Chains submerged in Diesel fuel
 

I use 2 chains SRAM Force 22, alternatively changed after around 1000 km. The latest “used” chain stays submerged in Diesel fuel until the other one reaches 1000 km, then I make the switch. I ride 18-20000 km with a pair of chains (plus other thousands km per year on trainer with a lower-level bike and a third chain). Thus, it is easy to estimate that each chain used for road riding stays totally submerged in Diesel for more than 1.5 years over its useful life.

I heard people saying that a bike chain should not be submerged for a long time in Diesel fuel, due to its corrosive impact. However, I never had issues with this, and the chains look very good even when I retire them.
Thoughts?

I think it's a waste of diesel fuel.

/markp

Why? It takes 250-300 grams of Diesel to submerge a bike chain in a PET bottle. Then, 80-90% of this quantity is reused after the dirt is settled at the bottom. A few kg of Diesel cover many years of chain cleaning. Even the plastic bottle can be reused, if I want to.

Diesel fuel is basically kerosene, and is not corrosive to metals. If it were, diesel engines would require a heck of a lot more maintenance. This is consistent with your experience.

I have a 1 gallon sealed plastic tank of Diesel fuel that I use for cleaning chains. I had forgotten about a chain I dropped in about 2 years ago. Upon remoal it was quite rusted, to the point of being ruined.

Water is denser than diesel fuel, so it sinks to the bottom. The two liquids are immiscible. I'd guess there was some water in the chain when it went into the container.

do you know why diesel fuel systems have WATER Separators in them?

because diesel fuel almost ALWAYS has WATER in it.
signed: a retired TRACTOR MECHANIC.

:D

to redbullet.
WHY do you soak your chains in diesel fuel?
it is LOUSY as a Lubricant and will move off of most surfaces with gravity assisting.

Not sure I understand.
I use Diesel because it is very easy to shake the bottle with the chain, then simply forget it. The dirt settles at the bottom. No mechanical cleaning needed. Before using the chain, I wipe it with paper towel and leave it in fresh air for 12-24 hours.
Lubricating the chain is another story: I just use PTFE lube. One application is enough for 1000 km of normal riding (that means no rain or mud).

so.. you're reusing a solvent loaded with previous filth and conntaminants, and that is HYGROSCOPIC (attracts Water), to "clean a chain".

got it.
thanks for clarifying.
:foo:
i use mineral spirits(AKA: Paint thinner) for grease removal... it's a much more effective cleaner, and the smell is a lot easier to rid from my area too.

PS.. "shaking" is mechanical cleaning ;)
and i hope you're using a plastic container.. i've seen the bottom break out of a glass jar from "shaking" bearings in solvent.

Thoughts?

Why?

Diesel stinks and stains clothing. There are much better alternatives.

put a teaspoon of water in a cup of diesel...shake well... watch the result.

the result may not perfectly fit your chosen description, but the water does mix into the diesel.... diesel with water mixed in turns cloudy in appearance.
I've seen it too many times.
water separators use both gravity and centrifugal force to remove the offending water from diesel fuel.

Why not use MEK? It is even worse for your health than diesel. There is no real upside to diesel.

Even really dirty citrus solvent will do a great job cleaning a chain, and you can wash it off with water.

Mineral spirits do a better job of cleaning than diesel fuel or kerosene, and dries cleanly and completely. I soak a new chain in mineral spirits overnight to remove the shipping grease, but I see no reason to store chains submerged in anything.

No idea what kind of conditions the OP rides in, but this sounds like a lot of work to squeeze 6,000 miles out of a chain.
I never ever cleaned a chain. Just lube and wipe. And always lightweight KMC or Dura Ace brands to extract over 5,000 each time.

There are better things.

I’m not sure why in the modern world you’d put diesel anywhere besides the truck’s fuel tank. No one is selling it for any other purpose. To use it on a bike chain you have to decide to be contrary

or desperate

Bravo on diesel as a cleaner. Much safer then gasoline, even if it is more expensive now days...

Used to use it in the Army as a weapons pre-cleaner de-greaser. Of course I don't know if that holds true for modern day weapons made with mystery materials or even modern bikes made of composites.

I consider bike chains a disposable item. Once they get worn I never use them again on bicycles. I just drop them off at our local welding shop where they go in the spare materials bin. There they sit till needed for muffler hangers, bar-b-q pits, field jacks, fence pulleys, and all kinds of stuff. Good steel should not go to waste.

This is a process called "emulsification", which happens when two immiscible liquids are shaken together. This might happen in a FUEL system, but not so much in a one-gallon container.
HERE and HERE are what two fuel distributors have to say about water in diesel fuel (scroll down a bit on the first site)... which pretty much is what the OP is describing.

EDIT: I was wrong about diesel fuel being the same as kerosene. They are *close* (CLARIFICATION) but not exactly the same.

Well, if you use chainsaw bar oil on your bike chains, it makes perfect sense.

I'll stick with wax.

Mixing, I would not say that is what you are righting about, that is emulsification.

OP.

If it works for you that is all that matters.

I’ve never heard of diesel being corrosive.

The one person that said they forgot about the chain and it was rusted probably put a wet chain in the diesel can.

As someone who lives in a rural area and have multiple mowing tractors that run on diesel, hence we have our own dispensing tank, I can relate to using it for degreasing. The idea that you specific-use products for literally everything is utter nonsense. Where do you think these ideas come from ? Those selling you the specific-use products of course ! Hahahahahahaa !!!

The only reason that diesel has water in it is because it was introduced somewhere along the line. Water solubility in diesel is about 100mg/l or 0.01 oz/gallon. That’s 3 tablespoons of water in 100 gallons and that would be in solution. If there is liquid water in the bottom of a diesel fuel tank of any kind, it’s because someone screwed up something.

As a cleaning solvent it’s okay but a bit oilier than lighter petroleum products. Mineral spirits, for example, evaporate much more cleanly. I agree as that it is a lousy lubricant because it flows off but that applies to any oil that can flow.

Yes, it will be cloudy…for a while. Then the water separates from the oil and rests on the bottom. It’s exactly the same thing as an oil and vinegar salad dressing. You can add something to make the emulsion more stable as is often done with salad dressings but there is no reason. There as also additives that can increase the water solubility of the diesel fuel but that would result in a solution rather than an emulsion.

Diesel shouldn’t be corrosive. It’s nonpolar and can only carry a small amount of water because of that nonpolar character.

Methy ethyl ketone (2-butanone) isn’t really that good of a solvent for oils. It’s too polar. Longer chain ketones might be good solvents for cleaning chains but they are far more costly and not readily available through retail outlets.

Mineral spirits is a good choice because it’s not too flammable, evaporates quickly, is very effective, and is readily and cheaply available.

There’s quite a bit of overlap between kerosene and diesel. Kerosene has carbon chains in the range of C6 to C20 molecules. Diesel has molecular chains in the range of C9 to C25.