WD-40 & Simple Green

[PdxGS]

Curious about the long term effects of WD-40 (used as a cleaning agent) on the painted frame, as well as engine.

Originally, I was going to use WD-40 and scrub first, then spray with Simple Green to remove the WD, finishing with a water spray rinse. Can I bypass the Simple Green + water if I wipe the bike down? Or will that lead to a harder to clean bike or some weird corrosion on the metals?

I've also been a bit concerned about how Simple Green reacts to the engine, I'm not 100% sure, but it seems that it can lead to a white'ish residue. Has anyone else seen this? Am I not cleaning things properly?

[bonanzadave]

IMO...

Leave the WD on. It may attract a little dirt but you're always wiping and cleaning anyway.

Rinse the SG off thoroughly. It has acidity and will etch aluminum. Not good on freshly polished side covers.

[TheCafeKid]

WD40 has a reputation as a lubricant for some reason, when in reality, it's not all that great at that particular job. The WD actually stands for Water Dispursant formula number 40. So leaving it on anything won't invite corrosion. However, simple green, purple power, etc will leave a nasty residue and will do as Dave says, so rinse that stuff off well.
I use some stuff called "Awesome!" and it is indeed. You can find it at the dollar store or the like, walmart, etc and a spray bottle of it costs a buck.

I also use s100. That stuff is even better, but it's sort of expensive so I use it after using awesome to get the heavy grime.

[Adler]

WD40 has a reputation as a lubricant for some reason, when in reality, it's not all that great at that particular job. The WD actually stands for Water Dispursant formula number 40. So leaving it on anything won't invite corrosion. However, simple green, purple power, etc will leave a nasty residue and will do as Dave says, so rinse that stuff off well.
I use some stuff called "Awesome!" and it is indeed. You can find it at the dollar store or the like, walmart, etc and a spray bottle of it costs a buck.

I also use s100. That stuff is even better, but it's sort of expensive so I use it after using awesome to get the heavy grime.

Water Displacement not Water Dispursant... Not that it matters.

[TheCafeKid]

Water Displacement not Water Dispursant... Not that it matters.

True. If it were a dispersant then, would it spray water everywhere?

[jwhelan65]

WD40 has a reputation as a lubricant for some reason, when in reality, it's not all that great at that particular job. The WD actually stands for Water Dispursant formula number 40. So leaving it on anything won't invite corrosion. However, simple green, purple power, etc will leave a nasty residue and will do as Dave says, so rinse that stuff off well.
I use some stuff called "Awesome!" and it is indeed. You can find it at the dollar store or the like, walmart, etc and a spray bottle of it costs a buck.

I also use s100. That stuff is even better, but it's sort of expensive so I use it after using awesome to get the heavy grime.

+1 on the Awesome great stuff...

[stevetower01]

Wd40

WD40 contains at least three ingredients. One is oil, one is solvent and one is silicon. Obviously silicon and oil work as lubricants but the solvent tends to negate that to a great degree.

You need to be careful of silicon in that if you even intend to paint, it will make problems for you if a surface has ever had WD40 on it, I would use a commercial body shop oil, wax and silicon remover to be sure it is gone. Auto paint stores sell the stuff.

[ronin1166]

WD-40 is one of the best degreasers I've found...especially on old chain lube and dried/hardened grease. GREAT for cleaning chains.
And for some reason, I've acquired a ridiculous number of cans of the stuff over the years, so I spray it around with impunity.
It is definitely not a lubricant, but does OK as a metal honing/polishing oil when used with a fine abrasive.

I'm not a fan of Simple Green. I've never really been that impressed with its performance, particularly on old, baked-on crud.
And it seems to leave a sticky residue behind...requiring thorough rinsing...it's like needing to wash a part twice.
In addition, as others have stated, said residue is corrosive to aluminum.
Ive had the same jug of SG in my stash for years, just never use it.

YRMV, of course.

.

[duaneage]

The primary component of WD-40 is kerosene. Kerosene is a real good cleaner and safer than gasoline for obvious reasons.

Simple Green is a safe cleaner, it won't hurt you like other cleaners can. I found that Goof Off is superior to removing tough grease, but it has to be washed with something else (like Simple Green) but it does cut through the toughest grease.