WD40 Problem

[David Mack]

I have just found an old rusty can of WD40. From the weight and the feeling of the contents sloshing around, it is almost full. The button on the top pushes down smoothly, but nothing comes out, same when I take the button off and push down on the little plastic tube below. So it seems the actual valve in the top of the can is stuck.

What do I use to free off the valve in a can of WD40?

[Tony Brooks]

I suspect it has lost its propellant. I would puncture the can close to the top and put the WD40 in an oil can or empty kitchen spray bottle.

[Mike Tee]

Just rip the top off and decant into a hand spray bottle - I never buy WD40 in a spray can, always (well twice, it lasts for ages) buy it in 4 litre plastic containers and put in a spray bottle. Works out much cheaper as well.

[Tracy D'arth]

Bin it, WD40 is not much good anyway. There are much better oil lubricants, purer white spirits and better penetrating oils.

[BEngo]

It is pretty darn good at doing what it was developed for- dewatering.

 Her Majesty's seagoing aircraft get a spritz of it every day to hold corrosion at bay.  

 

N

[Chris Lowe]

55 minutes ago, BEngo said:

It is pretty darn good at doing what it was developed for- dewatering.

 Her Majesty's seagoing aircraft get a spritz of it every day to hold corrosion at bay.  

No good for lubing her Majesties propellor shafts though

[Laurie Booth]

7 hours ago, David Mack said:

I have just found an old rusty can of WD40. From the weight and the feeling of the contents sloshing around, it is almost full. The button on the top pushes down smoothly, but nothing comes out, same when I take the button off and push down on the little plastic tube below. So it seems the actual valve in the top of the can is stuck.

What do I use to free off the valve in a can of WD40?

Spray it with wd40

[jake_crew]

The foaming of the liquid as it squirts under pressure is part of the penetrative effect.  But using the decanted liquid is less messy.

[system 4-50]

and using it in a confined space gives me a headache that lasts for days.  Not suprising but very inconvenient.

[ditchcrawler]

6 hours ago, jake_crew said:

The foaming of the liquid as it squirts under pressure is part of the penetrative effect.  But using the decanted liquid is less messy.

But its not a very good penetrant anyway. We used it for inhibiting gas turbine engines 

[jake_crew]

24 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

But its not a very good penetrant anyway. We used it for inhibiting gas turbine engines 

Agreed.   Diesel is much more penetrative.  And even smellier.