What Oil For Chainsaw Chain
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.
Husqvarna HP
It is a Swedish manufacturer that includes several well-known brands, including Partner (Partner), known for its semi-professional and professional gardening equipment. Husqvarna produces not only machinery, but also high-quality lubricants used in almost all brands of gasoline-powered tools.
The photo below shows a Husqvarna HP 2-stroke oil containing special additives, able to compensate for the poor quality of fuel, which is not uncommon in our country. After all, the octane number of gasoline purchased at a gas station does not always correspond to the declared one.
This grease is green and contains semi-synthetic base. It can be packed both in 10-liter containers and in 1-liter containers. The mixture is diluted in a standard ratio of 1:50 (20 g per 1 liter of gasoline). But when the engine has not yet been run in, or work is coming in the cold, the proportion can be increased to 1:40.
Choice of oil for chain lubrication
Remember to check the amount of oil in the oil tank after each refueling of the chainsaw. In a chainsaw, an oil pump is responsible for delivering lubricant to the tire on which the saw chain slides. Normally, refueling of both tanks. Fuel and oil. Should be done simultaneously. Chain oil must be poured into a suitable tank up to the neck. Otherwise, it may run out before fuel, which will lead to overheating of the chain and bus.
Chainsaw chain oil must be designed specifically for this purpose. The use of other lubricants is ineffective and reduces the service life of not only the saw, but also the tires of the machine. This is due to the fact that chain oil contains adhesive additives, thanks to which the lubricant literally “sticks” to the chain. This property of the oil reduces its consumption, as a result of which the lubrication of the chainsaw bar and the saw chain is improved, and their service life increases.
Also an important parameter of chain lubrication is its density. If you are going to use a lubricant that is not intended for chainsaws, you may notice that oil leaks during operation or after stopping the unit. This fact suggests that the grease is too liquid. In addition, the liquid lubricant will quickly scatter in all directions and, accordingly, quickly run out.
Leading petrol tool manufacturers such as Stihl, Husqvarna, Makita, Bosch and the Oregon chainsaw accessories manufacturer recommend special highly adhesive oils, including biodegradable. But oils of well-known brands have only one drawback. The price of 300 rubles per 1 liter and above. In addition, the grease in the reservoir can thicken over time and clog the channels. For this reason, it has to be drained, and this already increases the consumption. But despite this, we have to admit the fact that only the use of special lubricants can extend the service life of the chainsaw.
How to determine the ratio of gasoline to oil
The fuel mixture used in 2-stroke engines is prepared from a certain amount of oil and gasoline. The latter must have an octane rating of at least 90 and be unleaded. Best suited for these purposes fuel grade AI-92.
To prepare the mixture, you must use only engine oil from reputable manufacturers. The lubricant should be designed for high-speed engines with an air-cooled system. This component, intended for low-speed engines (moped, motorcycle, snowmobile), must not be used.
When preparing the mixture, it is required to strictly observe the proportion of gasoline and oil. As a rule, it is 1:50, that is, you need to take 100 ml of oil and dilute it in 5 liters of gasoline. This rule changes slightly if the engine or piston system is new and run-in required. In this case, the oil-gasoline ratio can be 1:40. For running-in, you will need 2-3 full refueling of the unit with a fuel mixture with this ratio. If the fuel mixture is diluted in a ratio of 1:30, then carbon deposits will inevitably form on the piston and inside the cylinder, which, as already mentioned, leads to a breakdown of the entire crank mechanism.
Below is a table to help you quickly determine the gasoline-oil ratio if you need to prepare a large amount of fuel mixture.
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.
Price features of the offered assortments
European chain oils of a high price group are recommended for the operation of professional chainsaw equipment operating in difficult and even extreme conditions.
The cost of consumables is fully compensated for by the productivity of large-scale sawing operations, reliability, and almost complete production of the specified service life by the sawing equipment.
Domestic chain oils are mostly produced from their raw materials, imported additives and using modern technologies.
In terms of quality and performance, the Russian assortment is not inferior to similar products of European brands, but it costs much less.
Chinese saw headsets of the middle class are inferior to European counterparts in terms of wear resistance and durability. This imbalance is partially eliminated by using the manufacturer’s recommended chain oils, developed by Chinese specialists.
According to consumables suppliers, the presence of special additives in Chinese chain oils has a positive effect on the performance of standard tires and saw chains, as well as chainsaw equipment in general.
All of the above applies only to the products of large companies. The advantages of using chain oils for small private companies have not been proven in practice.
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.
Husqvarna oils
The company offers its customers Husqvarna Bio Advanced oil for use in normal and extreme conditions. The oil is made from plant components and is environmentally friendly, supplied in one liter and five liter containers.
As an economical solution, the company has Vegoil oil, according to the manufacturer, its consumption is reduced by 40% compared to others. Supplied in a liter container.
The company also manufactures bearing grease, which it recommends for lubricating the bearings of the drive sprocket and the sprocket on the saw bar.
Less common, but popular with chainsaw owners, are:
- Polar Lube mineral. Oleo-Mac;
- Adhesive CHAMPION, sold in containers up to 10 liters, which is convenient for use in forestry;
- Makita Biotop;
- Anchor.
You can get acquainted with some oils for chains by looking below, in it a seller of a large network of tools, comments on the use of adhesive oils from various manufacturers.
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.
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.
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 ℃. In 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.
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.
Chainsaw chain oil selection rules
All modern chainsaws have a separate oil circuit for lubricating the cutting elements of the chain.
The quality of the saws largely depends on their condition and working conditions. Therefore, companies that produce accessories for chainsaws create special brands of oils that provide reliable surface lubrication.
- What kind of oil should you use
- When and how to fill
- Sprocket lubricant
- Main manufacturers
- How to replace expensive oil
- Oil does not flow to the chain, what are the reasons