Save the light weight bar oil for cold weather, ie the -15C and lower, if your saw lives outdoors switch to it as soon as temepartures dip below freezing. Thicker oils still work, but take a while to get flowing on a outdoor living saw. Saws that travel to work in a heated cab and spend the night in a heated shop, oil viscosity plays less importance and once it flows its take longer to freeze up.
Heat from summer thins oil, and cold from winter makes it thick. To prevent this, chainsaw manufacturers make bar oils matched to the air temperature and the saw in which it is operated. Although they don’t disclose the weight of their oil, the University of Missouri Extension recommends in lieu of using a bar oil, select SAE 30 weight oil in summer and SAE 10 in winter.
Understanding your chainsaw oil will help you make the right decision when it comes to purchasing the right type of oil and making sure your chainsaw is properly maintained. We’re going to discuss everything you should know about chainsaw oil today, which should help you realize how important it is if you want to keep your chainsaw running properly for years. Chainsaw oil isn’t as cheap as oil you could make yourself at home, but you’ll have to ask yourself if it’s worth the short term gains.
Several years ago I started using winter weight oil in winter and summer weight the rest of the year. I would think you would use the winter weight oil when it was too cold to pour the summer weight oil out of the bottle. I like to use winter weight all year,a little extra oil in warm weather dosen’t hurt,but summer oil in the cold takes time to flow meanwile wearing your bar and chain.
Vegetable oil is also a quite affordable bar and chain oil alternative. Chain saw bar and chain oil isn’t rated by SAE like traditional automobile motor oil. If your manufacturer’s bar and chain oil is unavailable, you can use SAE 30 weight motor oil to lube your chain during the summer and SAE 10 weight during the winter, according to the University of Missouri Extension.
light vs heavy chainsaw oil Related Question:
When should I use heavy chain oil?
Heavy Duty (HD) Chain Oil is specifically designed for the lubrication of chains and guide bars on modern high-speed chain saws operating under severe conditions. It is recommended for spring, summer and fall over a range of ambient temperatures from -5 °C to +40 °C.
Does it matter what oil I put in my chainsaw?
Just like your car’s engine depends on oil to keep it running smoothly, your gas-powered chainsaw engine needs oil to operate at its best. Different chainsaws require different oils, and using the wrong oil or not enough oil can cause major problems.
Is there a difference between chainsaw oil?
Bar and chain oil is stickier than regular motor oil, so it stays on the chain longer. Motor oil flings off the chain more quickly, so if you try Terry’s tip, be prepared to refill the oil on your chain saw more quickly than with regular bar and chain oil.
Are all chainsaw bar oils the same?
What viscosity is chainsaw bar oil? The viscosity of chainsaw bar oil can vary depending on the formula but 30W is standard. In cold weather, a thin 10W chainsaw oil may be advantageous, while very hot temperatures may require a much thicker 40W or 50W formula.
Can I use 10w30 for chainsaw bar oil?
As a matter of fact, you can actually use regular 10w30 motor oil on a chainsaw as one of the alternatives in case you don’t have bar and chain oil. That’s because 10w30 oil has enough thickness and viscosity that will allow it to withstand the friction that is happening whenever you are using a chainsaw.
Can you use 5w30 for chainsaw bar?
Can I Use 5w30 for a Chainsaw Bar? Like 10w30 motor oil, you can use 5w30 oil. However, the thin and low-viscosity SAE5 weight oil will not cling to the chain and chainsaw bar very well in the summer. You may experience a lot of oil loss and a messy worksite if you choose this chainsaw bar oil alternative.
What is special about chainsaw oil?
Chainsaw bar oil has a certain level of “slickness” to it. This slickness keeps the chain spinning at a fast rate without getting slowed down by the friction that occurs when metal rubs against metal. So, if you want to use the “correct” type of bar oil in your chainsaw, consult the manual and use what it suggests.
Can I use regular oil for chainsaw bar?
Whether you use bar and chain oil, traditional motor oil or a vegetable oil-based lubricant, always make sure you’re using fresh oil when you fill your chain saw’s bar oil reservoir. Never use waste oil that you drained from your car or boat.
Do Electric chainsaws need bar oil?
Electric chain saws derive their power from an electric source, so they don’t need fuel to run. Most gas chain saws require a premixed gas-and-oil fuel to operate properly. Electric chain saws don’t require this added oil, but the bar and chain do need to be properly lubricated.
Can you use 10w40 in a chainsaw?
You can but it’s not very good for the chain or the environment. The Husqvarna / Stihl stuff is much thicker and vegetable based so it doesn’t fling off the chain as easily or poison your garden! 10w30. Thicker.
Can you use 2 stroke oil as chainsaw oil?
Modern two stroke chainsaws do not require generic brand oils to operate at temperatures and rpms that are comparable to those of generic brand oils. Our recommendation is to use only high quality two stroke oil designed for air cooled high performance engines when using your modern two-cycle engine.
What chainsaw bar oil is red?
Chevron Red Chain Bar Oils deliver value through: Minimal wear — Helps minimize wear for the chain, bar, and sprocket.
Can you use transmission fluid for chainsaw bar oil?
On occasion I’ve used tranny fluid to clean out old oil residue in old chainsaws . It works well . In addition to that tranny fluid seems to pump better on some saws with whimpy oilers in cold weather .
What weight is bar chain oil?
Once temperatures rise, switch back to your standard bar and chain oil, which may be anywhere between 20 and 50 weight (30 weight is standard). Using winter oil during summer might leave a lot more oil on the ground because the thinner oil won’t adhere as well to the bar and chain.
What happens if you run a chainsaw without bar oil?
No bar oil equals increased friction and heat. That adds up to a huge increase in chain and bar wear. Without bar oil, the chain teeth, drivers and links will all wear far more quickly. The increased friction can cause teeth to break.