WD-40 is BOTH a lubricant AND a solvent. I've used it as a light lube oil for decades...as does our machining facility.
From WD-40's website:
Myth: WD-40 Multi-Use Product is not really a lubricant.
Fact:
While the “W-D†in WD-40 stands for Water Displacement, WD-40 Multi-Use Product is a unique,
special blend of lubricants. The product’s formulation also contains anti-corrosion agents and ingredients for penetration, water displacement and soil removal.
Stoddard Solvent Myth: WD-40 contains Stoddard Solvent.
Fact:
Over the past few decades, the name Stoddard Solvent was synonymous with all mineral spirits. Today, the mineral spirits found in products like ours are more refined and processed (see
hydrogenation,
hydrotreating and
distillation techniques) providing mixtures with varying boiling points, cleaning ability, and chemical composition.
The catchall phrase “Stoddard Solvent†is no longer adequate to tell the proper story. WD-40 does indeed have 50% mineral spirits, but they are refined and purified for specific characteristics needed to meet today’s performance, regulatory, and safety requirements.
Heads would asplode if they saw what we did with the free railroad box car full of free discontinued Zimmer Z-Lube surgical tool lubricant I was given!
If I get to the BS that is supposedly stocking the new wet chain oil, I'll snag a bottle and let you know how it compares to regular non-detergent motor oil, synthetic motor oil, Finish Line Wet and that high zoot stuff I bought that flys off the chain as well as any cheap oil I've used.