Originally Posted by vettefrc2000

The lube on a new chain is a preservative.

Originally Posted by http://sheldonbrown.com/brandt/chain-care.html

Subject: Chain care, wear and skipping
From: Jobst Brandt
Date: January 10, 2002, revised November 23, 2004

A myth that is difficult to dispell is the story that grease on a new chain, fresh out of the package, is not a lubricant but rather a preservative that must be removed. This piece of bicycling myth and lore thrives despite its illogic.