Eventually it will need lube. The noise is a good indicator that the time is now.
Noise is not a good indicator of the need for lubrication. On chains used on the road its more a question of chain cleaning rather than lubrication. A filthy chain can, in fact, be quieter than a clean one. If a chain is making new grinding noises it can be a number of factors from mis-matched wear to grit. If its grit then LAST THING you want to to is oil the chain. Grit+oil is a combination double punch to increase wear.
When to clean and/or lube a chain?
after a ride in heavy rain
every 500 km
A solution that been quite popular over the past decade or so is to use a lube that really is a chain cleaner but with high lubrication properties. There are a number of products on the market . These are generally a mixture of volatile solvent and lubricant: between chain lube (oil+some solvent to get the lube to flow) and chain cleaner (A lot of solvent plus some oil).
Noise is not a good indicator of the need for lubrication. On chains used on the road its more a question of chain cleaning rather than lubrication. A filthy chain can, in fact, be quieter than a clean one. If a chain is making new grinding noises it can be a number of factors from mis-matched wear to grit. If its grit then LAST THING you want to to is oil the chain. Grit+oil is a combination double punch to increase wear.
When to clean and/or lube a chain?
A solution that been quite popular over the past decade or so is to use a lube that really is a chain cleaner but with high lubrication properties. There are a number of products on the market . These are generally a mixture of volatile solvent and lubricant: between chain lube (oil+some solvent to get the lube to flow) and chain cleaner (A lot of solvent plus some oil).