Is it OK to use gasoline to clean the drivetrain on my bike? I did it once, and it seemed like it took a while for my chain lube to work back into the clean chain. Is that normal? I’m looking for a cheaper cleaning solution than $8/bottle for the stuff marketed directly at bicycles.
No.
See previous discussion HERE.
gas - Never
Simple green and a light brush - YES oil lightly afterwards.
mineral spirits seem to work pretty well for me.
gas - Never
why not ? a “no” or “never” without some additional meat on the bone doesn’t mean anything.
gas - Never
why not ? a “no” or “never” without some additional meat on the bone doesn’t mean anything.
Why do we use gasoline in internal combustion engines?
gas - Never
why not ? a “no” or “never” without some additional meat on the bone doesn’t mean anything.
Why do we use gasoline in internal combustion engines?
really ? that’s a very lucid, well thought out, brilliant, and informative post. well done…
It may be terse and to the point…but, it is quite accurate.
- Gasoline is extremely volatile even at low ambient temperatures, and it is only exacerbated by current summertime conditions.
- It has a very high energy of combustion.
- it takes very little energy for it to be ignited once it has been volatilized.
These three facts make it extremely dangerous to use gasoline as a solvent. Spreading out a very thin layer (or worse yet, spraying it with a mister of some kind) on a hot metal surface will only accelerate the rate of volatilization, creating a explosive atmosphere surrounding YOU. One very small spark, and poof you are engulfed in an explosion leaving you with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over a significant portion of your body, and potentially blind, deaf or (honestly for you…better yet compared to dying several days later due to infections and other complications from the severe burns) dead.
Yes, gasoline is a good solvent in a technical sense…but, it makes a very poor one from a safety perspective.
The above properties make it ideal for use in an internal combustion engine.
gas - Never
why not ? a “no” or “never” without some additional meat on the bone doesn’t mean anything.
Why do we use gasoline in internal combustion engines?
really ? that’s a very lucid, well thought out, brilliant, and informative post. well done…
It was exactly enough for someone who can reason to come to the correct conclusions.
My apologies. I’m used to not giving answers to my daughters as they were growing up so they’d learn to think for themselves.
I know you are just trolling but this video answers your question, and since no one ended up getting seriously hurt thanks to their flame proof clothing, it is kind of fun to watch. If I recall correctly, there was only around a quart of gasoline spilled here.
It may be terse and to the point…but, it is quite accurate.
- Gasoline is extremely volatile even at low ambient temperatures, and it is only exacerbated by current summertime conditions.
- It has a very high energy of combustion.
- it takes very little energy for it to be ignited once it has been volatilized.
These three facts make it extremely dangerous to use gasoline as a solvent. Spreading out a very thin layer (or worse yet, spraying it with a mister of some kind) on a hot metal surface will only accelerate the rate of volatilization, creating a explosive atmosphere surrounding YOU. One very small spark, and poof you are engulfed in an explosion leaving you with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over a significant portion of your body, and potentially blind, deaf or (honestly for you…better yet compared to dying several days later due to infections and other complications from the severe burns) dead.
Yes, gasoline is a good solvent in a technical sense…but, it makes a very poor one from a safety perspective.
The above properties make it ideal for use in an internal combustion engine.
now, yours was, in fact, an intelligent and reasonable reply to the question. a “why do we use gasoline in internal combustion engines” was not, and it certainly was not "terse’ and “to the point”; it was meaningless without some supporting verbiage.
that said, i’ll maintain that gasoline, used as a degreaser for bike parts, is hardly a threat for a spontaneous combustion and resulting disaster of injury.
These three facts make it extremely dangerous to use gasoline as a solvent. Spreading out a very thin layer (or worse yet, spraying it with a mister of some kind) on a hot metal surface will only accelerate the rate of volatilization, creating a explosive atmosphere surrounding YOU. One very small spark, and poof you are engulfed in an explosion leaving you with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over a significant portion of your body, and potentially blind, deaf or (honestly for you…better yet compared to dying several days later due to infections and other complications from the severe burns) dead.
Who is suggesting to use a mister (other than you) and where has this “hot metal surface” come from?!
I know you are just trolling but this video answers your question, and since no one ended up getting seriously hurt thanks to their flame proof clothing, it is kind of fun to watch. If I recall correctly, there was only around a quart of gasoline spilled here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2_DfKVTjzA
not trolling at all. i just like calling out and challenging vague statements. as far as your youtube video reference, are you seriously going to equate that content with the question of the potential hazard of using gasoline as a degreasing agent for bicycle parts ?
Is it OK to use gasoline to clean the drivetrain on my bike? I did it once, and it seemed like it took a while for my chain lube to work back into the clean chain. Is that normal? I’m looking for a cheaper cleaning solution than $8/bottle for the stuff marketed directly at bicycles.
$24.49 & this jug will last you forever. Yes, gas is only $3 a gallon, but, as others have already noted, it’s probably not the best idea or solution.
My brother-in-law was (key word) an electronic engineer; highly regarded as being smart and all. He loved dirt bikes and had a trailer specifically for transporting his bikes, but it also was (there’s that key word again) a small workshop. He was working on a bike, disassembled and cleaning parts. The report claims he was using gasoline - it does remove stubborn stuff almost better than anything else (I found MEK works superior, but I think that stuff is outlawed.) Anyway, the vapors sink to the floor and travel. I’m not sure what, but something at the far end of the trailer sparked it off. The trailer exploded, thrusting him hard into the back wall and burning him and, well, everything else up. Not a survivor.
gas - Never
why not ? a “no” or “never” without some additional meat on the bone doesn’t mean anything.
Why do we use gasoline in internal combustion engines?
really ? that’s a very lucid, well thought out, brilliant, and informative post. well done…
It was exactly enough for someone who can reason to come to the correct conclusions.
My apologies. I’m used to not giving answers to my daughters as they were growing up so they’d learn to think for themselves.
no apology needed. first, it was intuitively obvious what your question-of-an-answer suggested. i was looking for you to go a step further and explain how the minute amount of gasoline needed to clean a bicycle drivetrain would relate to the absurd insinuation that a bicycle might go up in flames as a result …
Who is suggesting to use a mister (other than you) and where has this “hot metal surface” come from?!
The OP was specifically asking about “cleaning the drivetrain”. I agree that it is possible to do that in the confines of an air-conditioned room, however, I think that it is not unreasonable to surmise that most people do that out of doors where for most people these days (august…summertime in the northern hemisphere) it is sunny and slightly warm. So, its 86F on a sunny day. Dirty drivetrain components are often dark/black from grease/dirt, and some are even anodized black to start with. This results in a rapid absorbtion of solar radiation and the commensurate increase in the temperature of said metal parts. Hence, the “hot metal surface”.
Second, no one mentioned a spray bottle other than me…However, again it is typical to spray the solvent of choice onto the drivetrain, 1) its wasteful to simply pour it on and let the excess dribble onto the lower horizontal surface (typically the “ground”), 2) dipping a brush into a small canister and brushing it on, is someone annoying and tedious. Further, allowing most solvents to soak prior to brushing them is also typically more effective and time efficient. So, more often than not people spray the solvent on, let it soak for some number of minutes, and then either rinse the first round off and repeat, or scrub. See the most recent article by Ceramispeed on the front page for an example using simple green.
So, sure…I added those details…based on some assumptions. However, I do think they are reasonable and more applicable than not.
Is it OK to is testosterone cream as an anti-chafing solution on long training rides?
Is it OK to is testosterone cream as an anti-chafing solution on long training rides?
Only if the team doctor gives it to you, and doesn’t tell you what it really is.