Real-World Lube Testing – No Nonsense, Just Results
Why these tests matter
When it comes to protecting your bike, motorbike or engine, not all lubricants are made equal. That’s why we teamed up with independent UK lab AM Diagnostics to run a series of in-depth stress tests on Revolubes products – and a range of other widely used lubricants.
The results? Honest, data-backed insights into how different lubes hold up under pressure, both short and long-term.
🔧 Block-on-Ring Testing – What’s It All About?
These tests push lubricants to their limits, simulating real-world conditions to see how well they protect moving parts.
Seizure Point Test
Here, a block is pressed harder and harder against a spinning ring until the lubricant gives out and metal-on-metal grinding begins. That’s the seizure point – the moment a lube stops doing its job.
What we measure:
- Max load – the most pressure the lube can take before seizing.
- Damage depth – how badly the surfaces got scratched.
If the system never seizes, the size of the groove tells us how much the lubricant had to "work in" to protect under heavy loads.
Creep Test
This one’s all about endurance. We apply a steady load over time and see how the lubricant copes during long-term use – the kind of stress your gear goes through in the real world.
What we measure:
- Groove size – the wear left behind after a full test run.
- Motor current – more current = more friction = less effective lubrication.
⚙️ Friction Tracking – Real-Time Performance
In both tests, we measured how much effort the electric motor had to use to keep things spinning. When the lube isn’t performing well, friction increases – and so does the power draw.
This tells us:
- How slippery (or not) the lube really is.
- How performance changes as pressure builds or time passes.
Simple idea, powerful results.
🧩 What It All Means
These tests don’t just give us numbers – they help you choose lubes that:
- Handle extreme pressure without breaking down,
- Stay effective over long rides or runs,
- Reduce wear and tear on your gear.
Whether you ride daily, race competitively, or just like things running smooth – this is data that matters.
🏁 Test Results – Bicycle Chain Lubes
We tested the most popular bicycle chain lubes and ranked them by how much load they could handle before failing. We also looked at how much damage was done during the test.
▶️ See the full test videos with product close-ups and results:
🏍 Test Results – Motorbike Chain Lubes
Seizure Point Test
See which motorcycle chain lubes stand up best to sudden, intense pressure.
▶️ Full test walkthroughs and footage available here:
Creep Test
We ran these lubes through longer endurance testing under constant load. Only those with a groove depth under 0.25 mm made it to the next round.
▶️ Full test walkthroughs and footage available here:
🧈 Test Results – Bearing Greases
Seizure Point Test
We put widely used bearing greases through the same pressure ramp-up. Some cracked early, others kept going.
▶️ All videos and results in one place:
Creep Test
We measured how they held up over time, again setting a 0.25 mm groove limit to filter out weak performers.
▶️ All videos and results in one place:
🛢 Test Results – Engine Oils
Seizure Point Test
We ran this test in two categories – cold start and hot running – to simulate engine conditions more realistically.
▶️ All videos and results in one place:
▶️ All videos and results in one place:
Creep Test
Here we tested all oils at their normal operating temperature, checking wear and friction under sustained use. Only those with a groove depth under 0.25 mm made it to the next round.
▶️ Watch how different oils stacked up under heat:
📌 Summary
If you care about performance, wear protection, and long-term reliability – these tests speak volumes.
👉 Whether you're riding, racing or wrenching, the right lube makes all the difference.
Choose smarter. Ride longer. Save parts.
