GREEN OIL SLIP ECO LUBRICANT

200ml £7.99

Green Oil Slip Eco Lube is their first foray into multi purpose lubricants. It’s not bike specific but none the worse for it. Ours has kept chains, lock, cleat and other mechanisms slick and corrosion free without gumming up like those ubiquitous three in one oils.

In keeping with the brand’s established range, everything is and can be recycled. Using dropper type bottles is not only planet-friendly but avoids wastage, although the lack of solvent cleaner/carrier component means chains must be degreased first.

Popping the spout, reveals a low viscosity, honey coloured fluid, which could easily pass for a bog standard PTFE based prep, so keep a rag handy to catch any overspill. Unsurprisingly, exact ingredients are Coca-Cola secret.

However, Simon Nash (founder and CEO) confirmed my suspicions that it was a lightweight version of their long running wet chain lube, and oil seed rape was a core component. Theoretically, this means it’s safe on plastics and rubberised components.

Bike Specific

Chains are the most obvious candidates. Unless those in question are absolutely parched, strip completely clean of any residual lube and drizzle into every link, keeping that rag beneath to catch any overspill. From there, you can literally scoot off.

For the most part, I’ve struggled to tell the difference between it and more basic ISO/Teflon based oils - transmissions feel slick and responsive. 125miles proved a little optimistic in a very moist April, I’ve reached 115 before the faint metal on metal tinkling struck, and this dipped to around 60 off road.

While lacking the outright cleanliness of some space-age petrochemicals, it’s on par with other middleweight PTFE types. I had to top up my rough stuff tourer’s chain with their wet formula, 50 miles into a 70 mile, mixed terrain ride but aside from giving plates and rollers a quick cat-lick, it was simply a case of drip feed, wipe n’ go.

Among my eclectic fleet, there’s one machine still dressed in 1980s non-index Campag. Old school freewheels like a quick drop of lube now n’ then. Slip penetrates much faster than wet lubes, without being too runny. Perfect for cleat mechanisms, it’s kept entry/release effortless without attracting a gungy beard - again two drops tops and wipe any excess first.

General Lubrication

As a multi-purpose lubricant, it’s proven particularly effective on locking mechanisms, which can turn arthritic exposed to the elements but gum up when fed wet chain lubes.

It’s just sufficiently invasive to penetrate lightly corroded parts too, though often with deft assistance from a rubber mallet. Don’t bother with borderline seized quill stems, bottom brackets; seat posts-head straight for penetrants such as Plus Gas.

True to claims, we’ve had excellent results with office chairs, draws/cabinets, noisy hinges-pretty much anything else you’d hit with a shot of maintenance spray. I wasn’t expecting too much from a utility oil but overall, Slip has been a pleasant surprise.

Conclusion

Short term testing suggests it’s better than many generic maintenance sprays for everyday workshop/household fettling too. £7.99 for 200ml is pretty favourable too, only a quid or so more than some store branded basics, which it has mimicked very convincingly to date. We’ll return with an update once winter’s done its worst.

Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 Surprisingly versatile eco-friendly do all lubricant priced to compete with basic petrochemicals.

Michael Stenning

PUBLISHED MAY 2016