Will WD-40 on Car Paint Cause Damage? Let’s Find Out! (2024)

First and foremost, WD-40 is a solvent and a degreaser. It also has lubrication properties, but they are extremely minimal. It is not a substitute for lubricants on any moving parts. If you spray a bicycle chain with WD-40, for example, it will end up drier and less lubricated than when you started!

These properties make it extremely useful for some applications and terrible at others.

Here is our breakdown of the dos and don’ts of WD-40 in the DIY detailing world.

You would imagine that using a solvent to repair scratches wouldn’t make sense! But it’s actually not a bad trick if you’re in a pinch. There are two situations when WD40 can improve the appearance of minor scuffs:

1. For light, surface scratches.

These aren’t any scuff marks that haven’t cut all the way through your clear coat.

First of all, the WD-40 will blast out any powdery residue. When your clear coat gets scratched, it produces fine, light-colored dust. This dust will sit in the scratch, highlighting the damage until it’s cleaned out.

Being a clear-colored lubricant, the WD-40 will act as a short-term substitute for your clear coat. It will slightly fill the grooves in the finish and moisturize the rough edges. Just to be clear, we are not saying that WD-40 is in any way a suitable replacement for a clear coat. It isn’t! But, it helps to reduce the appearance of any damage for a short time.

To try this method out is pretty simple. Give the area a quick wipe down with a microfiber cloth first. Then, blast the area with WD-40 to blow away any dust and coat the scratch. After that, a good rub with the microfiber cloth should do the trick. It won’t take a lot of work, and you should see results almost immediately.

1. Removing paint transfer from other cars.

If some careless fool has knocked into your car (it was their fault, right?), there’s a good chance that their paint has scraped off onto yours. Of course, that extra color is going to stick out like a sore thumb.

WD-40 is effective at removing this additional layer of paint. Give the whole area a good spray down, and then let it soak in. After that, it’s just a case of putting in a few minutes of elbow grease with a microfiber cloth. The abrasion should lift away the offending paint. If needed, you can re-cover the area a few times until everything is gone.

To see this in action, take a look at this video to see what WD-40 can do.

So, although it was never intended for scratch-removal, WD-40 is surprisingly good!

But, what if you don’t want ‘good’? What if you want the best? Take a look at this article for a full in-depth look at the very best options for removing scratches from your ride. As a bonus, you’ll find out why Reverse: Car Scratch Remover is the tool that the DIY crowd should be using.

As we know, WD-40 is primarily a solvent. That’s what makes it so effective at loosened rusting/corrosion or jammed up components: It breaks down the bonds that hold them tight.

And, it can work the same magic on sticky, unpleasant debris on your ride’s exterior.

Bug guts, oil, tree sap, and who knows what else. WD-40 will lubricate and loosen this gunk’s grip on your bodywork. This is the same method as removing paint transfer: Spray WD-40 here and give it some elbow grease with the microfiber towel or cloth!

The downside to this approach is the mess it creates. WD-40 is greasy, dirty, smelly stuff! Giving those bug guts a quick blast with WD-40 and a wipe down will probably get the job done, but you will be left with the new task of cleaning your ride!

We strongly recommend a purpose-built detailing spray for this job. Torque Detail Turbo Waterless Detailer is custom-made to blitz tough and sticky grime that can build up. We keep a bottle in our trunk or glove compartment, and then it’s always with us when we need it. After a few quick sprays, its non-sticky formula will banish almost any dirt from the affected areas. And the best part? It will leave your ride with a super high gloss, lush-looking shine!

Some enthusiastic DIY warriors have used WD-40 instead of waxing. They claim that it will increase their paintwork’s color, shine, and protection from the elements.

We have to be honest. This is a terrible idea!

Maybe some people just like the idea of finding a “hack”? But when you can buy a specialized, car-specific product that is guaranteed to be safe on paintwork and guaranteed to protect it, WD-40 makes no sense!

We’re not saying that it doesn’t make your clear coat look better; it’s possible that it does, but we’re certainly not going to be trying it out! There are hundreds of useful and inventive applications for WD-40, but with the smell, the chemicals, and the greasy appearance, using it as a car wax is not one of them!