Errrrr.... where to start.....
Hydrophillic molecules are ones which DO tend to form a solution in water The word means 'water-lover'.
Immisicible substances are those which do NOT tend to form a solution. Miscible substances are those which (easily) form solutions, thus immiscible substances are the opposite....
If WD40 WAS hydrophillic OR hygroscopic... it WOULD have the effect I suggest. However, I don't notice that WD40 makes any claims (nowadays) in either direction.... whereas they did when I started using the stuff WAY back in the 1960s.... it used to say it on the CAN!
What I am doing is quoting from experience. The cars that have been sprayed and LEFT dripping with WD40 (to help them start on damp days) rapidly seem to INCREASE the frequency that they have damp-start problems!
I learned this when being a mechanic on early Renault 5s which held their plug leads in close proximity with a plastic clamp attached to the rocker cover. If you sprayed it with WD..... you'd need to do it AGAIN on even LESS damp days. And that would continue until no amount of WD40 would solve the problem. All you needed to do was to CURE the problem was spray the leads, using WD40 as a dirt-solvent, wipe them clean and the problem would be GONE!
I earned good sums of money with this one as a lad.....! The number of houses I used to visit and get HUGE tips were legion!
By staggering coincidence, my Subaru refused to start on Friday. I haven't cleaned it under the bonnet you YEARS! Spayed it with WD40 (just so I could move it into the barn to see what I was doing..... it started..... BUT..... I could still see sparks leaking (jumping) from output 1. The spark was 'jumping' THROUGH the WD40 film.
I moved it into the barn, removed the plug leads, WD40 sprayed, compressored and wiped them clean...... PERFECT!
It was this which prompted my original message!
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None of us know the ingredients of WD40 as they have never been published. I DO know what they used to claim their product 'did' and I also DO know the effects of the stuff!
As you may know, they claim that the 'lighter' components evaporate (not just the propellant) leaving a film of oil. It's highly possible the effect I have noted all these years is that the layer of clinging-oil clings-onto passing particles of dirt and it's THIS which allows the 'spark' to escape..... Whatever it is, many of us will have SEEN the effects.......
Use it as an instant water..... 'remover'.... but use it as a cleaning solution for the longer term!
Ian
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