Home Brew chain lube - Why dilute synthetic motor oil with mineral spirits? Why not just use it straight? I can see dissolving regular motor oil because it's thick but synthetic just pours right out. It would seem to me if you put it in a squirt bottle or can, when you put a drop on the link, it will seep down into the link. I don't see why it would need to be thinned. When it is thinned, it has a greater chance of running out and being thrown off when riding. And in the winter time we all keep our bikes inside, either a garage or the house, and if necessary, keep the synthetic oil inside the laundry or furnace room in a small squeeze bottle. I'm going to be using a small shampoo or hand lotion bottle for application.
I have left synthetic oil outside in 20 degrees, and it pours into the car like it was summer. I have not noticed any difference in viscosity between different viscosity's in the winter time. Synthetic oil has been around since the 30's and is used extensively in the northern cold climates.
I'm going to start using straight synthetic oil and probably put it on every couple hundred miles without cleaning the chain and then periodically I'll clean the chain and see how dirty the chain is by draining the cleaner through a paper towel. I might after awhile, try some diluted with kerosene, then filter through a paper towel, and see which way regularly looks cleaner. When I clean the chain, I use a stiff parts brush over a 1/2 gallon empty milk/juice carton with some thinner/kerosene in it. I do this three times as the solvent comes out cleaner each time.
I have left synthetic oil outside in 20 degrees, and it pours into the car like it was summer. I have not noticed any difference in viscosity between different viscosity's in the winter time. Synthetic oil has been around since the 30's and is used extensively in the northern cold climates.
I'm going to start using straight synthetic oil and probably put it on every couple hundred miles without cleaning the chain and then periodically I'll clean the chain and see how dirty the chain is by draining the cleaner through a paper towel. I might after awhile, try some diluted with kerosene, then filter through a paper towel, and see which way regularly looks cleaner. When I clean the chain, I use a stiff parts brush over a 1/2 gallon empty milk/juice carton with some thinner/kerosene in it. I do this three times as the solvent comes out cleaner each time.