No matter whether your bike is for on or off-road get the best from your chain with the Scottoiler Active Fluid System.

The Scottoiler Cycle Oiler dramatically improves the service-life, efficiency and cleanliness of your bike’s transmission. Gone are the days of intensive and dirty methods of cleaning and lubricating your chain. The Scottoiler Cycle Oiler does it for you – simply, without mess, without fuss – and whilst you ride your bike!

Our lightweight lubricating system:

• Increases chain life
• Increases efficiency
• Protects your chain from corrosion
• Reduces wear
• Keeps your chain looking brand new

Active Fluid System - How Does It Work?

The system works not only by utilising the lubricating properties of the fluid, but by also utilising the 'flushing' properties of the oiler, enabling dirt and dust to be removed from the chain whilst riding. This is why the manual approach is in some respects better than a steady small drip rate.

Lubricate: By squeezing the "Squid" pump, a high strength film of Active Fluid is sent into the chain bearings. The active fluid is made up of oil, water and corrosion protection additives.  Once the water element of the Active Fluid evaporates, a very thin, almost invisible, protective layer of concentrated Active Fluid remains in place which protects the chain from corrosion when the bike is stored.  A wet chain is 12-13% more efficient than a dry chain, so the active fluid ensures your transmission is working at the most efficient for your legs!

Clean: Any 'grinding-paste deposits' formed by a mixture of oil and dirt can be easily washed away by the Active Fluid. Black deposits on the hands, legs or clothing can also be easily washed away simply with cold tap water.  If you take a river crossing you’ll see the difference between your chain and your friends that don’t have a Scottoiler fitted.

When do I use it?

Quite literally - listen to your chain!  You will hear when the chain is wet and when it is dry. You will also get a feel for when it needs to be done, but the phrase "a little and often" and "as required" sums it up best.

For maximum efficiency we would suggest squeezing 3 or 4 times every 10 miles. Each squeeze of the squid dispenses between 1 and 1.5ml of lubricant (dependant on whether you use a one or two fingered squeeze.) This would give 100 to 150 miles per reservoir.
These figures are merely a guide and if riding on good roads and in good conditions you can use much less lubricant, equally, on a filthy dirty trail ride, squeeze more to keep the chain in prime condition.  Our experience says that a squeeze before any ascent certainly helps!!

The science bit

It's all to do with chain efficiency and boundary-layer lubrication. Water based lubricants are very effective. They can separate lightly loaded bearings, stopping them rubbing against each other. If the bearings rub, they cause friction and waste pedal power.  Active Fluid takes advantage of this effective water-based lubricating technology and offers lubrication and cleaning in one.

A wet chain is 12-13% more efficient than a dry chain, so the Active Fluid ensures your transmission is working at the most efficient for your legs!  The thesis of Dr. Matthew Kidd of Herriot-Watt University found a 1% difference in efficiency between commercially available oil, wax, and grease lubricants and ordinary tap-water. He also found there is a 13% efficiency drop when a bicycle chain is allowed to run completely dry!

Hence, if it is raining, the rainwater itself acts as a lubricant, however this also exposes your chain to corrosion, which is where the Active Fluid comes in to protect it afterwards.

Active Fluid also inhibits rust when the bicycle is in storage. Water will evaporate leaving Active Fluid concentrate as a thin protective film on the chain. The interstices inside the bearings also 'suck' the Active Fluid inside the chain through capillary action.

So, keeping the chain wet improves its efficiency drastically, but you need to protect it from corrosion when doing so.  It’s also very important to keep the chain clean to prevent wear and keep the chain at its optimum running efficiency.  At the end of the day, it’s your legs that are turning the pedals, so wouldn’t you want as much of your energy as possible going into turning the wheels and not grinding your chain and cassette away!

What's in the kit?

The kit, complete with Active Fluid in the reservoir, weighs no more than 57 grammes (2 ounces).  Overall, the performance gain through increased efficiency far outweighs the weight penalty of the system

• A 35ml fluid reservoir for our specially formulated Active Fluid
• A fluid dispensing jockey wheel which replaces the lower jockey-wheel on your bike
• A unique and innovative "Squid" rubber finger pump
• Delivery tubes
• 250ml (8.8 fl. Oz.) bottle of Active Fluid
• 30ml (1.05 fl. Oz.) bottle of Cleaning Fluid

The system is easy to fit too.  Simply attach the reservoir to a frame tube and the fluid dispensing jockey wheel to the rear derailleur, attach the Squid pump to and connect all of these with the delivery tubes. Fill the reservoir, squeeze the Squid – and you’re ready to go!

Please check the compatibility chart to ensure the system is suitable for your rear derailleur. [ Cycle oiler jockey wheel compatibility guide (162.78 kB)]

For bikes with oversize jockey wheels - i.e. with 13 or 15 tooth Tension (lower) Jockey Wheels, please contact us.

Lubrication and corrosion protection where you need it, when you need it.

Download Fitting Instructions [ Cycle Oiler install guide (454.54 kB)]

For further information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it