Is WD-40 a good garage door lubricant?

The classic general-purpose spray is designed to clean, loosen and displace moisture. Those are useful jobs, but they are not the same as lubricating parts that pivot and roll every time the door moves. The spray thins out and evaporates, so a door that goes quiet after a coat of it often starts squeaking again before long, and the residue can collect dust.

Where it is still useful

• Cleaning grime off hinge pivots and roller stems before applying a proper lubricant.
• Loosening a stiff manual lock or a rusted bolt.
• Driving moisture off metal parts after a wet spell.

Some brands, including WD-40, also sell separate silicone or lithium products. Those are different from the general-purpose spray, so read the label rather than going by the brand name.

What to use instead

Use the lubricant named in your door manual. Silicone-based garage door spray and white lithium grease are the common choices. Silicone suits hinge pivots and serviceable metal roller bearings, and lithium grease suits metal-to-metal contact where the manual specifies it. Do not spray nylon wheel surfaces, sealed bearings, the track, weather seals or a drive belt.

If you already used it

That is easy to correct. Wipe off any excess, especially where it landed on the track or seals, then apply the right lubricant to the hinges and rollers. If the door is still loud after proper lubrication, the noise is probably coming from worn rollers or loose hardware. See which lubricant to use on a garage door.

Read more

• Garage door lubricant guide
• Choosing a garage door lubricant

Related questions

• What lubricant should I use on my garage door?
• How often should I lubricate my garage door?
• Should I lubricate the garage door tracks?
• Can I lubricate my garage door myself?
• Does lubrication actually reduce garage door noise?

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