I know these things happen a lot but wait what I’m talking about? I’m talking about when you wash your ebike or take it in the rain, later you find you lost all the greasing layer from your gear plates & chain and now pedalling has become hard and you have to go outside for important work, what will you do?

Or one more common scenario that happened with many bike owners is –

For some reason, they stop riding and their ebike is standing in the garage for a long time. And all of a sudden they got cravings to ride their bike and saw there had been less greasing and gear plates were rotating with great difficulty because debris was all over.

Now, how do you have to take it to a mechanic for servicing? Because the pedal isn’t moving, a few parts have become tight. Now you have to do something frugal and quick so, you can take it to the mechanic at least.

Don’t worry, I will tell you how you can oil your ebike parts again with household products and go on a ride instantly.

In this article, I’m going to share my exact tips whenever I fall into this situation and what I use, trust me it is going to be inexpensive.

Why Do We Need to Apply Lubricant on Chain?

There are multiple reasons for applying lubricant on the chain and other parts. Let’s see one by one:

1. Reducing Friction: Lubricating minimizes the friction between the chain and the gear plates to ensure a smooth riding experience plus less tiring. It enhances the performance of the ebike.

2. Protecting Against Rust and Corrosion: Rust and corrosion are the biggest enemy of any iron and steel products. Apply lubricant to form a protective layer that prevents the parts from rusting and corrosion caused by moisture.

3. Reducing Noise: Lubricant helps in reducing the noise that is created by 2 metals when come in contact with each other. You may have noticed this on many appliances like fans, suspension chairs etc.

Characteristics of Bike Chain Lube

1. It has to be an anti-oxidant, that prevents the parts from rusting and corrosion.
2. It should have frictional behaviour so that pedalling the cycle doesn’t feel heavy or difficult.
3. It should stay there at least for a longer time, do not evaporate.
4. The viscosity of the lubes is a dicey matter as some may prefer thin some may prefer thick and it depends on the environment. Lubes are available in both forms dry and wet and even in wet you can get 2 types of lube thick and thin.

8 Bike Chain Lube Alternatives Available at Home

There are several household alternatives to market bike chain lubricants. Here are some commonly available options:

Coconut oil

I have personally used and still use coconut oil for lubricating stuff in emergency cases. I 100% recommend coconut oil to lube chains or any other moving parts.

Olive Oil

Sunflower Oil/Vegetable Oil

Beeswax

Paraffin Wax

Candle Wax

Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline)

Vaseline another favourite greasing substance of mine. It works flawlessly on any bearing/rotating equipment and it is actually close to market-available chain lube.

Motor oil

How to Apply These Alternatives

Applying these alternatives is easy, you just need a few equipment that’s it.

• Brush/Applicator
• Clean and Dry cloth

If you’re taking out your bike after a long time, you must clean it first. How? Check this article – How to clean e-bike chain with household products.

If you’re applying any kind of wax then take the brush or if you’re going to penetrate oil then take an oil applicator as it will help you to put oil most efficiently.

FAQs

Q1. Can I use WD-40 for the lubing chain?

Ans. Do not use WD-40 as a lubricating agent because WD’s job is to remove rust. If you apply it on the chain WD liquid will evaporate soon.

Q2. How often Should I lube/oil/grease bike chain?

Ans. Generally, it’s recommended after every 300 km. Rest it depends on the city condition.

Q3. What can I use to lube my bike chain?

Ans. You can use substances that avoid rust and corrosion plus sticky in nature like refined oil, vaseline, wax etc.

Q4. Is Kerosene good for oiling chain?

Ans. Well, I don’t find kerosene good for oiling chains as it will evaporate with time and doesn’t leave any layer for protection. I have seen many companies that don’t recommend putting kerosene on the chain.

Q5. What is the best greasing applicant available in the market?

Ans. You can try Squirt, Super Secret & Muc-off.

Q6. Can you use chainsaw oil on a bike chain?

Ans. Yes, you can use the chainsaw to lube your ebike chain. Chainsaw oil is more suitable in wet areas because it is thick and sticky so it stays long. Not recommended in dry and dusty areas as it will attract sand and create problems while riding.

Q7. Can I use cooking oil on my bike chain?

Ans. Yes, you can use cooking oil for oiling your bike chain but remember they are so sticky that they will attract more debris. Not good for the long term.

My Opinion

I use and recommend coconut oil and Vaseline more than any other household chain lube substitute as it’s always available in my home and since childhood I have used it in emergencies be it a bag zip or any other thing like that.

While writing this article it gave me the nostalgic feeling of “lockdown time” when everything was closed and I had to lube my cycle parts and go to the market to buy stuff. I think you all will relate to me.

Well, you can use anything that has similar properties like chain lube just one small suggestion try to use more liquidy lube because it will penetrate well and dust will not stick easily.

I hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you an idea for using alternatives to chain lubes.

Any questions? Feel free to ask me anywhere, I would love to answer that.