DIY bike chain lube actually worked better than the expensive stuff

I was dead set against using used motor oil on my bike chain because it sounded messy and gross, but I got stuck 30 miles from home on a trail near Austin last month and a guy pulled out a tiny bottle of it. He said he strains it through a coffee filter and mixes it with a little acetone to thin it out. I tried it on my old mountain bike and I swear the chain is quieter and it didn't attract nearly as much dirt as I expected. Plus it cost me basically nothing since I had a quart sitting in my garage from my last oil change. The only downside is the smell for the first ride or two, but it fades fast. Has anyone else tried this or found another cheap lube that holds up in muddy conditions?

2 comments

2 Comments

troykim12d ago

Doesn't surprise me at all, people overthink the fancy branded stuff when the simple old solutions usually work just as good for a fraction of the cost. It's like how I've seen folks spend a fortune on tire sealant when a homemade mix of latex and glitter does the same thing in a pinch.

nora_wells5811d ago

Wait, people actually put glitter in their tires? How does that not mess everything up?