Scottoil is not water soluble it's just a light single grade mineral oil and designed to drop off this is partly the reason oil works so much better than sticky spray on oils/greases. It not only lubricates it washes the chain removing particles of grit if you chuck enough water at grease it will wash off in time and dirt which grind the the bearing surfaces and attack O/X rings. Yes you can buy these dry lubs and they work but are designed for racing there not really for the day to day all weather environment you get this side of a track sure if you only use your bike for dry summer riding they do the job but if you don’t they wont.
Sticky spray on lubs trap all the crap and turn into a very effective grinding paste, if you use these spray on lubs remove your front sprocket casing and your see a large amount of this sticky paste. Next wash the chain with paraffin place a plastic sheet under the chain as it dissolve's the old chain lub it will drop off as black liquid dip your finger in it and feel the grit, once the chain is thoroughly covered in paraffin turn the wheel and listen to the grit! If you going to fit an oiler you must thoroughly clean the sprockets, chain, swing arm and area around the front sprocket, even after doing this you will for a time still get sticky black crap being thrown off this will stop after a while though.
A lot of oilers are fitted incorrectly or badly, most are not set up properly, if yours is covering your back wheel and rear end in black oil or the chain is dry and rusting it's either incorrectly fitted and/or set, positioning of the applicator is curial most are positioned wrongly in my experience ad this puts off many that try them. They also need to be adjusted for the changing conditions, heat, cold and rain/water etc. Engine oil whether new or used is not only cheaper it's better at resisting water and heat as it's a far superior oil and it's a multi grade, where as Scottoil produce a blue for temperate and a red for hot climates.
Obviously it's all down to personnel choice but in my opinion a correctly fitted and set up oiler is the way go.
Sticky spray on lubs trap all the crap and turn into a very effective grinding paste, if you use these spray on lubs remove your front sprocket casing and your see a large amount of this sticky paste. Next wash the chain with paraffin place a plastic sheet under the chain as it dissolve's the old chain lub it will drop off as black liquid dip your finger in it and feel the grit, once the chain is thoroughly covered in paraffin turn the wheel and listen to the grit! If you going to fit an oiler you must thoroughly clean the sprockets, chain, swing arm and area around the front sprocket, even after doing this you will for a time still get sticky black crap being thrown off this will stop after a while though.
A lot of oilers are fitted incorrectly or badly, most are not set up properly, if yours is covering your back wheel and rear end in black oil or the chain is dry and rusting it's either incorrectly fitted and/or set, positioning of the applicator is curial most are positioned wrongly in my experience ad this puts off many that try them. They also need to be adjusted for the changing conditions, heat, cold and rain/water etc. Engine oil whether new or used is not only cheaper it's better at resisting water and heat as it's a far superior oil and it's a multi grade, where as Scottoil produce a blue for temperate and a red for hot climates.
Obviously it's all down to personnel choice but in my opinion a correctly fitted and set up oiler is the way go.
Later