MTB - How long should a chain last?

[Johan Bornman]

Been corrected already by droo - thanx !

 

Now just help me out on the "oil".

 

Welcome back!

 

You don't need help, the gullible needs help.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Johan Bornman

[GaryvdM]

You bring your Scalpel, Anthem, Flash, Tallboy, Epic, Spark, Propel, Foil, Venge, Dogma ... etc. to me for a service and I will only apply a bike spesific lubricant like Smoove, White Lightning, Squirt, Finish Line, RocknRoll, Purple Extreme ... (the list goes on and on) ... unless specifically instructed to use something else.

 

White lightning epic ride is one of the worst lubes there is in terms of chain power efficiency. See the attached report.

velo-friction_facts_lube_test.pdf

[Goodbadugly]

The mechanics of tribology is sometimes not obvious.

 

Stuff that goes black is good and stuff that doesn't go black is bad.

 

I'll explain. The black in the oil is metal particles worn off the chain, cassette and chainrings. It gets suspended in the oil and effectively removed (albeit just diluted) in the oil. Oil is liquid and gets pumped in and out of the various cavities of the chain via capillary action. If it turns black, you know what a) not all grit is still trapped inside the chain and b) that the oil is still lubricious.

 

If it doesn't turn black, you have a) no idea whether there is still lubrication inside the chain where it matters and b) you are assured that all wear grit is still trapped inside where it can do maximum damage via abrasion.

 

I suggest you look for a PDF on this side called Everything You Need to Know about chains. It is explained in detail in there.

Correct. Motor oils are detergent oils.

Sorry for the copy and paste reply below

 

Background

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  Motor oil detergents were introduced in the 1950s. The concept adjusts for the failings of oil filters by attaching to those particles too small to get caught in filters. Instead the detergent holds the particles in the oil so they don't deposit on engine parts and cause hot spots. If the oil is used for too long, however, it can't do its job. Thus, flushing out old oil regularly helps maintain the cleaning process and the benefit of the detergents.
  

Non-Detergent Motor Oil

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  Given the emphasis on keeping engines clean, most dealers and mechanics use motor oil with detergent. It can be a challenge to find a place that does oil changes with non-detergent motor oils. Many of the common non-detergent oils are instead used in appliances that run on gas, such as lawnmowers and tractors. Two-stroke oil would be another common non-detergent oil, mainly used in engines in motorcycles and watercraft.
  
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Detergent Ingredients

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  Motor oil with detergents include chemicals that aid in trapping particles, dispersant additives that break down coagulating sludge in channels, rust preventers and alkaline to offset the acidic nature of oil in general as it begins to oxidize.
  

Appearance

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  Those who are used to working with motor oil can tell which type the motor oil is by its appearance. Frequently, because of the elements included in the oil to catch particles, the liquid appears darker. Non-detergent oil appears clearer and lighter since it is straight oil.
  

Retail Additives

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  Retail additives in addition to what already comes in motor oil, detergent or non-detergent, are questionable at best with regard to benefits. While these products come with quite a bit of marketing, they generally just add more stuff in the oil, negating the effect of the detergent already included. As these added particles clump up, they can cause blockages in oil channels and line