Dry/Wet lube

Mr Plum

I'm currently using 3in1 oil (don't shoot me...) but am about to order some new chain oil/lube. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of wet vs dry lube?

cee

dry lube is less wet and sticky so picks up less dirt and filth, but is not as effective in wet/gritty/muddy conditions. If its nice and dry, this will mean you can have less cleaning and maintenance on your drivetrain.

wet lube is a bit more wet and sticky so works better in wet/gritty/muddy conditions, but...surprisingly enough, picks up more dirt and filth, so a bit more attention to the chain is required.

Mr Plum

Thanks for that - so it's just about how long you can maintain a clean chain for...

How about ceramic lube, or teflon based grease? I've been told both can be used on a chain and both offer good results, but how about the cleaning aspect?

lae

Nothing particularly wrong with 3-in-1. It's a bit thin and picks up dirt easily as do all wet lubes. I use gearbox oil as it's only a fiver for a litre.

By far the most important thing is regular cleaning and re-lubing. I'd even go so far as to say that, for utility cycling, chain-specific lubricants are just a gimmick.

Monkeypump

Teflon-based grease? Or indeed any grease? On a chain? No.

The ceramic lubes are fine (as good as most others) but need to be applied to a very clean chain for the ceramic particles to stick and do their job.

I wouldn't agree with lae about specific lubes being a gimmick, but it doesn't have to be complicated - wet lube for crappy conditions, dry lube in the summer.

desweller

Engine oil and a modest application of grease to seal it in. Will last for weeks even in these conditions.

Drysuitdiver

i found 3 in 1 clogged up the jockey wheels on the rear mech in a few days and needed a mini clean on a wednesday evening

currently using muc off wetlube , and i clean the chain with a squirt of gt85 on a rag once a week after washing all the mud from my sunday fun in the forest . no problems so far

chadders81

Ran mine for several weeks with just GT85 on and it was fine while it was dry. Using a fine coating of Finish Line wet now though because the roads are filthy.

The debate will run forever but you don't need much on at all.

AndyI

I use Finish Line Cross Country wet lube which gets good reviews. But, see this:
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/maintenanc ... /4831.html

Mr Plum

AndyI wrote:

I use Finish Line Cross Country wet lube which gets good reviews. But, see this:
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/maintenanc ... /4831.html

Cheers for that link - an interesting read. Kind of makes you wonder why companies push wet lube so much.

rolf_f

From now on, I'll use both. At the same time........