Best chain lube

[gbb]

I never found a 'best' chain lube.
Engine oil, cheap compared to cycle specific products, messy as hell, however hard you try to clean off the excess before riding.
Dry lube, clean, but expensive compared to engine oil.
Aerosol chain lubes, more industrail...too expensive and wasteful.
Teflon based chain lubes, aerosol based, again industrial...as above.
Cheap cycle oils...theyre ok.
Theyre all ok, most chains last about the same in my experience,.
WD40, fabulously clean chain, requires re doing very regularly, very short chain life IME (about half the normal mileage).

Then I stopped over thinking it. Even when I was doing serious mileage, two chains a year isnt too much to ask, most reasonable chains are quite cheap...plus by changing regularly or before theyre due, you extend the life of the cassette and chainrings.
I have a new chain on for this season...I'm going to get some chainsaw lube in the hope its non fling and actually gets into the rollers. A regular wipe should be everyones job anyway.

 

[screenman]

I have fitted two chain cleaning devices to the bike, the big plastic things with the brushes in, one cleans the chain the next dip lubes it. I have to be careful on bumpy surfaces as it bottoms out. I hope to double the life of my chain and save millions.

 

[bikeman66]

I never found a 'best' chain lube.
Engine oil, cheap compared to cycle specific products, messy as hell, however hard you try to clean off the excess before riding.
Dry lube, clean, but expensive compared to engine oil.
Aerosol chain lubes, more industrail...too expensive and wasteful.
Teflon based chain lubes, aerosol based, again industrial...as above.
Cheap cycle oils...theyre ok.
Theyre all ok, most chains last about the same in my experience,.
WD40, fabulously clean chain, requires re doing very regularly, very short chain life IME (about half the normal mileage).

Then I stopped over thinking it. Even when I was doing serious mileage, two chains a year isnt too much to ask, most reasonable chains are quite cheap...plus by changing regularly or before theyre due, you extend the life of the cassette and chainrings.
I have a new chain on for this season...I'm going to get some chainsaw lube in the hope its non fling and actually gets into the rollers. A regular wipe should be everyones job anyway.

Great reply GBB, I guess it is easy to get a bit too precious over the fancy lubes we can use.
In my experience using chainsaws, even the "anti-fling oils fling!!...............but I guess your bike won't be spinning at anywhere near the rate of the average saw chain, so you should be fine!

 

[matiz]

I was given several big bottless of sewing machine oil several years ago ive been using it ever since on all my bikes with no problems

 

[huwsparky]

Chainsaw oil here!

 

[ColinJ]

I think there must be some very different grades of chainsaw oil! After reading what many of you had to say about it, I bought a 500 mL bottle, probably enough to last me a lifetime. In fact, it definitely WILL last me a lifetime because I very quickly decided that I hate the stuff!

It was so gloopy that strands of the oil soon ended up draped all over the back of the bike. It was so thick that it actually increased friction in my drive train. Lube a chain and it gets harder to pedal, er, no thanks ...

 

[zacklaws]

Yes there is different types of Chainsaw oil as I have found out when I have had to get some for my chainsaw, ie B&Q stuff is watery, but the normal Stihl saw stuff I prefer is thicker. Also one thing with chainsaw oil is it is biodegradeable as all it does is lubricate the chain and flies off it onto the ground, if it was normal oil it would pollute the ground. But end of day you can use anything from cooking oil to waste oil from an engine.

My favoured oil is Chain-L and that is reputed to be chainsaw oil, despite being thick and "gloopy", it lasts a long time, increases life of my chain and really quietens down the transmission like no other oil I have used, but blackens your chain. Only problem is I have got out of the habit of using it and trying ceramic oil at the moment, which so far seems good despite making your chain go black also but has slightly increased life span of my chains, but its too early to tell yet if it has.

Ideally you need to warm Chain_L oil up so it flows and I apply a small drop on the side plates of the rollers with a small modelling paintbrush, to much and it goes all stringy and over the chainstays.

http://www.chain-l.com/

No wonder roads around Hebden Bridge were all oily and slippery last weekend when I rode the "Old 240", you must have slapped far too much chainsaw oil on Colin.

 

[huwsparky]

I think there must be some very different grades of chainsaw oil! After reading what many of you had to say about it, I bought a 500 mL bottle, probably enough to last me a lifetime. In fact, it definitely WILL last me a lifetime because I very quickly decided that I hate the stuff!

It was so gloopy that strands of the oil soon ended up draped all over the back of the bike. It was so thick that it actually increased friction in my drive train. Lube a chain and it gets harder to pedal, er, no thanks ...

Yep, chainsaw oil is the stickiest oil I can think of which is the reason I use it! Stays put!

As for getting oil on the frame, I had that problem but found a way to overcome that. When cleaning the bike, lubricating etc I clean and lube the chain first job. Then spin the pedals reasonably fast to get off all the excess oil onto the frame and then clean the bike. Never had any oil on frame since cleaning that way.

 

[ColinJ]

Hmm!

 

[Gravity Aided]

Chainsaw oil here as well. Chain wiped down before and after application. That is all.

 

[ayceejay]

make sure your mum is out for the day then put a wax candle and a cup of diesel in a saucepan and heat until the candle has melted then remove the piece of string, then put your chain in while the pan is still hot - yes you have to take the chain off the bike first silly. next let it cool and then remove the chain, chuck what is left of the diesel down the sink and wipe the chain with a clean tea towel. wipe the saucepan and the cup clean then hide the tea towel until you can find a way to blame your brother. put the chain back on the bike, repeat this exercise every thirty years or so.

 

[mrbikerboy73]

@jack smith I use Finish Line Dry Lube all year round and it's pretty good. That Muc Off wet lube is only good for one thing and that is lining your dustbin. Do yourself a favour and chuck it away. It is the work of the devil.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Or just heat Gulfwax indirectly, by immersing a vessel with gulfwax in one of hot water, and dip your chain in that. Gulfwax is a by-product of petrol production, called parafffin in the States, and was what all the old racers used on their chains. Candles might be made of beeswax, and I can't imagine that would make your chain run freely. But it might make your chain smell like cinnamon, or a Christmas Tree.

 

[subaqua]

make sure your mum is out for the day then put a wax candle and a cup of diesel in a saucepan and heat until the candle has melted then remove the piece of string, then put your chain in while the pan is still hot - yes you have to take the chain off the bike first silly. next let it cool and then remove the chain, chuck what is left of the diesel down the sink and wipe the chain with a clean tea towel. wipe the saucepan and the cup clean then hide the tea towel until you can find a way to blame your brother. put the chain back on the bike, repeat this exercise every thirty years or so.

And wait for the knock from the EA in the UK. FFS encouraging putting oil into a watercourse. Even 30 years ago I knew you had to dispose of old oil properly. Donated lots to old school for the oil bath.

 

[vickster]

I use finish line dry when I remember!