement-40th attempt - The 40 was the 40th formula they tried
WD40 is NOT a lubricant but is instead a de-greaser
Since it’s not a lubricant, it will not work well on DRIVETRAINS or GEARS of any type. Especially those of mountain or road bikes, where the chain is rapidly moving through outdoor environmental conditions
History of WD-40
In 1953, the Rocket Chemical Company in San Diego, California created a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry. WD-40 was originally used as a rust-preventative solvent and de-greaser to protect Atlas missiles from rust and corrosion.
In 1969, the Rocket Chemical Company was renamed to the WD-40 Company, after its only product.
WD-40 = solvent
WD40 is primarily a solvent, which means that it dissolves contaminates so parts get nice and clean. As a solvent, WD-40 will strip away any existing lubricant, leaving your chain, and drivetrain dryer than before application. This means that using WD-40 as a chain lubricant is worse than using no lube at all.
REI, says on their website:
"Always use a cleaner and lubricant designed for bike drivetrains. REI does not recommend using WD-40 on your bike (it is a cleaner but not a lubricant)."
WD-40 & Chain degreasing
Can I use WD-40 as a de-greaser on bike parts, such as the bike chain?
Many bicycle mechanics don’t use or recommend WD-40 as a degreaser as they prefer Dawn dish soap, or Simple Green since they are less harsh.
However, YES, you can use it as a de-greaser and solvent to clean your drivetrain. Nothing maintains performance and extends the life of your bicycle as just keeping it clean and properly lubed.
Just remember, if you do use WD40 or any other degreaser, you must apply a fresh coat of bicycle lube after.
dust & grime & bicycle chain
Since WD-40 is a solvent and degreaser, application will leave your chain dry and clean. This is fine if you're looking to de-grease your bicycle chain. However, if you apply WD-40, this provides a temporary solution, and repeated use of bicycling will lead to your chain picking up dirt and grime. This will shorten the life cycle of your chain, as well and lead to a loss of power, from an increase in the friction coefficient of the drivetrain.
The WD-40 Company does sell a product called WD-40 BIKE specifically for use with bicycle chains. However, in studies, 3-IN-ONE was similar to WD-40 BIKE when compared to drivetrain performance. Unless your a competitive racer or MTBer, these are both adequate lubricants for your bicycle.
WD40 book Quotes
From the 2014 book, Your DIY Bike Repair and Bike Maintenance Guide by Sullivan Dean:
WD40 is meant to remove rust and moisture from metal surfaces. If you have a rusty old lock that won’t budge, spraying some WD40 directly into the keyhole might just make the parts inside move again, because the WD40 will help strip away rust, dirt, and residues that are preventing the mechanism inside the lock from moving properly.
If your bicycle has not been used for many months - - say it was forgotten in some lonely shack outside your house, and was not elevated properly, - - it is possible that it may have already been damaged by rust.
In this situation, WD40 is a good idea, because it will help remove the rust before you can apply machine oil or wax-based lubrication to the moving parts.
However, you should never use WD40 as the main lubricant, because once the stuff evaporates, the metal parts that you were trying to lubricate will be dry as a bone.
- (Dean, 2014)
From the 2010 book, The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair by Todd Downs:
WD-40 is a well-known product that contains several different solvents mixed with a light oil. The most aggressive solvent in the mixture quickly evaporates into the air if you leave it sitting in an open container. For cyclists, WD-40 may be most useful in its spray form for loosening gummed-up parts in derailleurs and chains.
The advantage to using a bicycle-specific cleaner or degreeaser is that most are formulated to not harm plastic or composite components that make up many of today’s high-performance parts.
-(Downs, 2010)
From the 1999 book, Clean It Fast, Clean It Right by Jeff Bredenberg:
Spray a degreaser such as WD-40 on the derailleurs, crankset, cogs, and pedals, wiping with the cloth as you go. Always spray mechanical parts from the top to avoid getting degreaser inside components and eliminating unnecessary lubricants. The main goal here is to get rid of any built-up gunk.
- (Bredenberg, 1999)
3-in-ONE multipurpose oil
Can I use 3-IN-ONE to lubricate my bicycle chain?
Yes. You can use WD40’s 3-IN-ONE oil as a chain lubricant, as it will provide your bicycle chain with adequate friction performance and protection against wear.
The 3-IN-One Multipurpose Oil was created in 1894, for use on bicycle chains, and the formula was bought by the WD-40 Company in 1995.
Some MTBers and road cyclists don’t especially like 3-IN-ONE as a chain lubricant. However, researchers who have studied friction and power losses of bicycle chain lubricants have found that 3-IN-ONE is an above-average chain lubricant, and even out-performs some specialty bike lubes.
Jesse is Director of Pedal Chile and lives in Valdivia, Chile (most of the year). Jesse has a Master of Science in Health & Human Performance and is an avid MTBer, snowboarder, & reader of narrative non-fiction.
Sources and References
Bredenberg, J. (1999). Clean It Fast, Clean It Right: The Ultimate Guide to Making Absolutely Everything You Own Sparkle & Shine. Rodale Books.
Dean, S., 2014. Your DIY Bike Repair and Bike Maintenance Guide. [Place of publication not identified]: Lulu.com.
Downs, T. (2010). The bicycling guide to complete bicycle maintenance & repair: For road & mountain bikes (6th ed.). Rodale.