That is actually how those ones were named. WD stands for water displacer (or displacement), which is what WD40 does, not a lube but an oil that replaces any water where you spray (which can then act as a lube but it’s not designed to remain there long term). WD40 was the 40th attempt at developing a water displacer and it worked, so they stopped there.




How about a science experiment. Boil some water and then rinse an eye with it each 10 C as it cools down and compare the short-term, medium-term, and long-term results. You’ll need lots of eyes so recruit your family and friends!