Can I....Use car oils to lube my chain

[The Tot]

Hi there, as the question states, is it feasible/safe to use car oils to lube a bike chain. I've still got a bit of "proper" chain lube spray left behind, but seeing that there's a gallon of car oil which has remained untouched for years in the garage, i thought i might as well use it for lubrication. I know systems like loobman & scottoiler use engine oils and stuff too, but i'm just interested if any of you manually apply it to your chain?
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[iCraig]

Yes, you can use it to lube your chain, any oil or grease can be used but with these you will get alot of flinging, and might notice alot all over your rear wheel and the side of your tyre.

[NickD]

I would!

It's what people used to do anyway. Obviously it won't stick to the chain like a proper chain lube will, but it also wont be a pain in the arse to clean off bodywork etc like chain lube. In my Scottoiler I ended up using whatever oil was cheapest, and noticed no difference between that and the proper scottoil stuff. Obviously Scottoiler recommend that you use their oil, claiming anti- fling properties, and that other oils may corrode O- rings, but theirs won't. But they would wouldn't they.
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Tear along the dotted line!

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Good point Tito. I'm guessing it must also be ok to use used engine oil as well then I've got loads of that around. Or the new stuff?

[mchaggis]

It depends how much crap the old stuff's got in. It's great for just dumping the chain in a bath of it, but I wouldn't be putting it through the nozzles of a ScottOiler and not be expecting it to clog up.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[The Tot]

Cheers guys... Claud, i guess u can use a toothbrush and brush liberal amounts of the oil on it, cos that's what i did today. Probably only downside to this is that i'd be lubing the chain more often then, but seeing as that i wash and clean my bike every friday, it shouldn't really be a problem then.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Hmmm think I'll give it a go. I'm nearly out of chain lube anyway.

As long as it doesn't flick onto my tyre and cause the bike to go down.

Certainly cheaper.

[mchaggis]

Old engine oil is free after all, it's already served its primary purpose. You'll be lubing it more, but there's plenty more where it came from.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

[PsychoHippy]

I always use engine oil in the summer, you will be surprised how clean your chain stays as non of the road grime will stick to it like it does with chain lube. However you will need to re-lube alot more often, and if you ridein the rain you will need to lube as soon as possible because it will wash off.
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I spend all my money on bikes and beer, the rest I simply waste!

[mchaggis]

[asphaltic99]

I use old engine oil on mine...

I pour a tiny amount into an old ice-cream tub and leave it fir a few days. It seems to get thicker (don't know why) and then I put in on the chain with an old paintbrush that I 'borrowed' from the paint cupboard .

I don't seem to get a lot of 'fling' and any that I do wipes off the wheel really easily.
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i am a dirty sod who bothers women.

[alains]

better oiling than nothing
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the worst day fishing is better than the best day working

[rizo-sri200]

asphaltic99

am i right in saying you ride a honda that you aqquired on 02 September 2001?
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swift kick to the wing mirror puts em straight..
98' Bandit 600 with Slip on

[G]

I use old oil on all me bikes these days. Usually hardly used Castrol R4!

Do try and do it regularly; ie the r6 track bike gets it everyday it's used.

Looking at geeting a loobman for road bikes; a lot cheaper than a scottoiler and easier than manual oiling:
https://www.chainoiler.co.uk/

[pipnet11]

I currently use an aerosol chain lube that I got off the bloke who sold me my bike, but it will go back to 10w40 engine oil after that.
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[mchaggis]

Having stopped using Castrol Chain wax and switched to primarily 3 in 1 chain lube, I noticed one major difference. The inside wall of the front sprocket cover had hardly any crap on it. Normally after a few months of Castrol Chain wax, there'd be a solid layer about 5mm thick all the way around it, with all the stones, washers and weird and wonderful things that appear to like living in it.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[mr.z]