Natural Chain lubricator
 

Can I use Coconut Oil or any other vegetable oil (OR Mix of Coconut Oil with other Petroleum products like Kerosine)as a Chain lubricator ? Thanks

Interesting question, sajikumar,

I don't know much about coconut oil, its viscosity, whether it will dry out or break down etc. Your bike will smell nice though :) However, I have been using castor oil as a substitute for some of the expensive "all weather" lubricants available at bike shops here in the UK. After about 12 months extended test, it seems to have done a very good job.

Cheers,

Ed

Thank You Ed, I will try Castor Oil

The only issue you might find with a plant derived oil is that they are easily oxidized. This will make them more likely to polymerize and get gummy. This may mean that you have to clean your chain more often then you would with a petroleum product. Their lubricity usually isn't as good as petroleum based products either. Which means that you might have to use it more often.

Coconut oil is high in cholesterol and will clog your derailleur cables.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd certainly consider that thread-jacking. Especially considering how many lube threads have already covered the exact question you're asking.

:roflmao:

I've thought that it might be possible to heat the chain in the oven to 350 or so and then set it in a tub of crisco (like one would do with marine bearing grease). I wonder how that would work. Although, a lot of trans fat there. As for myself, I just drop it into a can of my homemade parrafin (candle wax) blend, heat it on the oven (in a pan filled with water) and let it cook once the stuff is melted for about 15 minutes. This is about once a month and my chains last a good many miles before wearing beyond healthy use.

this one look promising to anyone else?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jojoba_oil

Cocnut oil will probably turn sticky as it ages and also collect road dust. If you have trouble finding specialized chain lubricants in India, maybe you should try paraffin wax (as used in candles). See the Sheldon Brown article for more info:

http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

i have been using a mixture of coconut oil, pineapple juice and rum. my chain seems to always be happy and shift great! :)

Years ago, some folks (me too) dropped chains into melted wax; do that but use beeswax. If there was a big enough market for natural chain lubricants, I'd suggest ethyl alcohol and soap (sort of like White Lightning). :)

I'm not sure if the offer is still good, or if the offer was ever available outside of the United States, but there was an offer for a lanolin-based lubricant posted in the marketplace forum a couple of months ago. The manufacturer's website appears to be down at this time, but the thread mentioned problems with the link and/or webiste.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=143805

I sent an email to the address in the thread and I received a free sample. It worked very well as a chain lube, but I noticed something funny about it -my dog was a big fan of the stuff. He would sniff and lick my chain whenever he got near my bike. I'm not making this up. I guess that it's because the lanolin comes from wool. It could also have something to do with the fact that my dog is ********.

You may be able to find another lanolin-based lubricant, even if the free offer doesn't work out.

:lol:

Thanks for that one, spunkyruss. Just when I was feeling like I was just mindlessly surfing the 'forums.

Question to the wax-soakers. Do you just melt down a candle, or actually purchase a block of wax from somewhere? From where do you purchase your wax? Not all candles are the same--beeswax candles are considered the best, but a lot of newer ones are made of soy wax, which is supposed to burn cleaner, and I think most cheap candles actually have some cheap, other-chemical fillers. Will any wax do?

http://housewares.hardwarestore.com/...ax-179267.aspx

Can be found in any common grocery store.

The cheapest and most efficient wax is "canning wax", sold in 1-pound blocks in any grocery store. It's what home canners pour on top of jelly jars to seal them.

Last night, as a was pouring off the excess oil for a tofu fry, I had the same thought...
Althouhg I care about the enviroment, for my own bikes, I'll use whatever works, natural or not. But lately I've been salvaging a lot of beat up weathered bikes with chains that proably should be replaced. Would soaking a rusty chain in vegetable oil help it at all, make it last throuhg winter at least? or should I just throw some cahins into the frying pan and see what happens?

yes, trying lots of non-petroleum ideas; first time too - so tips greatly appreciated.

I can't believe that nobody has tried bacon grease! Same thing I clean my rotors with! :rolleyes:

Paraffin, canning wax, etc are petroleum based. To avoid this you need to use soy based or bees wax

Thank you all . Very informative posts

Mobil One synthetic motor oil is not petroleum based. It makes a fine chain lubricant without encouraging stray dogs to lick your chain.

I thin it with mineral spirits, which are petroleum based. Perhaps you could use denatured alcohol or turpentine for the same purpose.

Synthetic motor oils are petroleum based. They are not a cut of the distillation of petroleum but are instead petrochemicals that have been modified by chemical reactions to make lubrication oils. Plant oils and animals oils are not petroleum based in any form. However, I don't know of anyone currently making a high tech lubricant from plant or animal fats.

Years ago, Castor oil was sort of de rigeur for racing engines. Unfortunately, it breaks down rapidly and leaves a lot of deposits. No problem for pro racers who take engines down regularly, but not much fun for the average motorist.

Or bicyclist.

Ah, I stand corrected. PAO is, indeed, made from hydrocarbons.

............. "so tips greatly appreciated"



Lemme see now, how about an advanced degree or doctorate in "Biochemistry", "Biology", "Petrochemical Engineering" or maybe even plain old "Tribology" just for starters.