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What's Your Favorite Bike Oil?

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What's Your Favorite Bike Oil?

Old 03-27-22, 07:48 AM
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Straightbangin
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What's Your Favorite Bike Oil?

Hey guys sorry if this has been posted a million times before but keyword search for some reason showed me nothing under " oil " . I've been using the Bose Shield T9 bicycle oil for a while but looking for something better that has a little bit better lasting power. What do you recommend? Thank you
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Old 03-27-22, 08:03 AM
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90W gear oil. Bought a little too much last time I filled the manual transmission on an old VW bug I used to own, so tried using a bit of the leftovers on a bicycle chain and it seems to do the job quite nicely. You can buy a bottle at any auto parts store. Extra: I clean and re-lube my bicycles' chains about once a month.
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Old 03-27-22, 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Straightbangin
Hey guys sorry if this has been posted a million times before but keyword search for some reason showed me nothing under " oil " . I've been using the Bose Shield T9 bicycle oil for a while but looking for something better that has a little bit better lasting power. What do you recommend? Thank you
Try searching for "lube" instead of "oil." Without knowing what your riding conditions are -- wet, dry, dusty, muddy, etc. -- it's hard to make a recommendation. I like T9, but I've also had luck with Rock 'n Roll, Tri-Flow, and a host of others, depending on where and how I was riding.
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Old 03-27-22, 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by skidder
90W gear oil. Bought a little too much last time I filled the manual transmission on an old VW bug I used to own, so tried using a bit of the leftovers on a bicycle chain and it seems to do the job quite nicely. You can buy a bottle at any auto parts store. Extra: I clean and re-lube my bicycles' chains about once a month.
I mix gear lube with 3 parts odorless mineral spirits. It makes a great chain lube because it penetrates fully and then the solvent evaporates leaving only lube. You can apply drop by drop and then wipe but I literally flood the chain while pedaling the bike in the stand, and then wipe completely. This method slurries up all the road grit on the chain and so when you wipe it, you've cleaned the chain as well. I do this every 350-400 miles and I get great mileage from my very quiet chains. Besides gear lube, many use this same approach with motor oil.
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Old 03-27-22, 09:07 AM
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Not lasting long might be good. Then you are lubing your chain more often and flushing the grit out of the places where grit shouldn't be. The so called dry lubes are nice. I don't seem to have as much gunk building up on my chain and my inner calf and socks stay clean. If it last a long time, then you are just giving more time for your chain to get gunky.
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Old 03-27-22, 09:20 AM
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I don't have a favorite bike lube, because I found out over the years that pretty much any type of oil will work for lubing a chain and other bike components. So I just use whatever.
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Old 03-27-22, 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
I don't have a favorite bike lube, because I found out over the years that pretty much any type of oil will work for lubing a chain and other bike components. So I just use whatever.
Same here. Even the much maligned WD-40 will work. Spray some WD-40 into a little dish, let it sit for a few days, after the light stuff evaporates, there's still oil remaining.
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Old 03-27-22, 10:14 AM
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Replace the word "oil" in your search with "lube." That will get you the info you need.
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Old 03-27-22, 10:23 AM
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None. I’m a wax guy.

Let the fun begin!
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Old 03-27-22, 10:33 AM
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I use coconut oil.

It has a third less viscosity, and it smells great too!

John
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Old 03-27-22, 10:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Kedosto
None. I’m a wax guy.

Let the fun begin!

I too am a waxer....

these threads usually are pretty epic!
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Old 03-27-22, 10:45 AM
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Snake
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Old 03-27-22, 10:50 AM
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For oil on the bike I use Mobil one.
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Old 03-27-22, 12:04 PM
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Bicycles are not a particularly challenging environment for lubricants, so just about anything will work. Avoid vegetable based oils, as many will harden into gum over time.
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Old 03-27-22, 01:02 PM
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'
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Old 03-27-22, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Straightbangin
...been posted a million times before but keyword search for some reason showed me nothing under " oil " .
Yep... I have not figured out how to use the search engine on this forum effectively either. But OK... Here is my comment... Again... Ha

For cleaning, ATF and for lube, regular doses of 5W-30. My chain gets dirty often on the roads I ride and a quick saturation of ATF gets old oil and dirt off as well as a little lube. Then I go to 5W-30. Sure the 5W-30 oil attracts dirt but then so do the others so really my biggest work horse in this match is the ATF.

Also... I need to put in a big kick for Chain Saw Oil, or Chain Saw oil with ATF mix. I especially like Chain Saw oil if things are going ta get wet. Also note that I have not tried Gear Oil... Yet!
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Old 03-27-22, 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by zandoval
Yep... I have not figured out how to use the search engine on this forum effectively either.

Best way is to not use it and use google and site:www.bikeforums.

Like this
​​​​​​oil site:www.bikeforums.net
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Old 03-27-22, 03:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
Spray some WD-40 into a little dish, let it sit for a few days, after the light stuff evaporates, there's still oil remaining.
How convenient.
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Old 03-27-22, 04:12 PM
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I clean with WD-40. Wax the chain with White Lightning. And lube components with Campy-like white lithium grease.
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Old 03-27-22, 04:17 PM
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Thank you for all the suggestions
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Old 03-27-22, 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
How convenient.
Sorry, poorly worded on my part.
I meant that as a way to see that WD-40 actually has decent oil in it. As a counter to all the warnings about using WD-40.
Not that I would let it sit before applying.
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Old 03-27-22, 07:32 PM
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Chain-L. For the smell if nothing else.
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Old 03-27-22, 07:39 PM
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Been using WD-40 Dry Lube for about a year now.
The drivetrains seem to stay cleaner longer and the shifting smoother.
Hope it prolongs my cassettes and chainrings.

Last edited by CAT7RDR; 03-27-22 at 08:29 PM.
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Old 03-27-22, 07:50 PM
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WD-40 has a specific bike line of products now (I think)
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Old 03-27-22, 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
I meant that as a way to see that WD-40 actually has decent oil in it.
Regardless, I think that WD-40 has much better uses than as a chain lubricant.
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