Chainsaw Oil
All About Choosing Chainsaw Oil Oil requirements for a 2-stroke chainsaw engine. Review of the best two-stroke oils from Stihl, Husqwarna. Fuel mixture, gasoline and oil ratio table. What oil to use to lubricate the saw chain.
All About Choosing Chainsaw Oil
The resource of any chainsaw, no doubt, depends on the quality of its maintenance and operation. The most important requirement for this unit is the timely lubrication of all its moving parts. Chainsaw oil is available in different types, namely: motor and chain oil. The motor is poured into the internal combustion engine, and the chain is intended for the saw chain. Let’s figure out how to choose the right oil for your chainsaw.
Choosing engine oil
An oil intended for a 2-stroke engine must meet the following requirements.
- The lubricant must form during combustion minimum ash. Ideally, it should burn completely.
- The lubricant must have good solubility in gasoline and a high degree of purification from various impurities that can cause clogging of very narrow channels of the carburetor.
- The oil must have high anti-corrosion, anti-wear and lubricating properties.
There are certain standards for oils intended for 2-stroke engines: TC-W3 and 2T. Lubricant appropriate TC-W3 standard, used for water-cooled engines (outboard motors, jet skis). Oil 2T used as an additive in gasoline for 2-stroke air-cooled engines (lawn mowers, mopeds, chainsaws, etc.).
When using poor-quality lubricant, the entire piston group of the engine can fail due to the formation of carbon deposits under the piston rings. As a result, they will not be able to compress, and scuffs will form on the cylinder walls. Also, improper lubrication of the bearings of the crank mechanism leads to overheating and, ultimately, to seizure. Important: it is forbidden to use diesel oil to prepare the fuel mixture, since it does not correspond to any of the above parameters.
The grease was specially developed for the engines of Stihl equipment. She has mineral base, possesses high lubricating and cleaning properties and can be used at ambient temperature not lower than 10 ° С.
The grease is red in color and can be stored for no more than 4 years in a closed container. The latter can have different capacities, both large and small (for one-time refueling). For example, there is a 20-gram container on sale, the contents of which are added to 1 liter of gasoline. This is a very convenient option for owners of chainsaws who use them occasionally. Important: a mixture of gasoline with this oil cannot be stored for more than 1 month, since it will already lose its lubricating properties during this time.
Performance properties
Branded or standard chainsaw chain oil meets specific standards in terms of density, viscosity, debris removal and other performance characteristics.
- Organic and mineral compositions do not differ significantly in terms of working properties.
- Experienced users recommend working on organic consumables if the intervals between using the chainsaw do not exceed several days.
- The anti-corrosion and other protective properties of more expensive mineral oils are used if the tool is used for infrequent one-time work.
It is not difficult to check the oil for compliance with the external temperature, and at the same time the lubrication system for operability. To do this, hold the saw headset running at medium speed over a blank sheet of paper for a few seconds.
By the width and saturation of the oil strip, one can judge the suitability of the composition for long-term operation at a given air temperature and the performance of the built-in oil pump.
Self-selection criteria
The problem of how to replace branded chain oil, which is not commercially available, is relevant for many peripheral regions. According to experts, a full-fledged analogue is products of well-known brands Stihl and Husqvarna, identical in basic characteristics. Motor and chain oils from these manufacturers have proven themselves in all respects at their best.
Taking into account the possibilities of the offered assortment, the consumer can make a choice in favor of a more expensive chain oil or its budget analogue. In addition to branded products, the list includes Enkor, Nanotech Standard and Nanotech Premium oils, which retain their working properties at temperatures up to 30 ° C.
Mineral-based versions of oils are represented by the brands Makita and Makita Oregon, identical lubricating characteristics for organic chain oils Makita Biotop, Stihl Bio Plus, which are sold in packaging from 1 to 25 liters.
Most professional sawers prefer one brand of branded lubricants. The constant use of one brand of oil allows you to explore its capabilities and use them with maximum efficiency.
Danger of using counterfeit oil
The performance properties of cheaper counterfeit oils are inferior in basic parameters to proprietary developments. The problem is that, relying on the perceived quality of the product, users operate their chainsaw equipment at full load.
The use of surrogate oils initiates accelerated wear of the material part, in some cases it is the basis for the cancellation of factory warranty obligations by the service departments.
Manufacturers of adhesive oils
Almost all manufacturers of chainsaws are engaged in the production of consumables for them, explaining by the fact that these products are most suitable for use in conjunction with their saws. There is no information about how true this is, but based on the experience of operating and repairing chainsaws, it can be noted that there are no significant differences in the service life of parts or at least visible wear.
But the fact is the fact, the manufacturers recommend and cannot be hidden. So, back to the manufacturers, and start with the popular Stihl brand.
Chainsaw sprocket lubricant
To increase the service life and reduce friction on the drive sprocket, the manufacturer equips this mechanism with a needle bearing, which must be lubricated periodically. Stihl multipurpose grease can be used for lubrication.
If you do not want to overpay, it is better to use an inexpensive, but no less high-quality option, Litol or Litol 24 grease. Due to its viscosity, Litol will easily replace the original one.
It is possible to lubricate the chain saw tire sprocket with the same lubricants as the leading one, using a special filler for this. This allows the lubricant to be pressed in, through the technological holes in the tire, to the sprocket bearing.
What oil to use to lubricate the chainsaw chain
The answer to this question is quite simple, for this you need to open the instructions for any saw and it will indicate that you need to fill in oil that has a good adhesion effect.
What is it for? The fact is that the chain moves along the tire at a high speed, and if an oil with low adhesion is used as a lubricant, then most of it, by inertia, flies off the end of the tire and lubrication of its lower part does not occur. This phenomenon can be observed with a little experiment. Start the chainsaw, point the end of the tire towards a bright surface and add maximum gas. As a result, oil stains will appear on it, which are proof of the theory.
Chainsaw chain lubrication system
One of the important chainsaw systems, without which work is impossible, is the forced lubrication system of the chainsaw chain. It’s not a secret for anyone that at the time the saw is operating, the chain friction against the chainsaw tire, which causes it to heat up and premature wear. To reduce friction, the chain mechanism must be constantly lubricated.
Principle of operation
The main unit of the system is the pump. The principle of its operation is as follows. With an increase in engine speed, a gear mounted on the main shaft drives the pump shaft through a worm gear. In turn, the rotation of the shaft creates a certain pressure in the oil line, which forces the oil to move along it towards the tire.
The end of the oil channel is located at the point of contact of the tire with the tool housing, where there is a longitudinal groove, on which, when the tire is installed, its oil channel falls.
The groove is necessary to ensure the supply of oil to the tire, regardless of the degree of chain tension of the chainsaw. Simply put, no matter what position the tire is in at the time of operation, oil will enter it through the groove.
Further, a chain is included in the lubrication process, on the links of which, depending on the chain model, there is either a groove or a hole through which the oil is accelerated throughout the tire. As the engine speed increases, the oil flow rate also increases.
Some models of chainsaws are equipped with pumps that additionally have a flow rate adjustment, and if necessary, the amount of oil supplied by the lubrication system can be increased or decreased.
Chainsaw chain lubrication system
To supply oil for lubricating the chainsaw chain, a special pump is used in the tool, which is dosed, depending on the number of engine revolutions, and supplies lubricant to the saw bar.
The system uses oil to lubricate the chainsaw chain, which has increased adhesive properties, this is necessary to evenly distribute the oil along the entire perimeter of the tire and keep it on it even at high chain speeds. Let’s take a closer look at the oil supply system implemented in modern chainsaws.