Which is best, oil or WD40?

sevenhills

Oil for the engine, we all use that; it always used to be 3 in 1 oil for hinges and things.
But now everyone seems to use on everything. I drive a vehicle with a tail-lift, so on some moving parts I use oil.
I know there is a small amount of oil in WD40, but its main role is penetrating.
What oil would you use on vehicle door hinges or just a part that moves in the same way?

nickcc

Engine oil was our choice many years ago. Not much point using WD 40 unless the hinges are seized. 3in 1 is a bit thin and the lubricant won't last long.

coffeehound

I used bicycle chain oil on the car door hinges and check-straps - thicker and more clingy than 3-in-1

Robisere

Any penetrating oil has only one use in this instance: to penetrate the working parts of whatever you wish to free off or de-rust, and then lubricate. It is not meant as a permanent lubricant, because it dries up after a short period. If I use it, I make sure the part/mechanism/tool/whatever is working with free movement, then dry it with a rag, and lubricate with oil. For most uses, that means engine oil, but there are some applications which require a lighter oil. Such as my wife's sewing machines.

Tools, such as garden tools, can be freed off and de-rusted if necessary with penetrating oil such as WD-40, then lubricated. If kept in a damp environment such as a garage, I coat my tools in a thin film of WD-40 to prevent moisture, then wrap and tie in an old cloth soaked in oil, any oil. Interestingly, my grandson's old PJ sleeves and legs make very good wraps for this. However, he's 21 now and does not like me reminding him that these pieces of cloth, decorated with Teddy Bears, were once his night time wear. :-)

Scrapit

WD isn't great at penetrating, a penetrating spray would be better at that. Wd is for water dispersal. For a tail lift use a chain lube especially if it has a chain or cogs.

Shaun_of_the_Dead

sevenhills wrote: »

Oil for the engine, we all use that; it always used to be 3 in 1 oil for hinges and things.
But now everyone seems to use on everything. I drive a vehicle with a tail-lift, so on some moving parts I use oil.
I know there is a small amount of oil in WD40, but its main role is penetrating.
What oil would you use on vehicle door hinges or just a part that moves in the same way?

You don't know that much then.

daveyjp

Chain saw Cutting blade oil. Thicker than bike chain oil, but not as thick as grease.

force_ten

most car dealers seem to use a lithium spray grease on hinges and check straps nowadays

sevenhills

Shaun_of_the_Dead wrote: »

You don't know that much then.

Can you reply to the issue, rather than being personal?

Divorced_Daddy_001

force_ten wrote: »

most car dealers seem to use a lithium spray grease on hinges and check straps nowadays

This is what I was gonna suggest for hinges as well. I use it on anything that isn't seized but is difficult to get at with a traditional oil can

AdrianC

sevenhills wrote: »

Oil for the engine, we all use that; it always used to be 3 in 1 oil for hinges and things.
But now everyone seems to use on everything. I drive a vehicle with a tail-lift, so on some moving parts I use oil.
I know there is a small amount of oil in WD40, but its main role is penetrating.
What oil would you use on vehicle door hinges or just a part that moves in the same way?

WD40 is a water-disperser - there's a clue in the name. It's not a penetrating oil. If you want a penetrating oil, use Plusgas or similar.

On door hinges, and probably on your taillift, you'd be better with spray grease.