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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil

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Pooh Bear

01-02-2007 21:48:06




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I have a homelite chainsaw with automatic oiler.
Someone told me to only use bar and chain oil in it.
And not regular motor oil (10w-30, etc).
That it would somehow hurt the automatic oiler and make it stop working. Is this true? Should I only use bar and chain oil, or can I use regular motor oil.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear




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Pooh Bear

01-03-2007 20:41:35




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 21:48:06  
I bought a gallon of B+C oil today, $7.
As little cutting as I do it should last me a LONG time.
I mixed up a 1/2 gallon of fuel. That should also last me a long time. I put 1/4 ounce of Stabil in it.

Pooh Bear



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Hal/WA

01-03-2007 14:26:26




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 21:48:06  
The guys I had log my 20 acres said they use used engine oil for bar oil in their chainsaws exclusively. When I told them I use regular new bar oil in my saw, they told me that it was stupid, and they believed they save hundreds of dollars a year and also get rid of their used oil that way. They did not use oil from diesel engines, only from gas engines. I asked how often they replaced oil pumps, and both of them said almost never, since the rest of the saw wore out first. Their saws were all Pro Stihls.

I will continue to use commercial bar oil in my saws. But I don't use them nearly as much and expect them to last for the rest of my life.

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jdemaris

01-03-2007 15:42:19




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Hal/WA, 01-03-2007 14:26:26  
I'm not trying to promote anything here. But - I've been cutting hard-wood for close to 50 years. Back in the 60s - I worked for Asplundh and all our saws were manual-oiler Homelites - XL12s XL101s, XL925s Buzzs, Super Wizs, etc.. Early 70s, I worked for a Stihl and Homelite dealer as a mechanic but had a tree business on the side. Stihl was kind of the rage at the time because of it's adjustable automatic oiler. I took home a awful lot used bars that people condemed when their saws cut cockeyed (the bar was never the problem). In fact, with the older Stihl saws, often 3/8" and .404" chain was .073" gauge instead of .050. I'd have some guy come in and buy a new bar because he felt the groove was too sloppy for good cutting. I'd take the worn .073" gauge bar and run a well sharpened .050" chain in it - and it'd cut fine. And, that's a lot of slop. Late 80s, while working for a Deere tractor dealer, I was still fixing Stihl saws along with the Deere labeled Remingtons and Echos (Kioritz). Still took home many bars blamed for cockeyed cutting. Well - I still cut a lot of wood since that's how we heat our barn and farmhouse. I've never used anything but used motor-oil for bar oil and I've never worn a bar out nor have I ever ruined a chain from lack of lube. I have replaced a few roller-tips - but most of my bars are hard-nosed. I see nothing wrong with someone buying bar-oil if that's what they want. But - as far as problems with oilers, bar wear, etc, from clean waste oil? Nonsense. I'm still using my 60s vintage Stihl 040 and S10 - both with the original oilers. Had to put some seals in over they years - but the same goes when they are used with any oil. From what I've seen - most bars and chains - especially with inexperienced users - get ruined from cutting with dull chains and forcing the saw to cut - thus pushing too hard on the bar.

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Pooh Bear

01-03-2007 08:23:43




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 21:48:06  
Thanks for all the advice.

I looked up a few places on the net
and found B+C oil to be comparable with motor oil.
So since the price is the same I'll pick some up.

Someone mentioned using used motor oil.
Why on earth would I do that.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear



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JT

01-03-2007 09:17:18




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-03-2007 08:23:43  
Pooh Bear, I work on saws for a living, and people use used motor oil because they drain it out of their car and they think it is a slick way to dispose of their used oil, and then they do not have to buy more oil for their chain saw., they just do nto realize the damage the dirt and carbon in the oil is doing to the pump, bar and chain. I had a person bring in a new, high dollar Echo saw a few years ago, engine locked up, tight, quizzed him on the 2 cycle oil he was using, he said "2 cycle oil???, I use regular 30wt engine oil", needless to say, he was not happy, the saw was 2 weeks old, Echo would not warranty it. As long as there is a way, there are people out there who try to do it a cheap way just to save pennies, because they are smarter than the company that manufacturers the product they have.

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JT

01-03-2007 07:10:44




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 21:48:06  
Use BC oil, the best oil I have found is Stihl BC oil, I do not like their saws at all, but their bar oil is 2nd to none. It has the best tacking ability of any I have used, and it stays on the bar. It is about$7.00 per gallon, but you will cut a lot of wood with a gallon of bar oil. Also regular engine oil even though it is the same vis as bc oil will not pump through some auto oilers, and it also will not stay in the bar rails, so you loose the lubrication in the bar rails, and that will wear a bar and chain a lot faster. I do not want to sound like an a$$, but they design oils for certain things,ie: transmission fluid for transmissions, engine oil for engines, gear oil for open gears in gear boxes, hydraulic oil for hydraulic systems, air cooled 2 cycle oil for air cooled 2 cycles, water cooled 2 cycle oil for water cooled 2 cycles, injector oil for 2 cycle oil injector systems, and bc oil for bc use. Each oil has its intented use and normally if you use it for what it is intended for, you have good results, wrong use can spell disaster and a lot of additional costs.

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Grub

01-03-2007 09:30:16




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to JT, 01-03-2007 07:10:44  
JT,
I saw your comment about not liking Stihl saws and I'm curious as to why? I run an 042 and 031 and have been pleased with them. As a guy who works on them I'd like to hear your recommendation on a smaller front trigger saw for pruning. I'm nursing along a Homelite XL (I've cannabalized three to keep this one going) right now but it needs to be replaced in the future. Thanks for your thoughts.

Grub

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2x4

01-03-2007 23:14:22




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Grub, 01-03-2007 09:30:16  
Stihl 020 is unbeatable. I've got several & use them for pruning & light duty firewood. Stihl 015 is cheaper but pracically same saw.



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dan hill

01-03-2007 03:42:39




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 21:48:06  
Ive bought bc oil for 3.00 a gallon,it has gone up a bit.A pint will last a lot longer than I can when cutting wood.Forget the used oil bit.



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jokers

01-03-2007 02:18:12




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 21:48:06  
B&C oil has an additive which makes it cling to the bar better than engine oil so I would crank up the oiler`s output if I had to use the engine oil in a pinch.

New engine oil will not hurt the oiler but used oil will because of the particulates and some times corrosive contaminants in the oil. Used motor oil is also known to be a carcinogen so why would anyone want to be atomizing it off of the bar into their immediate environment?

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Dannie

01-03-2007 01:16:52




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 21:48:06  
With bar oil the bar & chain last longer.



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2x4

01-02-2007 22:19:24




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 21:48:06  
you can use regular oil but B & C oil is both better & cheaper.



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Pooh Bear

01-02-2007 22:36:23




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to 2x4, 01-02-2007 22:19:24  
It's cheaper? I did not know that.
Never really checked. Always used what was handy, which was usually motor oil.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear



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dan hill

01-04-2007 03:11:33




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 22:36:23  
Checked the price yesterday.4.00 a gallon.I stock up when buying supplies.Most of my jugs are marked 3.00.



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jokers

01-03-2007 02:21:14




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 Re: Chainsaw question - bar and chain oil in reply to Pooh Bear, 01-02-2007 22:36:23  
If you shop around you should be able to get B&C oil for around $5/gal, infact Wally World has it for this price. That is cheaper than motor oil isn`t it? The Rotella that I use is about $7/gal.



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