Interesting article on using alternate oils for lubricating your chain.

[Ming the Merciless]

Found this interesting particularly as it talks about viscosity, dirt sticking, and ratios to mix to aid getting the oil in the rollers then leaving the more viscous oil inside whilst the mix which diluted it evaporates etc.

https://bike.bikegremlin.com/1986/bicycle-chain-lubricants-explained/#6.4

 

[Drago]

Just glancing through, spotted one fundamental error already...

 

[Sharky]

The one bit of information that is missing, is the affect on performance, between the different oils. That is, what is the comparable power needed to main an average speed of 20mph?

If one particular oil offered me a 30 second saving on my 10 mile TT time, I would buy it in an instance. Until then, I will stick to my 3in1and Mickle it when it looks a bit tired.

 

[richardfm]

The one bit of information that is missing, is the affect on performance, between the different oils. That is, what is the comparable power needed to main an average speed of 20mph?

If one particular oil offered me a 30 second saving on my 10 mile TT time, I would buy it in an instance. Until then, I will stick to my 3in1and Mickle it when it looks a bit tired.

I suspect the affect on power requirements will be neglible for most bicycle riders.
I would be more concerned about how long the lubricant will last and the affect on wear rates.

 

[Sharky]

I suspect the affect on power requirements will be neglible for most bicycle riders.
I would be more concerned about how long the lubricant will last and the affect on wear rates.

That would be another interesting statistic.
But if there was a 10% variance before a new chain was needed, say a mileage of 3000 miles using the worst oil and therefore an extra 300 miles on the best oil, the dfference is still negligible.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I suspect the affect on power requirements will be neglible for most bicycle riders.
I would be more concerned about how long the lubricant will last and the affect on wear rates.

I suspect the latter is related to the viscosity of oil inside the roller. Thus the idea of mixing a higher viscosity oil with a lower viscosity oil with the aim of getting it in the roller. Then the lower viscosity oil evaporating, leaving behind mostly the high viscosity oil makes sense to me.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I suspect the latter is related to the viscosity of oil inside the roller. Thus the idea of mixing a higher viscosity oil with a lower viscosity oil with the aim of getting it in the roller. Then the lower viscosity oil evaporating, leaving behind mostly the high viscosity oil makes sense to me.

Oil finds its way into the innards of the chain by capillary action. There is no need for an evaporative carrier to get oil in there. Even the thickest, tackiest oil we have around the house - Hypoid gear oil or say, bar chain oil, still finds its way into the chain within seconds of application. Viscosity is not critical for good chain lubrication. Any viscosity between where the oil splashes onto your rim or floor when backpedalling, at the one extreme and, where it comes off in sticky trails as the chain moves around the sprocket and flings the oil off, at the other extreme, is fine.

 

[newfhouse]

Paging @silva .

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Paging @silva .

No, don't feed the animals. They keep on coming back.

 

[I like Skol]

Interesting article on using alternate oils for lubricating your chain.​

I doubt it.

 

[Chris S]

... then leaving the more viscous oil inside whilst the mix which diluted it evaporates etc.

Sounds like WD40

 

[tyred]

I just use engine oil and my chain runs so quietly that I can hear my Rolex tick.

What can I lube my Rolex with so it won't make that damned ticking noise? 🤔

 

[Sharky]

I just use engine oil and my chain runs so quietly that I can hear my Rolex tick.

What can I lube my Rolex with so it won't make that damned ticking noise? 🤔

I've got an old can you can have. It's not new, it's second hand lube.

 

[I like Skol]

This stuff is good, but not quite as good as the expensive refined snake oil I was using before!....

 

[DaveReading]

I've got an old can you can have. It's not new, it's second hand lube.

Good for clocks too, presumably ...