You may be right but it seems a bit literal to me. Density and thickness are different things. I am no expert, but grease shares a lot of its ingredients with oil except grease contains an added thickener. The theory is that the seals in the chain are sufficient to prevent greace’s main ingredient (oil) at various temperatures, from escaping. The seals will easily keep grease in and anything of a similar, or higher, density out - oil, water etc. Paraffin is thinner than oil, water etc and so the seals do not prevent it entering. It’s a theory as recounted to me. I am sure there are lots of ‘holes’ in it Some (old?) chains do not contain a sealed oil/grease component which could explain why the tradition of using Paraffin is one practised going back as far as 50 years. A chain 50 years ago I imagine is a very different thing these days. I must admit that knowing Paraffin is something people used to do years ago makes me err on the side of believing it is wrong for today’s chains. Another theory could be simply that the Paraffin degradates the rubber seal and over time let’s the Paraffin in to wash the grease out. I wonder why it’s so difficult to get to a definitive answer? Seems to me that a chain manufacturer would know the answer. I am as skeptical as the next person and it’s not beyond companies’ to invent the need for specialist cleaners. Even purposefully design-in their need! My mate never cleans his chain, just oils it. Metals these days, he says, are designed to be very smooth surfaces and any larger grit/dirt will fling off.
I think it depends on your use of the bike and mileage. In my case I used to use the bike alot, regular 100mille to work round trip so I went through chains until i fitted a scottoiller. I then had to clean the wheels but not the chain. It lasted longer than trying to spray the chain lube on and kept the chain clean. If i was to clean the chain I would only use the degreasers such as gunk or jizer etc. The other bonus was that I did not adjust my chain as often as before. Another benefit of a constant oil supply. Vinny
I use Motul C1&2 (iirc) for degreasing the chain and lubricating it. I have other degreasers there as back up if I’m caught short but usually I keep the Motul stocked. A few pics of my s1000rr which got the same treatment
