Winter Chain Lube Needed
 

I did a search on it, with some results, not didn't find a conclusive answer. Most people seem to have their own winter chain lube remedy and I was wondering if there was an argued upon, or bike industry standard for winter chain lube.

I'm using wet/dry Pedro lube and by the end of the day, when the chain has taken a weather beating, it is rusty looking and dry.

Any help?

I just lube a lot more often. I'm pretty sure there's no solution that can deal with the conditions where I am. I can put on a brand new, freshly lubed chain, ride once and the next morning the chain won't even bend anymore, between the water, clay and salt.

I've tried teflon+wax, prolink, triflow, and 30w motor oil cut with mineral spirits. I'm currently using the latter, just because nothing else works any better and at least it's cheap.

Teflon+wax was only really good because I could lube the chain in 10 seconds instead of the 4 minutes it takes me with oil and a rag to wipe down.

I would recommend a wet lube, like TriFlow (great stuff). I know some folks who have tried using a dry lube in wet conditions and had problems with corrosion, etc...

+1 on the wet lube in winter. Finish line makes some good stuff.

Some guys use chainsaw oil or 10w30 and thin it out with mineral spirits which help the thicker oil to flow and then evapourate leaving the remaining thick oil in the chain. I've been using pedro syn-lube for wet, it's ok.

You definatly want something a little more sticky because road slush and snow will wash it off quickly and if it isn't "clingy" then it won't stay on the chain for very long. If you don't keep the chain slathered, salt water will get in and rust it out. I swear you can see the chain rusting somedays

Rust never Sleeps!

You don't want 10w30, you just want 30 weight oil. multiviscosity oil would be worse than pointless on a bike chain. You want the 30w. 10w30 will act like 10w when cold, which it always will be.

A quart of cheap 30w oil is about $1.50, and will keep even my chain lubed for years (at an average of lubing it once a week).

I use Phil's Tenacious in the winter on my rainbike. That stuff is like maple syrup.

And your pancakes... ?

Mobil 1 synthetic, 0W-20. Apply, let sit, wipe; wipe the next day, and the third. Reapply.

Better handles the slush & mush of winter. At least for me.

Do you thin out the 30w oil?

I've had really good results with Dumonde Tech's lube. Get the original formula, and make sure you follow the application instructions.

with mineral spirits, then when you apply the mineral spirits evaporate and oil remains deep in the chain,
either do that method or like the above have said a wet lube.

After doing some research (read my sticky factory lube thread), I too have decided to concoct a mixture of motor oil 5w20 since I have lots + mineral spirits. 1:4 ratio.

I'm using Finish Line Cross Country Wet Lubricant (black bottle, green label and cap). It seems to work reasonably well.

Rock and Roll wet weather formula.

Cyril

With all the salt on the road I have to lube after every ride anyway. I use the same stuff all year round, ProGold's Prolink.

+1. Drip it on the day before to let it soak overnight, wipe it off before your ride. Haven't found anything better for all conditions.

this one.

Any motor oil, 10-30 or 10-40 is nice, lube the chain after running it through a paper towel.
Put a drop of oil on each spoke nipple too, then wipe off the excess.
I do this every 7 rides, and then wipe the bike generally with your oily rag.
Oil the deraillers at all the moving joints, lube the idler pullys, lube the crank at the bb bracket. Wipe the excess away clean.
Lube the brake pivot points if necessary.

Just keep the oil off the braking surfaces and the pads.

Keep it lubed.
bill

in the spring degrease the whole deal

+1

Yes, with mineral spirits. The thinning allows the oil to flow into the rollers, then the spirits evaporate and leave the heavier oil inside.

Just wondering for the homebrewers (OMS + engine oil), do you guys make a batch or only mix them when applying? The former just saves time once the mixture is concocted.

+1. Apply every Monday.

This is what I have been using for 3 winters. I completely cover the chain until it is an ugly, dripping mess. I don't even wipe it off. When spring comes, I switch to my summer chain and lube, saving the winter chain for next year. No rust and very little maintenance.