Know exactly what’s in your spray can
WD-40 doesn’t do what you might think it does
The spray shelf in many doit-yourself garages can reveal a lot about the home tech and what types of projects they tackle.
Afull shelf of anti-seize compounds, and rust removers, might let you know that someone is a fan of working on older vehicles that get exposed to Canadian winters with more than their fair share of rusted fasteners.
Spray protective treatments, like Tire Shine, might reveal a classic vehicle restorer who loves to show off the gleam at local car shows (they aren’t called show and shines for no reason).
But did you ever think about whether or not you’re using the right product for the right job, or if there just might be a better alternative for what you’re tackling? And most importantly, do you ever think of your safety and health, and what precautions you should be taking with what can be toxic chemicals?
BRAKE AND PARTS CLEANERS
These probably list at the top of every tech’s must-have spray list. And why not? They can be great for degreasing grimy parts and rinsing miles worth of brake dust and other road deposits away, leaving a clean metal finish.
But the active ingredient in most of these sprays is xylene, a volatile hydrocarbon made from distilling coal tar or petroleum.
When used in an aerosol, it’s very easy to unintention
ally inhale this product and even small amounts can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
It’s also easy to get overspray on sensitive parts and this product can dissolve sealants, caulking, and waterproofing. It’s extremely flammable as well.
If you absolutely have to use it in aerosol form, make sure the area is well ventilated and you’re wearing skin and breathing protection.
Better yet, get it from a paint store in a non-aerosol form, which is usually much cheaper while delivering the same cleaning punch.
And remember, as a hydrocarbon, this cleaner can contaminate water if it gets into storm drains, so capture any run-off with absorbent materials.
PENETRANTS
Penetrating liquids for seized nuts and bolts are a musthave for any shade-tree tech for a vehicle of any age.
Seasoned veterans know that some advanced treatment with a rust-buster spray a few hours or the day before tackling some stubborn nuts can be well worth it in terms of saving skinned knuckles and snapped bolts/studs.
Liquid Wrench is one of the more popular products for a reason; it works. Its active ingredient is a teflon derivative, so it’s certainly less toxic than brake/parts cleaner.
Still, with any aerosol there are risks when they’re exposed to heat.
LUBRICANTS
Spray lubricants aren’t equal nor universal in their application. So, something good for a squeaky door hinge for example, might not do well in a door lock cylinder.
The rule of thumb to remember is, if it’s thick, dirt sticks. So, a spray that leaves a nice gooey blob can trap dirt, grit, and grime causing excess wear and undesired results.
Maybe that’s why Liquid Wrench is available in six formulations for different applications.
One more thing — that classic WD-40 is a solvent, not a lube.
Use it for cleaning, loosening, or penetration, but not for long-term lubrication of moving parts!