Chain saw bar oil??

[daman]

Got thinking any different quality aspects in bar oil like say in motor oil's?

i always use STIHL brand bar oil with my STIHL saws seems quality and really sticks to the bar less wear from what i've seen from others i've used.

thoughts?

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I think MolaKule used to say that STP blue in a mixture made a good chain saw bar oil.

I'm sure you can find some laying around as you wouldn't want it in your car.

 

[fsskier]

Although I note that a couple of bar oils claim increased resistance to pitch or sap that may be in the wood.....

it seems like a simple lubrication issue, I have always filled the chain oiler with used engine oil (that would be Mobil 1 0W20 in my case).

Anyway, 30 years of homeowner, non professional use, still same bar with no real sign of wear....

Anybody know of a reason to buy special oil for this?? This has been a great recycling policy for me.

 

[daman]

Thanks..

a bar oil is thee intended used oil as it loaded with tacifiers so it sticks to the bar better,more holds on vs slinging off thus protecting lubricating better.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
I think MolaKule used to say that STP blue in a mixture made a good chain saw bar oil.

I'm sure you can find some laying around as you wouldn't want it in your car.

Hmmm whats the mix? STP and?

 

[Fazzone]

I guess a lot depends on usage. If you are just using the saw to do some trimming or really light use, you probably can get away with used oil or something cheap. If you are doing a significant amount of cutting, you probably are better off getting the good stuff. I know last year my uncle tried using 80W90 instead(he gets it from work really cheap). Both he and I were cutting the same stuff, with nearly identical saws and chains over 8 days. The only significant difference was I used Stihl bar oil. He had to tighten the chain every tank of gas, where as I could easily go 2 tanks before it got loose. Coincidence???

 

[daman]

The saws gets used allot, clearing hedge rows and fence lines etc,etc going to stick with a bar oil i really like the STIHL oil. Never though about GL how did it pump for you? any problems with the oiler?

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
Anybody know of a reason to buy special oil for this??


Most bar and chain oils are "flush" oils with a tackifier and a bit of zddp.

The tackifier helps keep the lubricant on the bar and chain instead of it being slung off.

In my view, most bar and chain oils contain too much tackifier.

In a pinch and for cold weather use I use a quart of so-called synthetic (like SuperTech) 0W or 5W20 with about a tablespoon of the old STP Blue Bottle goop.


In the summertime I stick to a 30 weight oil like SuperTech.

If you can find a SG/SJ rated oil that's even better.

If you use pure motor oil, you will use more oil but you will get more anti-wear additive, and you will get more oil on you and the wood.

I try to avoid gear lubes since they ontain too muc phos and sulfur and they are too thick.

A 30 weight or about 10.0 cSt viscosity is more than thick enough in the summertime.

When it gets really cold, better go with the lighter weights so the pump can deliver enough oil to the bar and chain.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: MolaKule
In my view, most bar and chain oils contain too much tackifier.
why is that? yes it is some sticky stuff
In a pinch and for cold weather use I use a quart of so-called synthetic (like SuperTech) 0W or 5W20 with about a tablespoon of the old STP Blue Bottle goop.
interesting
If you can find a SG/SJ rated oil that's even better.
for the additive levels?
If you use pure motor oil, you will use more oil but you will get more anti-wear additive, and you will get more oil on you and the wood.
makes since yes



so MolaKule your saying standard bar oil no matter what brand has little anti-wear additive? mostly base oil's with tackifiers?

 

[fsskier]

Yeah, its hard for me to imagine that any secret ingredients are contained in bar oil. Now, since our cars have timing chains, flat tappet lifters, etc... it would seem that most lubrication demands are addressed. Of course we are only talking a few dollars here but my used 0W20 is free, and available without a trip to the store.

I used to help in a friends commercial tree service... if I cut all day, he would give me a load of split wood... and I am aware that bars wear out eventually. Sort of an anecdotal study, but my chainsaw bar has easily lasted a normal life, without replacement - using free oil.

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
so MolaKule your saying standard bar oil no matter what brand has little anti-wear additive? mostly base oil's with tackifiers?


Yes. Most bar and chain oils are made from base oils called "Flush" oils that are used to flush or clean the lines at blenders facilities, so they pick up some zddp along the way. The oil and tackifier are heated and then blended.

The exception is parasynthetic oils or synthetic oils like Amsoil's bar and chain oils and bio-based oils like RL and other manf.

The only problem with using used motor oil as chain and bar oils is they contain all kinds of contaminants from engine combustion and the oil spray might be ingested.

 

[ddrumman2004]

I use Stihl bar oil with my Stihl saw, as well as Stihl 2 stroke oil in the fuel.
Works for me.

 

[SteveSRT8]

we always use waste oil in our chain saw bar oilers.

Since it is always somebody's high end synthetic it works great.

 

[kcfx4]

Echo makes a good bar oil, thinner than most, would make it ideal to use in the winter months

 

[bluestream]

I use whatever I have around to get rid of. Old two stroke oil, ATF, left over 10W30. Had the 20" and bar on my Mcculloch PM610 chain saw for 30 years now

 

[daman]

Yea i figure there's nothing special about bar oil i knew there had to be at least some sort of anti wear add but not sure on the concentration etc..

 

[IndyIan]

On arboristsite, used oil is a big no-no, not really for wear on the bar but some say it messes up the oil pump. I have mixed used motor oil in with bar oil at about 50/50 and it worked fine in terms of the bar and chain wear. But my oil pump is now leaking so I have a big oily mess under my saw after it sits in the shed for a while. Coincidence? I don't know. Used oil is not what you want all over your saw, I do know that.
After I fix it I probably won't use old motor oil anymore, just in case, even though I can't see what effect the used oil could have had...

 

[boraticus]

I've never substituted used engine oil for bar oil and one of my older Jonsereds saws leaks bar oil. The saw is 27 years old and has cut more wood than Paul Bunyan. I could fix it, but I just leave it low or empty after use.

Bar oil is pretty cheap and if the auto oiler is set right, a gallon will last for a few seasons.

 

[kcfx4]

Not to mention ive herd old guys say that used motor oil can also clog the oiler, now logically that makes sence, yet it does not considering the chance youve gotten sawdust in the oil tank at some point

 

[boraticus]

Used engine oil flows much easier than bar oil. Can't really see that oil clogging the system unless other debris is being dumped in with it. Sawdust in the oil will certainly cause problems. That's for sure.

I know people who use old engine oil without problems however, I discourage it simply because it's carrying contaminates that are environmentally more harmful than bar oil.