Re:People who know the formula for WD-40
by legitster on Monday January 26, 2026 @07:01PM
(#46773570)
Sure, but the difference between one particular formulation of mineral oils and another cannot possibly be that important to the formula.
And even if it were, the recipe was supposedly created by a guy in his shed after only 40 attempts with the technology available 70 years ago. The idea that an R&D team with an entire lab of equipment couldn't recreate or improve the formula if they wanted to in that time seems a bit far fetched.
Re:People who know the formula for WD-40
by throwaway201606 on Monday January 26, 2026 @10:31PM
(#46775180)
"Sure, but the difference between one particular formulation of mineral oils and another cannot possibly be that important to the formula."
Formulation matters and is very important.
A1 jet fuel, propane, regular 87 gas and vaseline are four different formulations of some version of mineral oil (petroleum).
Which do you want in a car you are driving? On your parched lips? In your plane engine? Coming into your kitchen stove?
From the data sheet: "The specific chemical identity and exact percentages are a trade secret."
The petroleum base oils alone cover thousands of candidate chemicals.