Cola to remove chain rust?

[alex.s]

I lube my chain as much as I have time for, but I'm not perfect, and i live next to the ocean. Am I really to believe it's a good idea to rub sugary coke soda all over my rusting chain? this seems like bulls*** to me... what is it in coke that makes it have such unbelievable properties? can we get that substance without all the sugar? this sounds so wrong...

[CZroe]

I searched YouTube for proof and saw water + foil had the same effect as Coke + foil. Never saw any suggestion that it worked on rust on its own.

[alex.s]

OK... did more digging... heres the actual reasoning behind it:

Rust removal
Phosphoric acid may be used as a "rust converter", by direct application to rusted iron, steel tools, or surfaces. The phosphoric acid converts reddish-brown iron(III) oxide (rust) to black ferric phosphate, FePO4.
"Rust converter" is sometimes a greenish liquid suitable for dipping (in the same sort of acid bath as is used for pickling metal), but it is more often formulated as a gel, commonly called naval jelly. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer". As a thick gel, it may be applied to sloping, vertical, or even overhead surfaces.
After treatment, the black ferric-phosphate coating can be scrubbed off, leaving a fresh metal surface. Multiple applications of phosphoric acid may be required to remove all rust. The black phosphate coating can also be left in place, where it will provide moderate further corrosion resistance. (Such protection is also provided by the superficially similar Parkerizing and blued electrochemical conversion coating processes.)

coke has a bunch of phosphoric acid in it.

[Snake]

I have used coke to clean my battery terminals but for my chain I will stick with chain cleaner and a brush.

[Sailariel]

I would not use Coke on my chain. If the chain shows rust, there are two products that take care of that problem quickly and do not damage the O rings. One product is Ballistol and the other is Corrosion-X. Ballistol is readily available in the Carolinas at hardware stores. Corrosion-X is available in most Marine Supply stores. After treating the chain, apply chain lube. I also live on the ocean. The chain lube I use is Maxxima Chain Wax.

[Banzai]

Originally Posted by Sailariel

I would not use Coke on my chain. If the chain shows rust, there are two products that take care of that problem quickly and do not damage the O rings. One product is Ballistol and the other is Corrosion-X. Ballistol is readily available in the Carolinas at hardware stores. Corrosion-X is available in most Marine Supply stores. After treating the chain, apply chain lube. I also live on the ocean. The chain lube I use is Maxxima Chain Wax.

Great post, I underlined the most important part of that!

[ScraitT]

I wouldn't use it on my chain, however I have used it on the muffler. Coke and Tin foil...it worked GREAT. Wash and wipe it down after and the muffler looks like new.

[Apex]

If any chain of mine starts to rust, I change it. It really doesn't take long to lube a chain. Doing it once a week only takes maybe 10 minutes. I had one bicycle with a rusted chain, I just sold it. No other 2-wheelers of mine are even remotely close to rusting, and they have all seen rain, mud, etc.

[tapdiggy]

If you need a quick clean-and-lube for your chain, I recomend Dupont Teflon Lubricant. This stuff is highly effective at lubricating and displacing moisture. Also, it cleans off gunk on application: grime comes right off. The Chain-Saver is better at keeping the tail clean since the multi-use spray is made to fling off as it gets saturated with grime. Longevity can be a curse though, because the only way I have found to clean off the old lube is with a spray of new lube and a brush. But that salty coastal air won't get through this stuff.

[CC Cowboy]

I wouldn't use coke on my chain either, I would use it on my rum though.

[GeneJunkie]

>.> are you guys serious putting cola on parts of your vehicle for cleaning? I just imagine this nasty sticky mess and the attack of the bees due to the sugar.

Myth Busters did an episode about this and pretty much busted every coke myth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBus..._Uses_For_Cola

[ninjabrewer]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

I wouldn't use coke on my chain either, I would use it on my rum though.

[tjkamper]

I would not use coke on a chain, but it does work for removing rust from metal surfaces. I would not use it on a chain, because of the O rings and the chance of damaging them.

The chain is a very important part of your bike that is under a lot of stress. If you have problems with a chain, I recommend replacing it, just to be doubly sure. Ofcourse you can try to clean it up, but I personaliy would not do it.

[ScraitT]

Originally Posted by GeneJunkie

Myth Busters did an episode about this and pretty much busted every coke myth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBus..._Uses_For_Cola

And they confirmed that it cleaned chrome excellently.
I used cola with tin foil to clean the factory chrome exhaust and it worked great. It removed the rust that was starting, however rust on chrome is a bit different then rust on other metals. The tinfoil probably did more to remove the rust then the cola. he benefit is that Tinfoil is soft enough not to scratch chrome, and the cola acted like a lubricant and cleaner one the rust was scraped off by the tinfoil.
I then if course hosed the bike down, removing any cola residue.

It really worked amazingly. Deep pitted rust, it won't take off, but surface rust disappears and it looks like new.

[CZroe]

The rust isn't bonded to the chrome (it just leaked out of tiny holes). I saw a youtube wideo where someone removed rust from a bicycle's chrome fender using water and tin foil seemingly as easily as I removed rust from my muffler with tin foil and Coke. Perhaps water + foil beats commercial chrome polish too?

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by GeneJunkie

>.> are you guys serious putting cola on parts of your vehicle for cleaning? I just imagine this nasty sticky mess and the attack of the bees due to the sugar.

Myth Busters did an episode about this and pretty much busted every coke myth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBus..._Uses_For_Cola

Diet coke: all the corrosive, none of the sticky

[Apex]

Originally Posted by CZroe

The rust isn't bonded to the chrome (it just leaked out of tiny holes). I saw a youtube wideo where someone removed rust from a bicycle's chrome fender using water and tin foil seemingly as easily as I removed rust from my muffler with tin foil and Coke. Perhaps water + foil beats commercial chrome polish too?

Doesn't the chrome polish also put a layer of protection from oxidation?

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by Apex

Doesn't the chrome polish also put a layer of protection from oxidation?

They have hydrophobic ingredients like oils and/or antioxidants. If you got rid of the toxic solvents, you could take them as dietary supplements.

[CZroe]

I'm guessing that's why it removes easier with Coke/Water. Add a little bit of elbow grease for preventative protection.

[Sailariel]

After you get rid of the rust on chrome with Coke and Aluminum Foil, a good wax will protect it or at least retard further corrosion. I like 3M Marine Metal Polish. I tend to favor marine products because I have experience with them. The saltwater environment is really harsh. It attacks everything including the best Stainless Steel. If you are hesitant about using Coke and Foil, The 3M works just as well--but costs a lot more.

[Purspeed]

Just use WD-40 and a brush. Be careful not to damage the delicate O-rings that seals in the lube. Then, use WD-40 as your chain lube. It doesn't attract much dirt and doesn't swell up the O-ring.