If you have a chainsaw that needs lubrication, and some left-over bike chain oil, you may be wondering if you can use it for this…
Can You Use Bike Chain Oil On A Chainsaw?
You could, but it is not recommended. And, it would be a makeshift fix at BEST. Bike oil will certainly help to reduce friction, but since it’s not specialized for chainsaw lubrication, the protection is not going to last very long at all.
If you decide to use it, keep this in mind, and don’t completely saturate your chainsaw.
You may even find that some manufacturers will not respect the warranty if they understand what you have done.
Is it OK to use WD-40 on the bike chain?
You can, but it’s only something that you’ll want to do for emergencies. WD40 is great for keeping away corrosion and for cleaning a chain, but the problem is that it’s not a very good lubricant. Yes, it feels slippery to the touch, but that’s about it.
If you try to use it as chain lube for anything but an emergency (say a quick trip to get chain lube at the hardware store) then you have a good chance of damaging the chain – it’s simply not designed the same way as chain lube that’s been specialized for bikes.
Can you use any oil in a chain?
No, not really. While you can use a good all-purpose option such as WD40, even if this is just a makeshift solution – it’s good at stopping corrosion but only sub-par as a lube. Your bike chain gets a lot of friction, so using oils around the house that you might have heard about on the internet is not recommended.
While some of these oils will lubricate the chain, there is no guarantee how long it will last, and you could end up damaging your chain over time if this turns out to be the case. Stick with WD40 for brief emergencies or simply stick to chain lube and you won’t have to worry.
What can I use if I don’t have chain oil?
While we wouldn’t recommend it for regular use, vegetable oil does work in a pinch and it not only lubricates the chain, but it doesn’t have an offensive scent. Since you won’t know how long it will last, however, for regular oiling you should go with chain lube – just to be on the safe side.
That said, if you have no chain oil, then go with the vegetable oil – a lot of pros use this hack so there’s something to it.
Do you need special oil for the bike chain?
Yes, when it boils down to it, bike chain oil is always going to be the best choice. It is specifically designed to coat the chain and to stay in place, protecting you from corrosion and friction. About the only thing comparable is WD40, but aside from this, you should always go with a bike chain lube option.
They are specialized for the job at hand, so they are always going to perform better than just about every other option out there.
Are WD-40 and chain lube the same?
No, they are not the same thing. WD40 is designed for cleaning metals and for providing a layer of protection against rusting and other forms of corrosion. As a lubricant, it will perform poorly at best, although you can use it in a pinch if there is nothing else and you need to ride your bike to a close location.
If you do this, we’re talking about a 5-minute trip here – don’t go beyond this, as the WD40 is simply not designed to lubricate a bike chain PERIOD.
Can I use regular oil instead of a bar and chain oil?
No, not really, unless it’s an absolute emergency. The problem with regular oil is not that it won’t lubricate your chain – it will – but that it is not going to last for very long. Standard oil isn’t going to stick to the chain the way a proper chain lube would.
So, for a quick trip, you could use regular oil, but it’s not something that you want to do regularly. The oil simply will not stick and you’ll end up damaging your chain if you try to use it for too long or too often.
Is engine oil good for chain lube?
No, engine oil is not good to use as a substitute for chain lube. The biggest problem is its viscosity. It is thick and so it’s going to catch a lot of dirt and grit when you ride.
There is also no guarantee of how long it will stick to the chain, either.
As such, unless it’s an absolute emergency, then you don’t want to use engine oil. It’s designed for engines, after all, not for bike chains!
Which is better chain lube or oil?
Chain oil is the best option for your bike chain, hands down. It is light, will stick to the chain, and helps to keep corrosion at bay. Other oils can work similarly, but due to variance in the viscosity and the fact that they won’t stay on the chain length in the first place, they are makeshift solutions at best.
Stick with regular chain lube and you needn’t worry – just clean and oil the chain once a week or every 100 – 150 miles of use.
Can I use Vaseline on my bike chain?
No, Vaseline is not a good option for your bike chain. While it’s certainly a useful lubricant with many applications, bike chains are not one of them. The consistency of Vaseline means that it’s not going to thoroughly penetrate and coat between the chain links so it will do a poor job lubricating them.
The density of it also means that it’s going to pick up lots of dirt as you roll along while riding so aside from poorly lubricating the chain, it’s also going to make it get dirty faster. As such, Vaseline is simply not recommended to use as a substitute for chain lube.