On a VERY early prototype, before HCC, Inc. became involed, I did, in fact have an oiler system on the unit. We found that it drew dust and dirt into the chain joints. We now run the system without lubrcation. This method of operating has led to negligible chain wear. As for "running in the dirt", I'm not sure what crops you harvest, but with the Razer installed on a floating cutterbar in soybean operation, if the down pressure is set correctly, the actual chain very seldom contacts soil. Through thousands of acres of testing and refinements, the chain wear has been exceptional.