How Often Should I Oil My Mountain Bike Chain?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The first rule of thumb is that you should clean and oil your bike and chain yearly. Use a wet lube and wipe the chain down after every ride to help prolong the chain lubes life. Clean the chain and reapply lube

every 100-200 miles

.

Is it OK to use WD-40 on bike chain?


WD-40 is a great bike chain lube water based lubricant and will not only lubricate the chain well, but will also keep it rust and corrosion free

. It also minimizes the accumulation of dirt which reduces the wear and tear of the chain.

Should I oil my mountain bike chain?

The majority of bicycle owner’s manuals and bike repair books recommend to clean and lube your mountain bike chain

after every hard ride or after exposure to dirty and wet conditions

.

Should I oil my bike chain?

Bicycle Tutor recommends cleaning and lubricating your bike’s drive chain

at least once every month

to maintain optimal performance and protection. The chain and drivetrain are typically the dirtiest parts of your bike, and this dirt is bad news for bike longevity and performance.

How do you lubricate a mountain bike chain?

What happens if you don’t oil your bike chain?



Any chain will rust if it’s not lubricated, and the seals will become dry and crack, letting that grease escape

. And remember, you’re lubricating the sprocket, not just the chain.

What type of lubricant is best for bike chains?

  • Smoove Lube. The Energizer Bunny of chain lube. …
  • Rock N Roll Gold. Workhorse all-rounder chain lube. …
  • Silca Super Secret Chain Lube. It’s like hot wax but in an easy to apply drip bottle. …
  • Green Oil Wet Lube. …
  • Finish Line Wet. …
  • CeramicSpeed UFO Drip Ceramic lube. …
  • Tru Tension All Weather. …
  • Molten Speedwax.

What can I use to lubricate my bike chain?

So, aside from brand bike chain lube, the most common options people opt for include

olive oil, household greases, and cooking oil

. The main reason being they are all easy to access at home.

How do you take care of a bike chain?

  1. Degrease your chain. …
  2. If you don’t have a special tool, use a brush to degrease your chain. …
  3. Rub down your chain with soapy water and a rinse to clean off excess degreaser.
  4. Choose your lube. …
  5. Lube your chain. …
  6. Wipe off any excess lube, and you’re ready to ride!

Can you use olive oil on bike chain?

However,

olive oil can never be as effective in lubricating the chain as a specialized, store bought chain lube

. Moreover, other than the greasing effect only lasting temporarily, olive oil has dirt drawing attributes that could harm the performance of your bike chain in the long run and spending money on a new chain.

Can you use GT85 on bike chains?

This versatile GT85 spray is

ideal for use in all-over frame safeguarding, on bike chains

, cables, levers, gears, derailleurs or anywhere that non-sticky lubrication is required. This professional strength, water-displacing lube contains PTFE to form a long-lasting, lubricating film and protective shine.

Do you need to degrease bike chain?

If you have a re-useable masterlink in your chain and don’t need to touch that chain breaking tool, you’re in the minority, but this means you can take that chain off and run it through a degreasing bath. Jason Smith is all for cleaning chains off the bike. “

We recommend removing the chain to properly clean it.

Should you wax your mountain bike?

Can I use Vaseline on my bike chain?


Petroleum jelly can work as a chain lubricant, but it has some shortfalls

. What is this? First, it is more viscous than regular chain lubes or oil. Therefore, it doesn’t easily reach the inner surfaces of a bike chain.

Can you use 3 in 1 oil on a bike chain?


A clean and properly maintained chain that’s lubed with 3-IN-ONE oil will outperform a dirty chain that is incorrectly lubricated, even with a superior lubricant

. While it might not be fashionable to use 3-IN-ONE oil, its a fraction of the price and outperforms many wet lubes that you will find at your local bike shop.

Can I use gear oil as chain lube?


You can use gear oil if you want to, it will lubricate your chain

. Some thinner motor lube will tend to spray off the chain when pedaling. I did an experiment and used chainsaw chain oil on my own chain on my fixed gear bike. It did a good job of lubricating the chain.

How do you clean a mountain bike chain?

Can I use baby oil on my bike chain?


for 2 hours of indoor use you could lube it with any common household product: Baby Oil, K-Y, AstroGlide, Vaseline, candle wax, probably even butter or margarine

. Just make sure you clean it just as throughly afterwards as you did prior to discovering you’re all out of chain lube.

Can I use vegetable oil on bike chain?


Yes, you can use vegetable oil to lube your chain

. All the same, the oil is only effective for a short while. Unfortunately, it collects dirt, breaks, and washes away easily. Therefore, cooking oil should only be used as a quick fix when you don’t have any other better lubricant.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.