# WD-40 and Rubber **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [November 12, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215 "2013-11-12T19:48:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215/1 "2013-11-12T19:48:17Z")
I bought already mounted tire and when checking the air pressure i had a sticky valve stem. Question: Would WD-40 hurt the seal in valve stem? ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215/2 "2013-11-12T19:55:16Z")
Probably not but I would just replace the valve stem to be on the safe side. A flat tire is never fun. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215/3 "2013-11-12T20:11:04Z")
Probably a good idea Plug kit wont fix a valve stem… Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215/4 "2013-11-12T21:44:17Z")
The schrader valve > **[Schrader valve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrader_valve)** > > The Schrader valve (also called American valve) is a type of pneumatic tire valve used on virtually every motor vehicle in the world today. The Schrader company, for which it was named, was founded in 1844 by August Schrader. The original Schrader valve design was invented in 1891, and patented in the United States in 1893. The Schrader valve consists of a valve stem into which a valve core is threaded, and is used on virtually all automobile tires and motorcycle tires and most wider rimmed bicyc... can be easily screwed out and replaced. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215/5 "2013-11-13T02:22:28Z")
I don’t trust a solvent and water displcement like WD40 “not” to harm a small rubber seal by drying it out over time. Wd40 does a lot of things but must be used with care around plastics and rubber. Agree, replace. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215/6 "2013-11-13T18:41:25Z")
Badbearing, Petroleum products are absorbed by most kinds of rubber - and the compounds used in tires contains these types of rubber. This absorption causes the rubber to swell and weaken. So do NOT use petroleum products around tires - and I think valves ought to be included in that statement as we just can’t be sure what kind of rubber is being used… ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215/7 "2013-11-13T18:46:36Z")
This is why i asked. I am aware of possible effects of petroleum products on rubber and was thinking about the little rubber seal in a valve stem Thanks ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wd-40-and-rubber/82215/8 "2013-11-15T09:39:53Z")
I’m pretty sure I damaged the CV boots on my VW Rabbit by spraying WD 40 on them. Happened years ago. I thought at the time it would displace water, keep the innards dry. But I think it weakened the rubber, and within 6 months they both shredded apart and I had to replace both boots on both axels.