Refresh me on Lube No-No? Silicone Spray vs. Lithium Grease vs. WD40

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by bob deluke

Balistol. Made in Germany.

Smells nice and good for the sinusses

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by hcoles

I also have used SS 2000. Not easy to find.
For grease in places that don't need wheel bearing type grease. I use Super Lube. For example, I put it on Viton O rings for AC install. Super Lube is sticky and doesn't wash off.

What I just lubed all my ratchets with...Super Lube synthetic. An added benefit is it's dielectric...great for preventing corrosion on battery posts and electrical connections, especially ones exposed to moisture...fog lights, headlight, tail lights, etc. $pendy at around $10 for a 3 ounce tube, but great stuff.

[asphaltgambler]

Wurth's product is specifically designed for hinges, latches, cables. You find it online, but pricey per can. The good part is a little goes a loooong way, so a can lasts a looooong time.

[porsche tech]

HHS 2000:

[nota]

I regard wd-40 as a lube cleaner NOT lube
but used to remove dirty lube
then replace with oil

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Wurth's product is specifically designed for hinges, latches, cables. You find it online, but pricey per can. The good part is a little goes a loooong way, so a can lasts a looooong time.

That's the one I use. It seems more oily than the other ones. WD40 seems to be full of thinners and solvents - not much oil, so I never use it for anything other than cleaning parts.

[look 171]

I use WD 40 to free up old dried up grease or as a cleaner sometimes and great at removing stickers. I shot it up into an extremely hard to reach bicycle shifter due to solidified old grease. It took about half a can, but it did free it. For most items that need grease, I use super lube.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

Great questions. A Silicone Spray is a mixture of siloxane (the silicone oil), carrier solvent, and a propellent. The siloxane is very compatible with all sorts of polymers except silicone rubber. The issue may come with the carrier solvent and even the propellant. Some propellants are really volatile and may create some problems.

Lithium grease is typically made with paraffinic mineral oil. Mineral oils can harden and shrink Butadiene (NBR) rubber and can swell and soften Chlorinated Rubber seals. Not the best for natural rubber, SBR, Butyl rubber, Neoprene. The compatible polymers are typically Nitrile and Urethanes.

WD40 is a a petroleum distillate made of Ligroins, petroleum fractions consisting mostly of C7 and C8 hydrocarbons. The fraction is also called heavy naphtha. The formula is 50–60% naphtha, hydrotreated heavy. <25% petroleum base oils. <10% naphtha, hydrodesulfurized heavy (contains: 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene, 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene, xylene, mixed isomers) and 2–4% carbon dioxide as a propellant.

According to their marketing materials, it is compatible with Acetal, neoprene/hard rubber, HDPE, PPS Copolymer Polysulfone, Teflon, Viton. It should not be used with wax polishes and certain wax coatings may be softened. Clear polycarbonate and polystyrene may stress craze or crack.
There is the concept in chemistry that ‘like dissolves like.’ I wouldn’t use WD40 around any rubber pr plastic.

Seems this guy knows some stuff about lubricants!

[911 Rod]

I don't even own a can of WD-40.