TIL cheap chain lube costs way more in the long run

Used that $5 can of WD-40 brand lube for 3 months and just had to replace a $90 drivetrain because everything was gummed up and grinding. Has anyone else learned this lesson the hard way or am I the only one who fell for it?

4 comments

4 Comments

amy_anderson22d ago

I mean I kind of get where you're coming from but honestly I've used basic cheap lube for years and never had a problem like that. Maybe it depends on how often you ride or what kind of conditions you're in. Like I just wipe my chain down every few weeks and reapply, never had any gumming up issues.

seth_singh2023d ago

Ugh dude that sucks! I did the same thing with like a $4 bottle of some random Walmart brand and my chain started rusting within a few weeks. I thought I was being smart saving money but ended up spending $60 on a new cassette and chain. Now I just use that Dumonde Tech stuff it's like $15 a bottle but lasts forever and my drivetrain actually stays clean.

allen.kai23d ago

Is it just me or does this apply to basically everything nowadays? Like you think you're being smart by going cheap on something small but then it ends up costing you way more in the long run. I've done the same thing with tools, bought a cheap screwdriver set and stripped out half the screws in my apartment. Then I had to buy a more expensive set anyway plus deal with the stripped screws. Same with shoes honestly, bought some cheap sneakers and my feet were killing me after a month. Ended up spending double on proper ones that actually lasted. It's like the whole "buy cheap buy twice" thing is real but we all have to learn it the hard way it seems.

the_alice23d ago

Waited way too long to learn that lesson myself. Switched to a cheap chain lube and wondered why my drivetrain sounded like a coffee grinder after two rides. Started using Squirt (it's a wax-based lube) and honestly my chain stays clean for like 200 miles now. No more black goo all over my hands and pants. It's a little pricier upfront but I barely have to reapply and my components are lasting way longer.