Multigrade engine oil as chain lube?

[GoLefty!!]

Hi all

 

My local bike shop suggested i use engine oil as lube for my mountain bike instead of buying lube. He says he has been using it for years as its much cheaper. he said i must only put a drop on every second link. Any objections to this?

 

 

no problem, go ahead.

its easier to cleanoff and sticks well after being applied

[Skylark]

I cycle between 3 chains... Once they are done, the cassette is normally also finished....so wouldn't know....guessing about 7000-8000km on 3 chain combo and single cassette.

 

I typically use 2 chains during the lifetime of the drivetrain, 7-8k is very good mileage for a Mtb drivetrain, thats getting close to a road bike, how dusty/muddy is your typical ride? That I suppose accelerates wear even with excellent maintenance and will shorten the life.

[rouxtjie]

I typically use 2 chains during the lifetime of the drivetrain, 7-8k is very good mileage for a Mtb drivetrain, thats getting close to a road bike, how dusty/muddy is your typical ride? That I suppose accelerates wear even with excellent maintenance and will shorten the life.

Truth be told...bit of fair weather rider. So plenty dust, but when it gets propper muddy and rain, I run for cover or don't ride...

 

Its also about admin for me, I have one chain on the bike, one chain in clean green bath and another in plastic ziploc with light oil. So when I wash the bike I just pop the one that is ready to go onto the bike and the round and round we go until its worn.

[Bat-ass]

I typically use 2 chains during the lifetime of the drivetrain, 7-8k is very good mileage for a Mtb drivetrain, thats getting close to a road bike, how dusty/muddy is your typical ride? That I suppose accelerates wear even with excellent maintenance and will shorten the life.

 

The trick is to replace your chain before it wears. Use a Park Tool chain checker. they recomend replacing your chain when it reaches the 1.0 wear point. I change the chain when it reaches .75. this way i get about 4 chains to 1 cassette.

 

The chainrings and cassette only start wearing as a worn / lengthened chain starts eating the teeth. So a new chain where the link gaps marry with the teeth gaps as designed, wears very slowly.

If that makes any sense!!!!

[DubbelBuys]

Go ahead with the engine oil.

 

As mentioned before Johan Bornman recommends it.

 

Whenever you use oil & it:

 

1. splashes off tiny drops - Oil is too thin

2. Is stringy - Oil is to thick

 

I wash my chains in paraffin & (after drying), drop in a container with SAE 40 motor oil.

 

Remove from container & let it drip off for the next week or so.

 

I wipe any excess off before putting it on the bike.

 

Works like a charm for me.

[NotSoBigBen]

Go ahead with the engine oil.

 

As mentioned before Johan Bornman recommends it.

 

Whenever you use oil & it:

 

1. splashes off tiny drops - Oil is too thin

2. Is stringy - Oil is to thick

 

I wash my chains in paraffin & (after drying), drop in a container with SAE 40 motor oil.

 

Remove from container & let it drip off for the next week or so.

 

I wipe any excess off before putting it on the bike.

 

Works like a charm for me.

 

How often do you ride?

[D Vader]

I never clean/ wash my chains, use Smoof and Squirt and chain lasts the longest in my experience.

I used to wash and degrease the chain after every few rides, chains lasted a lot less.

I still clean the cassette and chainrings, but not nearly as often as before.

 

Flame suit on.

[DubbelBuys]

How often do you ride?

 

Not as often as I want to.

 

I also do the 'chain rotation' thing. (I rotate 4 chains)

[rudi-h]

Motor oil has a lower viscocity and less "tackyness" than specially formulated chain lubes, but using it is fine as the relative force, pressure and speed on bicycle chain components are much lower compared to any industrial application.

 

I use industrial gearbox oil and although I haven't done any form of a scientific comparison between different lubes, I can say that my roadbike chain has lasted somewhere between 12000 and 15000 km's and still going strong. I had my bike for a service last week. The bike is 7 years old, done over 2500km in races alone, I asked the LBS to check the chain and the casette. They came back and said its 100% and no need for replacement yet.

 

Not saying that my choice of lube is the secret, but I think a combination of keeping the chain lubed at all times, correct gearing habits (i.e. not gearing up with force on the cranks etc.) can make one go a long way. I have never removed my chain to clean it and I don't use a chain cleaner. From time to time I clean my chain with a high-pressure hose and re-lube.

 

PS its a Shimano Tiagra chain and cassette, so these items are probably quite a bit more wear resistant compared to 105, Ultegra and Dura ace

[Mojoman]

I never clean/ wash my chains, use Smoof and Squirt and chain lasts the longest in my experience.

I used to wash and degrease the chain after every few rides, chains lasted a lot less.

I still clean the cassette and chainrings, but not nearly as often as before.

 

Flame suit on.

You should try some Go chain wax from Bearing Man if you like Squirt, pretty much the same stuff but a lot cheaper though and a bigger bottle, around R150 for 500ml.

[Skylark]

The trick is to replace your chain before it wears. Use a Park Tool chain checker. they recomend replacing your chain when it reaches the 1.0 wear point. I change the chain when it reaches .75. this way i get about 4 chains to 1 cassette.

 

The chainrings and cassette only start wearing as a worn / lengthened chain starts eating the teeth. So a new chain where the link gaps marry with the teeth gaps as designed, wears very slowly.

If that makes any sense!!!!

 

There must also be some wear from the roller onto the cog face even on a perfect chain, especially if the chain is dry/no lube or contaimanted with dirt?

 

I do have a Park Tool chain checker, chains always changed just before .75, used 2 chains/approx 3000km on the current drivetrain and the chainrings and cassette are looking noticeably worn now, current chain is just on .75 .Could maybe run a new chain and ride the cassette a little bit more but the chainrings are looking well past their prime so I'm planning on riding out this last chain and replacing everything when the chainsuck inevitably starts in the next few hundred or so kms.

 

How many Kms do your drive trains last for?

Edited March 4, 2014 by Skylark

[igknot]

WTF. I dont get close to a 1000km on a chain.

[Helpmytrap]

I've been using Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF, which is the same as power steering fluid) for nearly a year now. Excellent in wet conditions, but one needs to reapply after 50-60km or so in dusty conditions. I get about 3600-3700km per chain with wiping/rinsing the chain off between rides and cleaning it twice a week.

 

I used engine oil prior to the ATF but found it to attract too much dirt in the dusty conditions that I ride in.

 

All this being said, I just bought myself Smoove to try out in hope that it would last longer that 90km.

[Skylark]

I've been using Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF, which is the same as power steering fluid) for nearly a year now. Excellent in wet conditions, but one needs to reapply after 50-60km or so in dusty conditions. I get about 3600-3700km per chain with wiping/rinsing the chain off between rides and cleaning it twice a week.

 

I used engine oil prior to the ATF but found it to attract too much dirt in the dusty conditions that I ride in.

 

All this being said, I just bought myself Smoove to try out in hope that it would last longer that 90km.

 

Is that all in XC racing kind of conditions, your chains last mightily long!

 

[Helpmytrap]

Is that all in XC racing kind of conditions, your chains last mightily long!

Very dry conditions and ride often on roads that are covered in fine dust. This includes lots of interval training.

Being lightweight also helps, I got 10000km on my last cassette and 38T chainring. I use Shimano 105 chains.

[Wil6]

My daily MTB routine:

 

1) wash chain with degreaser

2) Wipe clean and dry

3) Dip whole chain into tub filled with gear box oil

4) Wash bike drive train while chain absorbs oil

5) Pick up dripping chain, and wipe excess oil off back into tub

6) Place on bike

7) Give another wipe to remove excess oil

 

A 5L has lasted since last year around July doing this around 4 - 5 times a week. I ride in all kinds of dirt.

 

Chain is always well lubed for me.

Don't you have a job?