WD40 Fast Acting Degreaser

WD40 Specialist fact acting degreaser will gobble through anything remotely lube based it comes into contact with.

Drivetrains are the most obvious candidates followed by bearings and contact points but it also makes short work of Waxoyl and similarly medieval potions used to preserve treasured framesets. However, in common with these substances, its environmental credentials are a little lacking so store in cool settings far from the grasp of children and pets.

WD40 has largely forgone the familiar (and invariably lost) red applicator in favour of a swish yellow smart-straw. This means the applicator turret has to be at ninety degrees before the pressurised contents are released for tackling localised areas such as cassettes/drivetrains but removing the collar allows a much broader delivery, say when degreasing a mothballed frame. It's a very powerful solvent that visibly consumes grime on contact.

Two sharp squirts saw congealed oils, gunge and ingress slide from a nine-speed cassette, forming a muddy black pool on the floor. It does clean up after itself but I wouldn't risk it on the kitchen lino.

There wasn't any call for additional coaxing from a brush or similar implement, but loose wheel and headset bearings benefit from a quick scrub, especially those dressed in super stiff marine greases.

It breezes through standard greases, wet lubes and locking compounds (Carbo grip and threadlock being obvious examples), so despite WD40's assurances to the contrary, I'd be uncomfortable about using it regularly with composites and rubber seals and the like, or allowing it prolonged contact with them. I'd rinse them thoroughly with clean water and possibly a citrus based cleaner before re-lubricating.

Verdict

Powerful degreaser for general workshop duties that works a treat on drivetrains but I'd use with caution around composites and rubber seals.