VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc WD 40 ??

Just finished a complete service on my stock, 1941 Special Deluxe Coupe. complete lube job, oil & filter change, tune up, valve & Carb adjustments, etc. etc. etc. etc. And everything is working GREAT and it runs like a top.

But in my never ending quest to have one of the cleanest 41's any where and to support my anal cleaning habit I was wiping & cleaning {w/Simple Green} the car's front end, such as the steering, shocks, frame, coil springs, frame supports, eng. mounts, etc. etc.

And I had this question; Is it a good idea or NECESSARY to spray some of these areas with an oil or product like WD 40 ?? {No!! NOT the breaks} Sort of like a top coat.

I seem to remember when I was 15 i worked for a Signal Gasoline Station and when they lubed/serviced a car they would spray a mixture of oil & kerosene in various places under the car.

I don't want oil flying all over, but I do want to protect the area and metal from rust.

As always thoughts & responses are appreciated,
Michael41

Sounds Ok to me, once I did the underside of an old car with a silicon spray protectant, it was ok until I spray painted it with a rattle can, the next time I washed it with a hot pressure washer the paint came off.

Not all ideas from long ago where good ones. A product such as WD 40 will dry up to fast to do any good and any oil based product will hold dirt and road dust and then it will never look clean.

I sure do hear you guy on THE routine of when to wash and when to paint. After my cleaning is done, using elbow grease, simple green & a pressure wash I will wire brush it, sand, AND then paint.

So if & when I spray some "oil" type product it will not affect the paint, to much. That is IF I do spray any "oil." Judge is still out.

But as always in life a by product of my new knowledge has taken place, I have found invaluable item for my garage and have used more of it than any thing else, "neosporin."

Michael41

WD40 is an excellant choice.It leaves a very little film to collect dirt and keeps plated parts nice and shiney.In Fall I even spray down the engine compartment on my modern cars to prevent the road salt from rusting things and keeps the pot metal/aluminum parts nice an fresh looking.It will come off if you wash your engine but I wait for Spring before I do that.

Well No Salt or Snow Out West but that seems like the perfect idea, WD40.

Once my chevy undercarriage chores are complete {cross your fingers} and I have the "front end" Frame & bottom" cleaned, sanded, scraped, washed, brushed and looking good I will paint, then after that dries thoroughly I will spray it all with a thin coat of WD40.

If it's good enough for the wintery roads in Wisconsin, it's good enough for me.
Thanks, ya-all,
Michael41

Mike, a nice large first aid kit is an essential part of my shop and I buy the large Band-aid package at Sam's Club when I stock up on WD-40, motor oil, de-greaser, rags and paper towels!
.....You gotta Luv' it!

Right on Mrmack.

Randy Hatton, a wonderful old pal of mine who loved to work on cars had a funny theory about shop pains; "When you go out in the garage to work on your car. First thing you have to do is pick up a heavy 1" open end wrench. Lay your hand on the work bench and smack one of your knuckles to remove the top layer of skin. It's gunna happen any way so you might was well go to work w/out the anxiety."

Never had the balls to practice that, but his theory holds true to this day. Because it surly does happen.

Michael41

...But do you really have to use a 1" wrench? I do pretty good with a 1/2" - 9/16" time after time.......


You need to take care of those wounds! "Throw some dirt on it!"
Peyton Manning...