That whole "don't use WD-40 on aircraft" rule needs a reality check

Heard a guy at the Parts & Rep selling point in Las Vegas last week telling a new mechanic to never ever use WD-40 on anything. Look, I get the official line, but I've been using it to free up stubborn lockwire clamps on Cessna 172s for 15 years with zero issues. As long as you wipe it clean and don't spray it near bushings or seals, it works fine. Anyone else quietly bend the rule now and then?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_schmidt9714d agoMost Upvoted

Man I hear you on that. That whole "creep into the threads" thing is exactly why I'm real careful with it too. I only use a tiny spritz and then hit it with brake cleaner after, but I get why some guys won't touch the stuff.

reese8615d ago

Lockwire clamps? Seriously? On a 172? That's wild to me man. Those little stainless steel clamps are the last thing I'd ever hit with WD-40, even if you wipe it down. I've seen that stuff creep into the threads and then you end up with a clamp that won't hold torque the next time you need to cinch it down. No way I'd risk that on something that holds a critical cable, especially on a plane that old.