Wax vs Oil: What's Best For Your Bike's Chain?

What's the difference between wax and oil?  Why would you choose one type of lube over the other, and are there clear advantages or disadvantages in committing to using wax or oil chain lube?  This post answers those questions and a few more.

There are two basic types of chain lube: Wax or oil-based.  Both reduce friction on your chain, but they are different substances with different properies.  A wax based lube can either be emulsified and dripped on the chain or melted down and dip your chain in the wax.  To use an oil-based lube, you drip it onto the rollers of the chain and rotate the chain backwards, then wipe off the excess.

Chains come from the factory packed in a grease.  This is used purely for an anti-corrosive material so the chain can survive weeks in a shipping container and arrive without rust.  To have the best experience with either lubricant option, it is best to strip the factory grease entirely.

Performance under extreme weather conditions is the main differentiator between wax and oil based lubes.

In general, wax lubes offer greater component longevity, cleanliness, and better efficiency.  The wax is a solid lubricant meaning that dirt and contaminants can't get in the chain which keeps your chain from wearing as quickly.  In almost every application, we recommend wax.

Oil lube works differently by essentially floating the links apart.  A good oil can lost longer in a single application than wax, but it will attract dirt.  That creates a grinding paste that will ultimately wear the chain prematurely.  If you are in extremely clean conditions and cleanliness of the chain is not a priority, it might be a good use for oil-based lubricant.

The other use case for oil-based lubricants is for ultra endurance rides that the wax won't last long enough.  Wax lubricants require time to dry or remove the chain, so reapplying can be a problem.  A good quality oil lube is best for events where you don't have time to reapply wax.  

Performance under extreme weather conditions is the main differentiator between wax and oil based lubes.

In general, wax lubes offer greater component longevity, cleanliness, and better efficiency.  The wax is a solid lubricant meaning that dirt and contaminants can't get in the chain which keeps your chain from wearing as quickly.  In almost every application, we recommend wax.

Oil lube works differently by essentially floating the links apart.  A good oil can lost longer in a single application than wax, but it will attract dirt.  That creates a grinding paste that will ultimately wear the chain prematurely.  If you are in extremely clean conditions and cleanliness of the chain is not a priority, it might be a good use for oil-based lubricant.

The other use case for oil-based lubricants is for ultra endurance rides that the wax won't last long enough.  Wax lubricants require time to dry or remove the chain, so reapplying can be a problem.  A good quality oil lube is best for events where you don't have time to reapply wax.  

Longevity and performance are tied closely together when you are talking about chain lube.  The better the performance you get, typically the longer your chain will last.  This is because chain wear is typically caused by the friction of the parts sliding against each other.  If you reduce that friction, you would be reducing the wear as well.

For many cyclists, the difference in prep requirements determines whether they use wax or oil-based lube.  There's no getting around the fact that applying wax lube is more upfront effort required than applying oil, but it does have easier maintenance once set.

1. Degrease the chain completely.  We have multiple blogs and videos on this topic.  You can use the old mineral spirits, degrease, and acetone method, our Chain Stripper, or if it is a brand new chain you can use our StripChip to make this process as easy as possible.
2. Melt your wax blend in the SILCA Chain Wax System and ideally heat that wax to 75C.
3. Use the chain coupler to string the chain up for hanging
4. Dip the chain in the wax and agitate
5. Let the chain sit in the wax until the metal heats to about the same temperature as the wax which typically takes around 5 minutes.
6. Once you see no more bubbles during agitation, that means the wax has fully forced out any air and you can remove the chain from the wax and hang it to cool

1. Fully strip the chain with the same instructions as listed in the hot wax application
2. Cross-chain your drivetrain as much as possible.  For traditional road set ups this means the small ring in the front and the biggest cog in the rear
3. Drip one to two drops per roller of SuperSecret Chain Lube on the chain while rotating it in reverse
4. Once it is applied on each roller, use your fingers to pinch the top and bottom of the rollers to help the liquid wax penetrate the links
5. Allow the water to evaporate leaving just the wax.  This takes a minimum of 4 hours but leaving overnight is ideal.

Maintaining your chain after you select a lubricant is obviously an important consideration to make.  Since chain lube isn't a one and done task, you need to make sure to maintain it well and your chain will last much longer.

A quality chain wax like Secret Chain Blend should give you about 300 miles of clean road riding between applications.  Between rides all you need to do is wipe the chain down with a microfiber towel to remove any dirt on the outside of the chain.  

Once you hit that 300 mile mark or the chain starts to make a little more noise, you have two options. First you can take the chain off and re-dip in Secret Chain Blend.  This is going to give you the best performance in terms of efficiency, cleanliness, and longevity, but it does require removing the chain.  

The other option is to drip SuperSecret Chain Lube on top of the chain.  This is an identical formula that has been emulsified into a liquid so it can top up the chain.  The downside is you will see a slight decrease in efficiency, cleanliness, and longevity, but it will be a simpler process.  Either option is great and completely up to you.

Like most tasks, maintaining your chain is much easier with the right tools for the job.  

A good set of brushes is key for washing your bike, and a drivetrain specific brush is great for cleaning your chain.  SILCA also has plenty of products like Chain Stripper, Brake and Drivetrain Cleaner, Gear Wipes, Microfiber towels, and all the lubricants you need to make this task easier.

Oil and wax are not compatible with eachother.  Wax will not stick to the metal if there is oil on the chain, and oil will sit on the wax rather than the metal.  Not only do you have these issues, but also it will become extremely dirty with the presence of oil.  This really should be avoided except for one specific use case.

That use case is when you are on a very long ride and the wax starts to degrade, you can top up with Synergetic to finish the ride.  This comes up in races like the Unbound 200 when there is a lot of mud. Often 10 plus hours of rain and mud will require topping up mid race.  This is the only scenario where we would recommend mixing the two lubricant types.

The how and where you ride are the biggest factors into what might be the best option for you.  A rain bike in the UK vs a Sunday bike for the coffee shop ride, and a recreational cyclist in the midwest all have very different needs.

As a baseline for most conditions wax is a great option.  On the other hand, if you are riding in the rain regularly, oil bight be a better potion for you.  This is because of the additional cleaning requirements of wax when there is water present.  While the on bike performance will be better than oil, some people choose to go with an oil option because the requirement to get it completely dry isn't as strict.  

Another great option for oil comes from our very own Fatty (Elden Nelson) where he rides in Utah there is a lot of moondust.  This moondust gets on the cassette and can create a squeaking noise of the roller dropping into the cog.  It isn't causing much wear and wax would certainly be better for longevity, but he would rather buy an extra couple of chains and not have the squeak.  

A good lubricant and a regular maintenance schedule will prolong the life of you bike's chain and other components.  It will also improve your performance through reducing drivetrain losses and maintaining the quality of your shifts.  Selecting the best lubricant for your preferred riding conditions is important. Whether you favor a waxed chain or oil-based lubricants, be sure to get the best quality products you can find for optimal performance. Chain lube really is a place where a cheap alternative can really cost you much more in the long run.