What Oil Do I Put In My Chainsaw?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,


Petroleum-based bar oil

has been the standard for chainsaws. Lightweight oil is used in winter and heavier oil in summer. Manufacturers of chainsaws make bar and chain oils specially blended for their machines to extend their lifespan, but if they are not available, the owner's manual suggests alternatives.

Can you use regular motor oil in a chainsaw?

Chain saw bar and chain oil isn't rated by SAE like traditional automobile . … 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.

What kind of oil do you put in a chainsaw for the blade?


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 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. … They can give off toxic fumes too – especially when the chainsaw overheats with high-viscosity motor oils.

Do you need special oil for chainsaw?

To run properly, all chainsaws need two types of oil for different jobs. The first is

engine oil

. The chainsaw shown here has a two-stroke engine, so it needs two-stroke engine oil mixed with the fuel to help cool and lubricate the moving parts inside the motor.

What is the difference between chainsaw oil and motor 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 can I use instead of chainsaw oil?

  • Motor oil. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to use your chainsaw but you don't have any of the correct oil, one of the obvious options is motor oil. …
  • Vegetable oil. …
  • Canola oil. …
  • Drained hydraulic fluid.

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.

Can you use vegetable oil for a chainsaw?

Kitchen oils are not necessarily designed for use on a chainsaw in the long term which could cause maintenance issues, so we'd recommend the use of a

vege oil designed for your chain

.

How much bar oil do you put in a chainsaw?

When to Oil

Gas chainsaws use

about one tank of bar and chain oil for every tank of fuel

, so fill the reservoir every time you fill the tank.

What weight is chain and bar 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.

Can you use transmission fluid for chainsaw bar?

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 .

Can I use 2 stroke oil as chain oil?

One final note: This article recommends using vegetable oil to replace chain oil in chainsaws. However, this does NOT mean replacing “mix” oil which is used for the gas mix. For mix oil, you must use the

petroleum-based 2-stroke mix oil recommended by the chain

saw manufacturer.

How long can a chainsaw run without oil?

Engines can work without oil, but the effect is so damaging they are only capable of running for

less than 30 minutes

until failing – and in most cases, it's a lot quicker than that.

Can I use gear oil as bar oil?

Gear lube is

about the same as SAE 40 engine oil

(they are rated on different scales), so that would make standard bar oil and gear lube pretty close. I have used it before when I had nothing else, it's a lot better than no oil or waste oil. I didn't notice any difference in the performance of the oil pump.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.