Guide on Cleaning Motorcycle Chain with Kerosene

Washing and cleaning motorcycle chain.

Kerosene has a wide variety of applications, ranging from fuel for oil lamps to cleaning chemicals, jet fuel, cooking gas, and diesel fuel. It may utilize securely and effectively to achieve outstanding outcomes in a variety of areas. Few oils are as versatile as Kerosene, and its inexpensive expense renders it a prevalent oil among many consumers. While Kerosene is most often used for heating and electricity, as you can see, it can do much more.

Kerosene is a solvent that may use as an alternative method for cleaning. Another little-known feature about Kerosene is its use and works to clean bicycles and motorcycle chains of spent lubricating oil before re-lubrication. It functions pretty well and simplifies the process. It also performs a barrier fuel, separating fuels to prevent contamination when funneling through a pipe.

Kerosene is entirely safe for use on chains that are insulated. Kerosene is the best-known element in the vast majority of chain cleaners. Kerosene may complete the process of cleaning your motorcycle’s chain in the comfort of your own home with just a few simple instruments such as Kerosene, chain lubrication like DuPont chain protector, and a few rags are all you will need. You do not even require a motorcycle platform to do this task, making it much easier to do at home.

How to Clean the Chain on a Motorcycle using Kerosene

The chain of a motorcycle is undoubtedly among the most critical components. The chain is capable of handling enormous speed and braking forces. During typical riding, the chains probably experience the most significant wear – and – tear of any engine component. Keep in mind that practically all engine components lubricate with engine oil and are enclosed to protect them from hostile climates, but the chain is primarily open to environmental elements.

In most current motorbikes, the chain is not fully enclosed in a chain cover and is visible. As a result, each time you ride, it exposes you to dirt, dust, and water. Maintaining and lubricating a chain can significantly enhance your motorcycle rides and extend the life of the chain and sprocket.

If you are doing maintenance, it should be performed on a regular basis to ensure that the chain maintains a high degree of lubrication. However, it will also gather a great deal of debris, leading to a chain that seems to be quite dirty. As you may expect, dust is very damaging to a chain’s performance. Therefore, it is a good idea to lube your chain in every thousand miles of driving or whenever you replace your oil, which is a fantastic recommendation. The most straightforward technique of polishing your chain is to use a cloth, a brush, and some Kerosene.

Things You Must Prepare for Cleaning Your Motorcycle:

  • Kerosene
  • Chain Cleaner Motul
  • Grunge Brush by Simple Solutions
  • Tirox 360° Chain Bristle Brush
  • Scott Merchandise Towels
  • Gloves made of Nitrile Rubber.

Avoid using robust solutions, such as gasoline, since they may corrode the O-Rings. Kerosene may be sprayed or wiped on your chain. The most excellent aspect of using Kerosene is how quickly it cleans your chain, saving you much time. I usually dip an old cloth in Kerosene and rub it across the chain until it becomes clear. When the chain is highly filthy, you will pour some kerosene into a spray container and spritz the cleaning directly onto the chain. Ascertain that you are in an adequately ventilated place.

Kerosene, by the way, is readily available at any retail store, generally in the camping area where predominantly individuals used Kerosene in such situations as power camp burners or fireplaces as well. However, expect to pay five bucks for a ten-year supply. After around five minutes, you will have a spotlessly smooth chain and a filthy fabric. It is also an excellent suggestion to dismantle the countershaft sprocket cover and thoroughly clean the front sprocket area. Allowing this material to accumulate might result in issues that you do not want to deal with.

Beware: Make sure you are buying Kerosene rather than camp or white fuel while you are out purchasing. Even though campsite fuel and white gasoline are packaged together with Kerosene, they are combustible and burn with remarkable efficiency. Check to see that the word Kerosene is printed on the can twice and three times. It is essential not to place your trust in the store employee. However, if the bottle does not explicitly indicate Kerosene, it is pretty likely white gasoline, which is very dangerous to handle.

Is it Safe to Apply Kerosene to Clean the Motorcycle Chain?

According to the majority perspective of the motorcycle proprietor, to answer this question, the answer is yes. For the avoidance of doubt, Kerosene is not comparable to camp fuel. Camp fuel sometimes refers to as white gas, and it is exceedingly flammable and a corrosive solvent. On the other hand, Kerosene is entirely distinctive Kerosene is often packaged in a blue can, though this is not always the case, and camp fuel packs in a red can. Do not use any camp fuel. Hot flatulence has the potential to set off the explosive, and as we previously said, it is quite severe and may do destruction to your chain and other metals.

On the other hand, Kerosene is gentler, and it will truly clean your chain, restoring it to like-new condition in such a short period that you will not believe your eyes. Another thing to keep in mind, Kerosene can purchase that chain cleaners for roughly ten bucks and clean approximately two to five chains. So, while the Kerosene is expensive (20 dollars per gallon), a bottle will last us approximately four years.

Using a standard spray container which this product can find in certain supermarkets, we will be able to blast the Kerosene straight onto the chain, allowing us to obtain the most out of our Kerosene. However, we strongly advise you to avoid using any degreaser, regardless of the cleaning you pick. We have seen folks use quite harsh products such as parts cleaner, spray parts cleaner, carburettor cleaner, and other such items. And, yes, they are effective at removing oil from the chain, but they are way too harsh on the chain. 

They cause severe damage to the O-rings, and as soon as those O-rings split or break, whatever lubrication that was initially contained within the chain by the manufacturers leaks out. In addition, several of your very light degreasers, such as elemental green and purple powers, are still way too strong for the O-rings to tolerate.

Mainly, as a result, we urge you to remain with Kerosene, and we are confident that once you use Kerosene and realize how effectively it functions, this solvent will convince you. The last item we suggest you purchase before you begin is a grunge brush, which these products can find on Amazon or at any retail shop. It costs somewhere around 15 bucks, and you should be able to find it at your local motorcycle store; if not, it is easily found on the internet. Spiral brushes, such as those manufactured by Tirox, are another excellent little tool to simplify the whole thing. Available at a similar price range as the previous model.

Final Thought

Maintenance on a motorcycle chain is a straightforward operation if you understand and carry out these procedures properly. Your riding circumstances determine the frequency with which you should clean and oil your chain. For illustration, you will need to clean the chain regularly if you are riding in muddy or dripping cases.

Keeping your motorcycle’s chain in good working order is critical to its overall performance. A well-maintained chain results in improved riding smoother, an improvement in the mechanical power transmission of your motorcycle, improved fuel efficiency, and a significant increase in the number of miles you can get out of your chain without having to make an appointment with the technician.

As a result, it is your job to ensure that you are aware of what is put on your chain and how it impacts your chain’s performance. Kerosene is the most affordable and friendliest cleaning chemical that you can find at your local hardware store. Kerosene, on the other hand, though not inexpensive, is readily accessible and makes an excellent cleaning solution for your chains. You may use an unused bottle from your house to do this project. Load it with Kerosene and spray it on the back sprocket to keep it from sticking. Next, get an old brush to brush around the links, and then rinse with high-pressure water to remove the residue. Viola! You have landed at the most convenient method for cleaning your chain with the least amount of effort. Always consider that you should get excellent Kerosene for your chains to avoid future mishaps.