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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: South of the Mason-Dixon Line
Posts: 3,722
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WD-40 the wheel wells?
Well, I had a nice talk with my mechanic who has about 30+ years of Porsche experience and cut his teeth sort of speaking with the older 911's.
I wanted to get his opinion on coating wheel wells to keep old man moisture away, although I still have a good coating of cosmoline or undercoating. He HIGHLY suggested the use of WD-40 in liberal amounts as a moisure barrier. "Spray the entire wheel well area", says he! Its a decent penetrant and water repellent; however, I have to question longevity, temporary odor and any solvent capacity to soften up the existing coating. If anyone has an opinion on the wisdon of idea or has expereince with the approach, please jump in. Regards Bob 1973.5T |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,965
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Bob,
WD-40 was not designed as a lubricant. It is a water displacement agent (thus the WD title) that was designed for electronics but has now been touted as everything from saving Elvis to making my hair grow back... That said, if you have a moisture problem there do not see what it could hurt... Joe
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2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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911 user
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: East of Eden, West of the Sun
Posts: 2,411
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I've used it exactly like that on a selection of old classics but not on a 911.
I also use WD40 to clean my Fuchs, where you have to take care around the balance weights as it creeps under sticky pads and eventually loosens them. If your car has an undercoating I would try some experiments before using it extensively. As WD40 pretty much evaporates longevity is minimal but it would act on moisture.
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Where once the giants walked now Mickey Mouse is king. My other car is also a Porsche. |
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: orcas island wa
Posts: 296
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WD
I don't remember WD 40 having any lub/oil in it....of course I 'm not sure it's Sunday either
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: orcas island wa
Posts: 296
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WD again
.....I usually use liberal amounts on the boat and plane engines when just shut down and still warm. All the little rust points and assorted spots don't seem to be a bother anymore....
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,441
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What about getting a oil undercoating where they drill small holes in the doors and sills and spray drippless oil (hydraulic oil?) in and under the car?
It is common practise to do this up here in Ontario to vehicles driven in the winter. Not that I aim to do that with my 911 , but wondered what people on this board think of oil spraying. Should I do this to help preserve my car?
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1970 911 t (sold) 1985 MR2 (sold) 2011 GT 5.0 2007 CRV |
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911 user
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: East of Eden, West of the Sun
Posts: 2,411
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If you're going to start spraying inside sills and doors you might as well use the proper product which is waxoyl, they used to sell kits for homeuse and in Europe some bodyshops do it as a service.
Since posting above I've remembered the problems a friend had removing his undercoating as part of a 911 weightloss programme, I doubt if there's anything available for home use that's going to remove Porsche undercoating easily without blood, sweat and tears.
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Where once the giants walked now Mickey Mouse is king. My other car is also a Porsche. |
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Unregistered
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: a wretched hive of scum and villainy
Posts: 55,652
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Hey hey hey, slow down. Let's not pass over this WD-40 hair growth thing so fast! :-)
I would be willing to try it except I'm afraid someone would find out :-) |
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,075
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My 2 cents. Keep WD40 away from the brake pads or disc. It soaks in and doesn't burn off basis my personal experience.
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Stopped racing and became a drummer |
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: South of the Mason-Dixon Line
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Thanks guys....
The consensus thus far is that its okay, although a temporary barrier. I will avoid the brakes! With that said, all I need to do is protect the brakes with plastic and have at it. I would think the odor would be temporary as the vapors volatize or air out. I figure a large can a wheel well. Keeps those AC hoses happy too. Regards Bob |
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Registered
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Do you think that the WD would be a dust magnet and over time would cause the wells to become caked with dirt? I remember once when I was a kid using WD to shine all the chrome parts on my bike....it looked great for a short time until the dust was attracted...
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64 356C Cabriolet 85 Carrera Coupe...Walker-maintained...Wong-chipped 02 Yukon XL 2500 82 Vespa P200E 186,000 MPS.....not just a good idea....its the Law! "Too much of everything is just enough" |
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Mercer, PA
Posts: 782
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Hairloss.... how about regrowth? I'll buy it in cases if it works.
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Registered
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I have a '70 Maverick with perfect floorboards despite having been parked outside for over ten years by the PO. His secret? Oil spray every Fall. I also had an '80 mustang in High school that developed a bad oil leak from the way I drove it, it would literally soak the underside of the car, I sold it about 3 years after HS with also no rust underneath despite the fact that I never washed it (hey it was basic beater transportation)
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Team California
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Why not just keep the car clean?? Unless I'm mistaken, you do not get snow/ice on roads in Atlanta, so no salt on roads, correct? As far as moisture, (plain water), staying wet forever under your car, I don't know how or why this would happen. Just spray underside occasionally at the coin car-wash, it will dry when you drive it away and car won't rust. The inside of wheelwells doesn't rust even in Minnesota, except at the spot where wheels splash back salt-solution, this seems like an inexplicable thing to do, IMO.
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Denis "It won't interfere with the current building. It'll be near it but not touching it." -Grifter in Chief, July of 2025 |
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911 user
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: East of Eden, West of the Sun
Posts: 2,411
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Old 911s have lots of points where water can enter and sit there until it evaporates, sometimes it can collect and pool and doesn't dispel easily.
Some rust points are around the headlights, around the fuel filler flap and on the front wings where they meet the bumpers, in addition the inner wings. I suspect that some prevention at the wheel wells would help. I'm not that familiar with later cars but I have an idea that they have a plastic lining on the wheelwell which would help. I remember reading that aftermarket liners were available for older models in a scandinavian country, sorry I don't remember which.
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: South of the Mason-Dixon Line
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My sceptical friends..........
Indeed Atlanta is not known for salted roads in the winter (sand instead), nor arid conditions like Arizona in the summer, but it does rain, and rain it does. It pours! This car is 29 years old and despite its restoration, I would not be surprised if rust is lurking somewhere in its bowels. So rather then scraping, and blasting some of this old undercoating away and starting fresh, WD-40 is a great and inexpensive rainy season water repellant. This is my daily driver. Dust? If WD-40 collects dust or dirt, which makes sense, I do not believe accumulative amounts will be appreciable enough to render further action. Thus far the board has been positive and several case histories presented. I am sold..................but I will not try it for hair growth! Regards Bob |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,965
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Guys,
I can tell you the truth about the aux properties of WD-40! It will grow hair but unfortunately it usually comes back grey and not in the correct places. Those of you old enough to know about this understand and the rest I will let you find out in the "bar" sessions after one of our Pelican meets! Joe
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2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Roseville, CA
Posts: 393
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Ah, the primary disadvantage of a rear engined car - the "self applying rust preventative oil coating" doesn't work! Those British roadster guys have known about that trick for years...
![]() Second on Waxoyl, it's the "right" product. Sure 10W-40 might work, but so does gasoline brighten up a paint job - and you wouldn't use that on your Porsche, would you? -Boyo
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'48 Willys CJ-2A / '55.1 Chevy 3600 / '66 Austin-Healey 3000 / '72 Porsche 911T |
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Fahren mit dem Wind.
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WD40 as solvent
Hmm, when I bought a table saw a few years ago, the instructions said t oremove the cosmoline with WD40! If you really do have a tar or wax based undercoating, I think the WD40 would disolve it. Might want to try a small spot first.
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Keeper of the 1983 911SC Cabriolet Registry (http://911sccabrioletregist.freeforums.net) Caregiver to: 1983 911 SC Cabriolet - Fahern mit dem Wind. (Moss Green Metallic over Champagne and Brown Leather) |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Stuttgart FRG
Posts: 2,307
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Hello
WD 40 is a good protectant for enginebays, engines, tranys, axles, underbody. We use Mike sanders grease in the body and wax on the underbody. Just make sure the original PVC undercoat doesn´t dry out. My brother used baby oil for his 911 baby ![]() Grüsse |
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