Originally Posted by
Panthers007
Sheldon Brown was of the opinion that the factory grease they use on new chains, which permeates the entire chain inside & out, is good stuff and should be left alone. If you remove it needlessly, it's likely that new oil will not penetrate as deeply into the chain and the chain will wear prematurely from lack of lubricant. Bottom Line: Leave it be until it goes on it's own volition.
The statement above is a perfect example of a common myth. It simply makes no sense at all. The original grease will be contaminated with dirt in a couple hundred miles and quickly become a grinding compound, not a lubricant. If you disassemble a chain link, measure the clearances and note how it's constructed, it's obvious that there is nothing to restrict the flow of lube to either of the critical wear areas. Those areas are the bore of the roller and the area between the pin and the bushing formed into the inner sideplate. I've used a Campy chain for 6,000 miles and measured only a fraction of the "allowable" 1/16 inch per foot elongation. This chain was degreased initially and never had the factory grease on it while in use. It was relubed very frequently with a solvent thinned (penetrating) oil, similar to ProLink (but much cheaper). The greatest wear occurs within the bore of the roller. After 6,000 miles the wear will be at least 10 times more than the wear at the pin and it's bushing.