A good, cheap oil

Rorate Caeli

What should I pick up in a hardware shop to put on my chain etc? I'm sure bike shops sell some ridiculously priced stuff, but is there a cheapo equivalent?

Ryaner

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1041

That is cheap and will last for months. Stuff in the hardware is usually worse than adding water as it removes lube already on the chain.

kona

Rorate Caeli wrote: »

What should I pick up in a hardware shop to put on my chain etc? I'm sure bike shops sell some ridiculously priced stuff, but is there a cheapo equivalent?

no, cheap out and save a 5er and you will be paying a shop e50 to replace you chain and cassette soon.

5er or 50euro...hummmmmmmmmm;)

victorcarrera

A few drops of used engine oil whenever you notice the chain rollers going silver and wipe off excess with an old rag. If you ever have occasion to remove the chain give it an overnight bath in the oil.

kona

victorcarrera wrote: »

A few drops of used engine oil whenever you notice the chain rollers going silver and wipe off excess with an old rag. If you ever have occasion to remove the chain give it an overnight bath in the oil.

Are you mad? Engine oil is thicker than 3in1:eek:

For the love of god just buy e5 lube, its less than a pint in some places.

blorg

Proper bike chain oil (like the one Ryaner linked to) costs around €4-5 from a local bike shop for a small bottle that as Ryaner says will last for months. They come in "dry" and "wet" varieties- for this country "wet" is generally to be recommended. You just put a drop on each roller (very little really) and wipe off the excess with a cloth so that dirt doesn't stick to it. Don't smother the chain in oil and don't get one of the aerosol ones.

I have used the likes of 3-in-1 in an emergency and it did grand for probably 100km use but it does not last as long in the chain as proper oil and washes out quicker. Probably attracted more dirt too. It is also not significantly cheaper. You can use just about anything in a pinch, but it is not as good as the stuff designed for the job... Sunflower oil is a euro a litre, good luck to you

kona

blorg wrote: »

Sunflower oil is a euro a litre, good luck to you

:D:D
I **** you not, this I have seen too many times, it makes the bikes smell like chips, the worst offenders are polish.

But yes as blorg says, just spend the fiver on proper oil.

victorcarrera

kona wrote: »

Are you mad? Engine oil is thicker than 3in1:eek:

And the grease that new chains are packed with has a higher viscosity than engine oil !

Engine oil is designed to protect and lubricate under extreme conditions and is more than adequate for the relative low stresses of a bicycle chain and sprockets.

Some months back I posted here that I had 7,000 Km on a chain and sprockets. I now have close to 10,000 Km on the same drive train using this lube method and no problems.

Smithzer

If your near Drogheda Quay Cycles have a Bargin Bucket on Lubes this week.

kona

victorcarrera wrote: »

And the grease that new chains are packed with has a higher viscosity than engine oil !

Engine oil is designed to protect and lubricate under extreme conditions and is more than adequate for the relative low stresses of a bicycle chain and sprockets.

Some months back I posted here that I had 7,000 Km on a chain and sprockets. I now have close to 10,000 Km on the same drive train using this lube method and no problems.

Engine oil is designed specifically for a engine. Its designed to cool a Engine and lubricate the parts. The viscosity changes from engine spec to engine spec. Temperature has a major effect on this. Engine oil at cold is thick, whenit gets to 100C its alot more fluid. Most cars are 15-30 part synthetic. You can now get 10-0 fully synthetic. All this is refering to new oil.
The oil a factory uses in its chain may well be more viscous, almost waxy, however its designed for a chain and applied when its being assembled. Engine oil is not fluid enough to penetrate all the parts of a chain(unless you heat it to 100C).


Now you said used oil, Used engine oil contains alot of hydrocarbons, also due to the extremes of hot and cold it goes through, it breaks down, hence why you change oil every 6k. Using this spent oil on a bike is just going to attract dirt, its going to be a pain to clean off.

Your correct in saying that engine oil is designed for more extreme applications, however its designed to operate at high temperature, not ambient, do you ever wonder why race cars dont just turn on a engine and go? Everything has to be up to temp before you go rag the ****e out of it.

For the sake of e5 get the correct grade oil, that will lubricate the chain as its designed to do.

I guarantee you your chain isnt in good condtition. IT may be rideable, but certainly isnt in top condition.