WD-40 comes to the rescue.....scary thought.

[Joe Bob]

So my Mercedes is in the shop being held hostage to back ordered parts.....Freaking emission control parts for the DEF diesel schizzle. Been there a month. Another frustrating story.

My 911 is my daily driver as a default. The Optima battery was recently resurrected from the dead, so I check it every day for current charge (no, I'm not anal just cautious). As a habit I put the key in the ignition.

Damn thing wouldn't turn....no problem, wiggle the steering wheel. Nope....no problem, turn the key over....nope. No problem use the spare key.....nope.....SHIZZLE!!!!!!

Tool kit, graphite.....schizzle! Lost in the ether......wait, a sample sized can of WD-40, the red nozzle still attached by tape. Virgin can.

Spritz....key turns like butter.

Now I always thought of WD-40 as snake oil. B U T this time it bailed me out.

Not the best lube for a key way.....but time will tell.

[Flojo]

https://www.google.com/search?q=wd40+graph&rls=com.microsoft:de-DE:IE-Address&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiz57Xyz_blAhUvuaQKHdqJCJUQ_AUIESgB&biw=1469&bih=792#imgdii=dP98DWFk7byFKM:&imgrc=qfWwadi3qg1qJM:&spf=1574178502924

[HarryD]

Joe Bob. WD 40 can work for a while. My locksmith recommends Tri Flow lube for licks. Cleans like almost as well as WD40 and leaves a Teflon film for lubrication.

https://www.triflowlubricants.com/product-category/lubricants/

[Joe Bob]

Yup have used Tri Flow before....if I use it afterwards will it push out the snake oil?

[Quickstep192]

I see no problem with using WD40 in a lock. (As long as you don’t dump a gallon of it in there). It dries and leaves a light lubricant behind while displacing water which is its originally intended purpose.

[Joe Bob]

Just one short shot....

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Yup have used Tri Flow before....if I use it afterwards will it push out the snake oil?

yep.

FWIW, when this came up with my locksmith to address sticky locks, I asked him what I should use as a lube. I mentioned dry graphite and he replied yes with a sly smile. I asked why he was smiling and he told me that when graphite gets used, people call him back more often since it tends to build up and gum up the lock. He does not get call backs with Tri Flow.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Quickstep192

I see no problem with using WD40 in a lock. (As long as you don’t dump a gallon of it in there). It dries and leaves a light lubricant behind while displacing water which is its originally intended purpose.

Agree, but just does not last the way Tri Flow does.

[gregpark]

Only problem with WD40 is it's such a dust magnet, seemingly more so than other lubricants

[manbridge 74]

They make a PTFE WD40 now. It’s a gray can, almost a dry lube.

[RSBob]

Used to use Triflow on my bicycle chains because it didn’t attract dirt like other oils. Last year the key for the Master Lock on my shed would not turn. A shot of WD40 took care of it.

[jjeffries]

WD40 is one of Western Civilization's great wonders. Lovely stuff. John