Ayo_23

New to the forums here.

Context: I live in a hot tropical country. The first rain of the wet season just came and all i have is dry lube and WD40. Unfortunately i don’t have enough cash right now to buy wet lube. (Grad student in a 3rd world country)

Question: should i continue to lube my bike with dry lube or should i just use WD40? I heard that dry lube gets washed off by a little rain while WD40 is a water displacement solution, but that’s the extent of my knowledge.

fietsbob

Frequent ... Both lube & clean ..

jpescatore

WD40 is a degreaser, not a lube - unless you actually have the WD-40 bike lube. So. if those are your only choices use the dry lube after cleaning your chain.

GrainBrain

Really you can't afford a small bottle of Tri-Flow?

What's with the chain lube threads again gargh.

If you are in as pinch just use WD-40 and apply frequently.

FlMTNdude

I live in Florida US. 60” of rain per year at least. I run a dry lube most of the time. Minimally I wipe the chain daily, once a week clean and lube. That is with 60 miles commuting and another 120-150 ‘training’ miles.

hokiefyd 

Used correctly, a dry lube should be applied somewhat regularly, especially if you're riding in wet conditions (like, every 30-50 miles). You may find yourself going through what dry lube you have fairly quickly, and you'll likely be in a position to need to buy more lube soon anyway.

That said, bikes existed for decades with only the occasional shot of WD-40 (which has both solvent and lubricant), so keep that perspective as well.

Moe Zhoost

If you are hard up for cash, why not just use regular motor oil. Beg a small amount from a friend or relative. It's not the best solution but will last longer in the wet and is much better than WD-40. Don't overdo it - just a drop or two on each link and then wipe the excess off.

rumrunn6

reminds me of a what dental hygienist once told me about flossing & technique. she said it practically doesn't matter how you do it, so much as it matters that you do it

freeranger

You can mix 3 parts odorless mineral spirits to 1 part motor oil for a homemade chain lube.

Gresp15C

Regardless of what WD-40 is intended for, it's basically mineral spirits with some light oil mixed in. I can't see the harm. Also, there's probably enough oil left in an empty motor oil container to lube a bike chain, especially if you wash it out of the bottle with a spritz of WD-40.

rumrunn6

I've heard this recipe before I think. I have both at home but wondering what a person would use to apply it. I guess mix it in an old coffee can then use a small funnel to fill an old bike lube dropper bottle?

woodcraft

I do something like that, but without the coffee can & funnel- pour motor oil in the bottle, add a bit of thinner.


To the OP- grab a few empty plastic oil bottles from the gas station trash, collect the 1/2 oz. of oil remaining in each,

and you have the season's supply for free plus cut the tops off the bottles & you have some handy containers as well.

This will make the drivetrain last longer than tri-flow, etc. so it's money saved.

BirdsBikeBinocs

Use an artists brush and simply brush it on. Or any sort of a brush.

63rickert

Caught out in rain many times when best way to care for chain was to stop at next gas station and raid the trash bin for 'empty' cans of motor oil. Always enough remaining to lube a chain. In third world perhaps many are more thrifty but with patience something can be found. Motor oil is much better as a chain lube than WD-40. Diluting with solvents is not necessary and is arguably not even good practice.