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Green Oil Clean Chain degreaser

8
£3.60

VERDICT:

8
10
An eco-friendly equal to traditional degreasers
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.green-oil.net

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Green Oil’s sweet smelling chain cleaner is made from a blend of natural, citrus based ingredients and is every bit as effective as those derived from petrochemicals without damaging the environment or bank balances into the bargain. Diluted with 900ml of fresh water, it also produces a litre of the firm’s bike wash. Better still, all that’s left behind is the sweet smell of oranges.

However, clearly stated in the instructions, it is not a smoothie so keep out of children’s reach. Pop the spout and drizzle over the chain as if lubricating and then either ride around or rotate the cranks for a few minutes to ensure even penetration. A longer, more intricate spout would minimise wastage and make application considerably easier. Leave to stand for a further minute or two before drying the chain thoroughly using a lint free cloth and re-lubricating as normal.

Flushing the chain through using clean water is recommended but in practice, only grime encrusted cross and mtb drivetrains have demanded this. It works very effectively, gobbling up the latest generation of ultra sophisticated and traditional wet lubes along with mud and other ingress. Rising with cold water sees the formation of a scuzzy looking puddle but the citrus acids consume without trace in about fifteen minutes-even on the kitchen lino.

The ingredients have shown a tendency to solidify in cooler weather- stored outside in garages, sheds/outbuildings so keep indoors unless you’re prepared to run them under the hot tap for a few minutes before use. That said a little goes a long way and dispenser cap aside the packaging is completely recyclable.

Verdict

An eco-friendly equal to traditional degreasers. The applicator needs redesigning.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Green Oil Clean Chain degreaser

Size tested: 100ml

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Green Oil's chain cleaner is an eco friendly chain degreaser that works very efficiently on most lubricants with very little effort. Better still,diluted with water 100ml is sufficient to produce a litre of the firm's Green Clean.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

100% Citrus based ingredients

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Simple, clean and very effective.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing particular but it can solidify in cooler weather so store at room temperature where possible.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Unreservedly

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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