Using WD40 to clean rims?

[Papercup]

Today when I was cleaning my ride at the washing bay of my place MSCP, I saw a uncle clean his car rims with WD40. I always thought that WD40 is a type of lubricating oil also is able to clean and prevent rusting but won't it be a bit too dangerous to use it to clean rims? What if some of it got sprayed onto the brakes?

[Xavier]

Yes. It is not safe to use WD40 to clean the rims. Not only the brakes, even the tyre might be affected. Used to do that when I was riding, until one day I almost skidded. Then I realise it was the oil from WD40 that was on my tyres. Cannot brake and stop in time because of the oily brake.

Edited February 15, 2005 by Xavier

[Papercup]

Wow! I should really warn that uncle! See him happily spraying on his rims with WD40

[Xavier]

MAybe he wants to do some drifting like Takumi?

[Ghostrider]

WD40 for rims I have not tried. But you can use it to clean your engine bay. Use a toilet paper (dun use newspaper to save...you will cry if you do that.) spray on the paper and then wipe all the greasy parts.

[Papercup]

His car is a brand new Altis. Seriously hope that that is not what he is trying to do

[Xavier]

WD40 is indeed very powerful when cleaning the rim. MAybe spray abit on a cloth then apply to the rim would be much safer to do so instead of spraying directly onto the rim.

[Papercup]

He got the big can type. Seem like he is going to do some serious "spraying"

 

BTW, will WD40 "eat" into the color of the rims?

[Kklim]

I've used it before to clean the lower half of the doors. Sprayed liberally, watched it work on the accumulated muck and then rinsed with car wash liquid. Doors sparkled after that.

[Pisces69]

Today when I was cleaning my ride at the washing bay of my place MSCP, I saw a uncle clean his car rims with WD40. I always thought that WD40 is a type of lubricating oil also is able to clean and prevent rusting but won't it be a bit too dangerous to use it to clean rims? What if some of it got sprayed onto the brakes?

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The uncle probably thinking that it prevents rust, is using it to protect his investment on his $4K OZ rims.

 

Better tell him nicely the dangers & use only a little on a rag to wipe the outer metal.

 

Sometimes these uncle don't like to be told as they think they know better as he been driving for more than 30 years.

 

Be gentle.

[Estrangable]

it's very dangerous to use WD40.......i used that once and got into an accident. Was riding a bike 6 or 7 years back and sometimes to lube the chain, i will spray some WD40 on it. there was once that i sprayed on the rims of the motorbike and i think some of the lube got into the brake. Crashed into the gates of my camp.

[Contax]

If wanna clean/maintain/polish the rims at the same time , I use a 3M stainless steel polish which you can buy it from any DIY shop or department store(I bought mine at carrefour).

It's a spray-on type,and I spray it on the cloth before applying it on the rims.

The rims shine after that.

Edited February 17, 2005 by Contax