TromboneAl

I've seen some discussions (i.e. flame wars) concerning whether WD-40 is good for cleaning the bike's frame, as compare with OMS (Odorless Mineral Spirits).

Today I cleaned the right fork with OMS and the left with WD-40. After a 61-mile ride, the WD-40 side was covered with small black specs, and the OMS side was clean. I'll take pictures later.

I'll still use WD-40 to clean anything that could rust, but for the frame on my aluminum bike I'll use OMS in a spray bottle.

mkane77g

We use WD 40 on our ti bikes. Gets the gunk off.

TromboneAl

Right. So did I. But the WD-40 gets the gunk off because it is 51% mineral spirits. Now I just use the mineral spirits and don't leave any oil behind.

JanMM

Do you mean the original WD40 or one of the new WD40 Bike products? https://www.wd40bike.com/

From now on, anyone discussing WD40 has to be specific.

Rowan

I really like the way you are setting out to experiment with stuff and give us feedback from practical perspectives, TromboneAl.

Blues Frog

Hmmmmmm.

Kai Winters

I get WD40 for free...hard to beat...

TromboneAl

Good point. The original.

TromboneAl

Here are the photos. It's hard to be exactly fair with lighting, etc, but the WD-40 side definitely had more fine particles on it. Note that there is very little pollution here (where I rode).

With WD-40:



With OMS:

Clawed

Another useful cleaner/solvent is kerosene, but ordinary kerosene really stinks. Find lamp oil in a hardware store or candle shop. You can get it odorless or scented with pine or even patchouli for a flash from the past. And it works great.

overthehillmedi

Wonder if the kerosene was scented with citronella if it would help keep the bugs off?

Clawed

yes, you can buy that

Zinger

Yeah this is kind of a nice feature of the forum.

scooter bopp

But one of the reasons I love WD 40 is that wonderful WD 40 fragrance.

B. Carfree

What is this bike cleaning you are referring to. Bike and clean are two words that just don't sit well together in my little world.

sreten

Hi,

Those of us who use WD40, (note I didn't say WD40 BIKE which still
includes the original WD40, pedants will have a field day), know it
will pick up dust. We don't care. Cleaning off real muck is easier.

rgds, sreten.

Clawed

If you love the smell of WD40 then you really need to give Tri-Flow a sniff.

CraigB

Tri-Flow always reminds me of the day we synthesized banana oil in high school chemistry class. I couldn't go near a banana for months.

jsjcat

Tri-Flow smells good enough to drink. I like the smell but it's a dirt magnet too. I used to use the original WD40 to clean wheel bearings and greasy things but now ODM gets my vote. Great for chains and general greasy gunk removal. And it doesn't leave the greasy residue. But that's what it was designed to do - leave a greasy residue. ODM is much more useful as a thinning agent.

Shamrock

I have a white bike.When clean it looks great.It was clean when I bought it.I thought I was supposed to use Simple Green to clean and Pledge to wax.Or am I on the wrong forum.I'll try WD40. Simple green is not very good on white bikes in my opinion.Keep in mind WD40 is Extremely Flamable.Do I spray and light it off or spray and wipe it off?Over time this will not damage the finish right?

scooter bopp

I'll need to get some Tri-flow and check it out. Though WD40 is hard to beat. Its my third favorite scent, after BBQ and two stroke exhaust. After my wife cooks out on the grill, or right after we get back from a snowmobile ride, I cant keep my hands off her. Now if I could market all three scents as a perfume fragrance I could be a millionaire.

Zinger

Lol
Does WD40 not smell just a little like coconut ?

BlazingPedals

Hmm... I've cleaned with WD-40, but I've never considered leaving it on the finish. I always go back and clean with a mild detergent once the really cruddy stuff is gone. I've always thought that mineral spirits were a bit too harsh.

NOS88

Wow; I've never used anything but a bucket of hot water with a small squirt of dish washing liquid and scrub brushes.

Zinger

That's me. My ride sits in the kitchen most of the time and picks up whatever is in the air from cooking bacon or frying salmon patties in olive oil. Water, dish-soap, rinse water and pieces of T-shirt do it for me. Kerosine on the chain.

I'm gonna try waxing my chain next year though based on the OPs test in that regard.