Lawn Mower Stalls At Idle

Chainsaw chain oil Very often when selling a chainsaw, the question sounds:”What kind of oil should I use to lubricate the chain?”. The most common answer is:”Anything other than working off”. This is absolutely

Chain oil

In other cases, it is quite possible to replace the chain lubrication oil with any other than working off. However, there is one more nuance…. Often users have a question: “Why is the consumption of oil for chain lubrication more than the fuel mixture? After all, their consumption is related to each other? ” It should be borne in mind that manufacturers of chainsaws consider the consumption of oil for lubricating the chain, filling in their own brand. And the consumption of any other can differ both in the smaller and in the larger direction.

On many chainsaws, starting from semi-professional ones, it is possible to adjust the oil consumption for chain lubrication. This is done by adjusting the capacity of the oil pump.

If such adjustment is not provided, then the settings come initially from the manufacturer. How to check if the consumption of chain oil is normal on your chainsaw? It is necessary to start the saw, apply gas and bring it to a board, log or other surface that is horizontal. Particles of oil to lubricate the chain should fly off when the chain is running and leave a thin, even oil mark.

Chainsaw chain oil. What and when to pour?

Very often when selling a chainsaw, the question is:“What kind of oil should I use to lubricate the chain?”. The most common answer is: “Anything except working off.” This is absolutely true, but there are some nuances…. For example, sellers often offer to buy chain oils from manufacturers of chainsaws or designed specifically for this purpose. This generally makes sense at low temperatures or when you place great emphasis on protecting the environment.

When to use special chain oil

The use of special oils for chain lubrication will be justified in the following cases:

  • You have a new chainsaw under warranty and to maintain it, you must use oils recommended by the manufacturer of the chainsaw. Otherwise, if, for example, the oil pump fails, then the repair will not be carried out under warranty. This is especially true for expensive professional chainsaws.
  • You respect the environment and prefer not to pollute it again. In this case, oils with the prefix “bio” will do.
  • When working at critical temperatures.

Adjustment of oil density to external temperature factors

The use of chain oil at low temperatures up to 20 ° C negatively affects the performance of the oil pump and the durability of its drive.

In the absence of the required material, the problem is solved by diluting the oil thickened in the cold. Dehydrated kerosene is the best solvent.

Such an additive will provide full lubrication of the headset, but it is recommended to significantly limit heavy loads when the saw is operating on diluted oil.

Danger of using counterfeit oil

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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.

Benefits of higher price oils

Proprietary chain oils are formulated with beneficial antioxidant, anticorrosive, stabilizing components and additives to help maintain the oil’s performance and increase the wear resistance of working equipment under difficult operating conditions.

The quality of branded consumables is benchmark. Most of these are products of leading manufacturers Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, Daewoo and a number of others. Over the past few years, the quality of Chinese chain oils produced by state-owned enterprises has improved markedly.

Chainsaw owners decide on their own which oil to use to lubricate the chainsaw chain. At its best, it is a consumable adapted to the climate of the region and recommended by the operating instructions for this model.

Chainsaw chain oil. Which one to use

You are a recent owner of a chainsaw, and you still don’t know which chain oil is best to use. Lack of this knowledge can have a detrimental effect on the tool, since the type and quality of the lubricant determines how long the tire and the tool chain will maintain their performance.

After reading this article, you will fill the knowledge gap, because we will consider the use of oils of various manufacturers and brands to reduce friction between the parts of the saw headset. And we will also figure out what additional lubricants are used to service the chainsaw in order to maximize its service life.

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.

How to replace the original expensive oil and is it worth

In situations where it is not possible to use original ones, they can be replaced with oil for car engines. Cheap automobile oils such as autol or diesel lubrication options are unsuitable for long-term use due to low adhesive properties.

Some owners, despite the recommendations, still use analogues, preferring to change the tire and chain more often, but then everyone decides for himself. Such oil cannot have any negative effects on the lubrication system, which means that the only difference is in the quality of the tire protection from chain friction.

Sprocket lubricant

At the end of the chainsaw bar, there is a driven sprocket that rotates the chain. It also needs to be lubricated periodically. For this, thick materials are used. Stihl multipurpose grease can be used. Domestic lithol-based lubricants are also suitable. There is a special hole on the sprocket lubrication tire. You need to pump grease into it with a grease can or a syringe.

It should be noted that with frequent use of the tire toe, for example, when cutting grooves, the load on the sprocket increases and it needs to be lubricated more often.

What kind of oil should you use

It is widely believed that quality branded chainsaw oil should only be used in the engine’s gasoline-oil mixture. However, the choice of oil for lubrication is a simple matter. Anyone will do, as long as it gets to the right place.

But adding lubricant to the chain is half the battle. It is necessary that it hold on to the metal and remain on the lower edge, with which the tree is sawn. For this purpose, substances with increased adhesion are used, that is, the ability to adhere to the surface and stay on it. Oil with poor adhesion will fly off the rapidly rotating chain, splattering around uselessly. Of course, some part will remain, but it is not known whether this will be enough so that during intensive work the circuit does not overheat.

Mineral materials that provide chain and tire lubrication at freezing temperatures crystallize and thicken in the cold. This will cause the lubrication to be difficult to feed and the load on the oil pump will increase. Its service life is shortened and it may fail prematurely. In winter, it is necessary to choose synthetic materials with special additives that provide reliable lubrication in frosts down to 40 ℃. At low frosts and temperatures near zero, semi-synthetics are used.

Estimates of the use of different oils for lubricating chainsaw chains boil down to the fact that the wrong choice can increase the engine load by up to 10%. The service life of the chain and guide bar is further reduced.

Due to the fact that in recent years great importance has been attached to ecology, more and more branded oil products are made on the basis of decomposable substances. But during long-term operation, the consumption of chain lubrication can be measured in liters. And for people who are not indifferent to nature, this will be another reason to choose an environmentally friendly product. If not all the same, what your area is sprayed with and what marks remain on the wood after cutting.

How to replace expensive oil

Special branded chain lubricants have the disadvantage of their high price. Buying a liter of other expensive oil is not burdensome. And if work is coming, requiring several liters, or even tens of liters, thoughts of saving will certainly arise. The main thing is not to go to extremes when considering options. You can save on oil to such an extent that you will have to change the chain several times, or even the tire itself or the oil pump.

There are three replacement options. Firstly, you can use specialized products of little-known manufacturers for chain lubrication. But such oils still need to be looked for. In addition, there is a risk of stumbling upon a low-quality product.

Application of oils for automobile engines. They can be used as a temporary replacement, but they cannot boast of high adhesion, so the quality of their work will be clearly worse than special ones. For this reason, it is not recommended to use spindle and diesel oils. The worst in adhesion.

And we must definitely say about one more option. Working off. This is the name of the oil that has worked out its life in the engine, and is drained from it during replacement.

In fact, this is not an option at all. Metal particles are always present in mining. And if they may not damage the chain itself, then they certainly will not damage the oil pump and the entire lubrication system. On forums on the Internet, you can find a “killer” argument in favor of working off. That the Soviet Druzhba chainsaw had no chain lubrication at all and worked. So you can pour anything. And so it will do. Well, Stihl will also work with a working off or even with a non-lubricated chain. The question is how long it will work and how many chains will have to be changed during this period.

Caution for those who have a chainsaw within the warranty period. Masters of warranty workshops are able to identify cases of use of low-quality chain lubrication. Especially when using mining. Repairs under warranty will be denied immediately.