JonnyHK 

No takers in Road, so I thought I'd x-post here for some wisdom...


I'm just finishing one bottle of the red labeled Finish Line Dry Teflon Lube and I bought a new bottle a little while back while I was in the LBS.

The new bottle looks pretty much the same except for noting "New extra dry and longer lasting" in the top corner.

When shaken and applied to the chain, the old one is a very clear and slightly thick liquid (not watery), but the new one is a very watery milk like liquid (looks like that really low fat skim milk!). It does dry out clear and doesn't look odd on the chain after application and a wipe. It does flow better onto the rollers as it is much thinner.

Is this what the new formulation looks like or did I get a dud bottle?

jimc101

Had a dicussion with my LBS about this a few months ago, they had noticed the change in formula, but the importers denied it, both versions seem to work as well as each other.

JonnyHK 

I don't see how the importer could deny it - it says so on the front and they look completely different!

But if it seems to work fine and it's not just my bottle then I guess all is well.

ben4345

Have you tried shaking both bottles before applying? Some lubes need to be shaken, before applying.

desertdork

The first 2oz bottles I purchased were, as you state, clear and more viscous. After I decided that I'd stick with this lube, I bought a quart. It was, like you said, thinner and creamy-yellow. Out of curiosity, I checked the bottles on the shelf and saw that the 4oz containers were thin/creamy, while the 2oz were thick/clear.

FWIW, I've also used Dupont Teflon Chain-Saver in aerosol form. To a (non-chemist) user, it appears to be the same product as the *new* thin/creamy FL Dry Lube. The only difference I notice is it's slightly thinner yet, probably due to additional solvent or propellant. Once the solvent evaporates, I notice no difference.

In recent months, I noticed Dupont Chain-Saver is now being sold in a 4oz drip container (in addition to 11oz aerosol). Locally, Lowe's has it for $5, the same cost as 2oz FL Dry.

Dupont Chain-Saver is manufactered by Finish Line.

JonnyHK 

Ben - yes, shaken (as noted in OP).

desertdork - both mine are the same size. Maybe your 2oz stock is older?

Pic for clarity:

Yo Spiff

Where are you finding quart bottles of it?

desertdork

I got it at speedgoat or jenson. Many others carry it. Cost was equal to three 4oz bottles.

drbenjamin

I got a quart from Amazon about 2 years ago - looks like the price has gone up, i's $24 now. Also, the DuPont aerosol stuff (which I learned about looking for motorcycle lube) is apparently the same, cheap, and available at Lowes.

JonnyHK 

Does chain lube go off with age?

I think it would take me 15 years to get through a litre of the stuff.

Even in a busy shop it would take a while!

ben4345

I imagine lubes that contain some kind of solvent or thinner that evaporates over time or if you left the bottle open. FWIW, the photo you posted looks just like finishline ceramic wet lube.