One of the most common points of confusion for new chainsaw users, is the difference between engine oil, and bar and chain oil. Bar and chain oil is a lubricant used to reduce friction caused by the metal-on-metal contact between a chainsaw’s bar and chain. There’s folks out there, that say regular old engine oil works great as a bar and chain oil.
At Gardening Products Review, we highly recommend oil manufactured for this specific use. Chainsaw shown in this video tutorial is the Redback 40V 12″ Li-Ion Cordless Chainsaw. The bar & chain oil featured in this video is Husqvarna Bar & Chain Oil – 1 Gallon.
The reason a special type of chainsaw bar oil exists is that chainsaw chains and bars need a lubricant with certain qualities to keep those parts running smoothly. Motor oil will work to keep your chainsaw from burning up if you don’t have any standard bar oil on hand. Hydraulic oil is similar to motor oil and you can use it as a chainsaw bar oil substitute when you have nothing else available.
what is chainsaw bar and chain oil Related Question:
Can you use regular oil for bar and chain oil?
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.
Is bar and chain lubricant the same as 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.
What kind of oil is bar and chain oil?
Rapeseed-based (usually called canola) oil is currently the most common environmentally compatible chain-and-bar lubricant. Vegetable-based oils are triglycerides or natural esters that come from agricultural crops.
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.
What weight is bar oil for a chainsaw?
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 2 stroke oil for chainsaw?
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.
Can you use engine oil as bar oil?
It might be OK for a bit but I probably wouldn’t do it. You could look up your owner’s manual to see if they say anything. If you must use the chainsaw and have nothing else on hand, surely motor oil is better than nothing. I think bar oil is stickier than regular motor oil to prevent splattering as much.
What does 10W30 mean?
The 10W30 designation on engine oil means that the viscosity of the oil is rated at 10W when an engine is cold and 30 when the engine is hot. This is different than an oil labelled 5W30, which has a thinner viscosity when the engine is cold at 5W.
What happens if you run a chainsaw without bar oil?
Without lubricant, the speed at which the chain moves over the chainsaw bar can cause some serious friction. A slowed-down chain and excessive fuel burning mean there’s a lot of friction between your bar and chain, which means a lot of heat is being produced that could do major damage to your saw.
Can you put 5w30 in chainsaw?
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.
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.
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.
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 5w30 for bar oil?
You’ll be fine.
Can you use synthetic oil in chainsaw?
*Can I use synthetic oil in my chainsaw fuel? Just like their use in lawnmowers, synthetic oils have been demonstrated to have superior combustion characteristics over mineral oils on top of delivering great lubrication on chainsaw engines. Synthetic oils will leave you with a much cleaner engine.