Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
Up until this most recent chain, I was trying to keep it clean (not always succeeding, winter is very rough on chains here with the salt spray, etc). This last chain I decided to not bother cleaning it. I just drop oil in on the rollers, so that the new oil tends to push the old dirty stuff out the sides, then I wipe down the excess crap with a paper towel.
When I was cleaning the chain thoroughly, I'd typically get 2000 miles before the Park tool indicated the chain was too worn and should be replaced. I'm now over 2000 miles with the non-cleaned chain and the tool isn't even indicating 3/4 worn yet.
My LBS guy said that cleaning tended to push the dirt back into the rollers and cause more wear than just oiling and wiping down. So far I'm agreeing with him. Plus it's easier.
This is what I do also although not because its better but because I'm too lazy to clean a $10 part. I figure $10 twice a year for a new chain vs. $10 once a year and a regular cleaning, the twice a year chain replacement is easily worth my time. Ofcourse I use inexpensive SS chains. I guess I might change my mind if I used those 10speed chains.
Craig