What Oil To Use For The Chainsaw Chain
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, due to low adhesion properties, are unsuitable for long-term use.
Some owners, despite the recommendations, still use analogues, preferring to change the tire and chain more often, but here 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 against chain friction.
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.
Chain oil
In other cases, it is quite possible to replace the oil for lubricating the chain 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, 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 on your chainsaw is normal? It is necessary to start the saw, apply gas and bring it to a board, log or other surface that is horizontal. When the chain is running, particles of oil to lubricate the chain should fly out and leave a thin, even oil mark.
Self-selection criteria
The problem of how to replace branded chain oil, which is not on sale, 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 every respect.
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 oil versions 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. Continuous use of one brand of oil allows you to explore its capabilities and use them with maximum efficiency.
Advantages of automatic systems
Less oil-consuming chainsaws equipped with automatic lubrication systems. Depending on the engine speed, the oil supply is metered by a variable displacement pump.
At idle speed, oil is practically not consumed. Models with automatic lubrication cut material consumption by almost half.
A little about the lubrication of the chainsaw chain by working off
Waste oil is called oil that has served its life in an engine or gearbox of a car. Many chainsaw owners, trying to save money, use it to lubricate the chain, which translates into serious repair costs.
The reason for these breakdowns is the presence of metal shavings in the mining, which settles in the crankcase of the car, and at the time of draining the mining from the pallet, it merges with it.
Once on the tire, metal shavings act on its surface as an abrasive. In simple terms, instead of protecting the surface, working out increases the wear on the tire, drive sprocket, and driven sprocket bearing on the tire. Working off also affects the chainsaw chain, in those places where it bends and increases the risk of breaking the chain mechanism.
Conclusion: to lubricate the chainsaw chain, you need to use original lubricants from manufacturers. It is unacceptable to use exhaust from the car engine. In the absence of high-quality oils, a short-term replacement with clean automobile oils is allowed.
Chainsaw chain oil. What and when to pour?
Very often when selling a chainsaw, the question sounds: “What kind of oil should I fill 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 usually makes sense at low temperatures or when you place great emphasis on protecting the environment.
Danger of using counterfeit oil
The performance properties of cheaper counterfeit oils are inferior to proprietary developments in terms of basic parameters. The problem is that, relying on the perceived quality of the product, users operate their chainsaw equipment at full loads.
The use of surrogate oils initiates accelerated wear and tear of the material part, in some cases it is the basis for the cancellation of factory warranty obligations by service services.
Benefits of higher price oils
The branded chain oils are formulated with beneficial antioxidant, anticorrosive, stabilizing components and additives that 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.
How to use a chainsaw?
A ratio of the volumes of oil and fuel is used, in which the lubricant will be consumed when lubricating the chain at the same time, namely after 30-45 minutes of time that has been worked out, provided that the chainsaw is fully loaded. If the engine is two-stroke, then it most requires the use of a pre-prepared fuel mixture to lubricate the chain.
Chainsaw electronic ignition circuit.
The specificity of saw operation is determined by seasonality. When a two-stroke motor is operating, its cycle differs from that of a four-stroke engine of the instrument. The use of a mixture of gasoline and oil to lubricate some structural elements of the chainsaw, for example a piston or shaft, is one of the main points. Otherwise, an attempt associated with the use of a tool that works only on gasoline, and not on oil, will not lead to a positive result, but only to damage the tool.
It is possible to use a domestic tool with the use of gasoline of grade 76 simultaneously with oil, the ratio of which to fuel is taken equal to 1/25, that is, in an amount of 4%. If you use a saw model from foreign manufacturers, you will need a brand of 92 gasoline with branded oils.
These oils are created by manufacturers of chainsaws, while the ratio in the required consistencies is 2.5%, 1:40. Two-stroke engines can be installed on foreign-made chainsaws, but it must be taken into account that refined gasoline is required, without impurities.
Circuit of electronic ignition for a chainsaw.
The choice of oil per motor is possible, the number of cycles of which can reach 8.5 thousand / min. In chainsaws from foreign manufacturers, cycles are provided that can reach power in the range from 11 to 14 thousand / min. The use of these lubricants reduces the presence of the saw motor resource by 7-10%, which boils down to the following: the use of Zhiguli oils is suitable for all types of household and special chainsaws.
If the tool is used at low temperatures, then even the correct choice of the constituent lubricants does not bring the quality of the oil mixed with the fuel to a positive result, that is, crystallization and an increase in viscosity occur. With all this, the tool must be adapted to the application, taking into account the maximum engine warm-up.
If you follow the recommendations, then the chainsaw should be warmed up before use, especially if the storage place was a cold room that is not heated. This will prevent a negative result if condensation forms in the saw mechanism.
What kind of oil to fill the chainsaw tank correctly?
When lubricating the chain links of the chainsaw, the composition is poured into a special container. Its use helps to reduce the frictional force that occurs between the bar and the chain links. Using special oils with a viscous consistency to lubricate the chainsaw chain will give positive results, ensuring a long service life of the equipment. In the absence of this substance, car oil is suitable.
Choose the right oil that allows you to properly lubricate the chain, depending on the time of year when it will be used. So, in the summer, mineral oils are best suited, the disadvantage of which is the crystallization of the structure of the substance at low temperatures. Therefore, in winter, experts recommend using oils with special additives that are synthetic, which makes them less viscous. This facilitates the use of the saw at low temperatures, in other words, up to 40 ° C.
The use of semisynthetics seems to be a more suitable option when using the saw at a moderate temperature, fluctuating in the range of 30. 25 ° С.
Oil supply for chain lubrication.
Such oils can be highly oxidized, and this is due to the presence of impurities in them, which can cause damage to the chainsaw. At the same time, sometimes during the operation of saws, gear or engine oils are poured into them, which is acceptable.
Motor oils, suitable not only for two-stroke, but also for four-stroke engines, are made on the basis of base oil and additional substances, that is, additives that may be different. Various solvents can be used as additives to improve the mixing of oils and fuels, their pumpability, and a possible spray method.
Recommendations for the use of special oils for chainsaws
Chainsaw centrifugal clutch.
The saw bar and chain should be lubricated with a special oil, other types of this substance are not suitable for this purpose. If applied, the oil pump may fail as it is self-lubricating for high quality performance. Using waste, including filtered, oil compositions in a chainsaw means disrupting the tool’s ability to high revs.
The chain requires proper storage, which involves immersion in oil. If the saw bar is worn out, do not put a new chain on it. It is important to have a chain in stock, and it is best to purchase several chains at once. The optimal number of chains in stock is 4 pieces, which allows working with them in turn and periodically sharpening each of them. This ensures a reduced level of wear on each component, i.e. tire, chain and drive sprocket.
Professionals recommend not to sharpen the chain, but to correct it with the help of special devices that allow you to sharpen the chain. Refills are made every 2 or 3 fillings of the fuel mixture into the saw tank.
One intended operation with a tool requires the preparation of a certain amount of fuel mixture. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to work with a chainsaw without oil in the tank. When refueling the saw with fuel, you should immediately provide for its required amount, which should be lubricated with the bar and chain. The main thing is that its composition is purified, free of impurities, water, sand, debris, etc.
The tanks should be filled at the same time, that is, the oil is poured together with the fuel mixture into different tanks. Take into account the air temperature. If the temperature is below 20 ° C, then it must be diluted with dehydrated kerosene, taking into account the ratio of 4: 1, that is, 1 part of kerosene is added to 4 parts. If there is an adjustment for the oil supply, it is made maximum.
How to dilute oil in fuel correctly?
Chainsaw position when starting.
Dilute oil in gasoline, observing a certain sequence. Previously, it is poured into a canister or other container, after which a suitable gasoline used in one or another chainsaw is added to the same container. The volume of gasoline should be approximately half of the required amount of fuel.
After thoroughly shaking the mixture and stirring it, add the second part of the prepared fuel there. Pour the mixture into the container of the fuel tank after thoroughly shaking the mixture in the original container. Pour the mixture carefully, trying not to spill it.
It is not recommended to fill fuel to the very top of the tank. Usually some free space is left on top of the tank. The 0.5 liter fuel tank provides the tool power of 2 kW, i.e. 2.7 hp. Fuel is consumed in the amount of 1.2 l / h, so the fuel mixture can be enough to work for 30-40 minutes with the maximum load on the tool. The more power the chainsaw has, the smaller the volume of its fuel tank.
It is recommended to lubricate the chainsaw chain only with special oils, the quality of which is guaranteed by the manufacturer of the tool itself. Chainsaw manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of special oils with m of adhesive additives that provide high-quality lubrication of the chain due to the long-term retention of the lubricating composition on it.
It is better not to save on buying oil, buying cheaper types of oil, but immediately take an adhesive one so that the saw chains and the tool itself do not break down. This can reduce the damage done, since the cost of the oil pump, chainsaw and tires is significantly less after they break.
Other disadvantages of using non-adhesive oil include leaking from the tank of an inoperative tool. Due to the mismatch of the viscosity of the unsuitable lubricant with the standards in the process of pumping it with a pump, it does not come in the amount that is necessary, that is, more or less. As a result, it will be wrong to use oils and fuels in equal amounts.
What oil needs to be poured into the chainsaw to lubricate the chain?
Chainsaws, as a rule, have a two-stroke or four-stroke engine and two tanks, one of which is filled with fuel, that is, gasoline, and the second should be filled with oil, which lubricates the saw chain. The volume of the gasoline tank can include 0.3-1.0 liters of the consistency of fuel with oil, and the oil tank has a volume that is actually 2 times smaller.
Recycled chain oil is not recommended.
What oil is used in a chainsaw?
Experienced experts recommend using one fraction of the fuel mixture for two weeks.
The service life of a chainsaw is determined by the type of lubricant used when working with equipment. The two-stroke saw and the fuel tank are used according to the instructions. A fuel mixture is often made by mixing gasoline and oil, which are combined in a specific ratio. This information must be indicated by the manufacturer in the relevant instructions.
If the inventory is of domestic manufacture, then gasoline of the AI-76 brand is usually used, as well as ordinary motorcycle oil. The proportions in which gasoline and oil are taken are 1/25. If foreign-made chainsaws are used, then the requirements will be different. They are reduced to the use of gasoline with octane numbers equal to 95 and 92, at the same time they use a special oil suitable for these grades of fuel.
Oil and fuel are mixed in a ratio of 1/40. It is suitable to use metered canisters to help greatly simplify the process of making the fuel mixture. The use of foreign-made tools requires an appropriate filling with motorcycle oils.
It should be borne in mind that certain types of foreign-made lubricants can be used by working with chainsaws, the cycle of which is 8.5 thousand per minute. Basically, a tool with an oscillation cycle in the range of 11-14 thousand / min is used. The use of foreign oils in such saws is the reason for a decrease in motor resource by an average of 8%. If the chainsaw is operating at full power, then the lubricant is consumed half an hour after it is turned on.
Experienced professionals recommend using one fraction of the fuel mixture for two weeks, because otherwise a chemical reaction occurs. With all this, oil can lose all properties, and gasoline is capable of oxidation. As a result, parts are clogged, the motor overheats and the CPG is jammed. The type of oil filled into the instrument must be carefully controlled.
Choosing oil with a different type of engine for a chainsaw
Diagram of the interaction of fuel and air flow of the chainsaw carburetor.
In order to lubricate the motors of a tool with a two-stroke engine, a combustion solution of fuel is used, since oil is not used in the fuel composition. If we take into account the differences between the types of oils used in different engines, for example, four-stroke or two-stroke, then there is a difference in the methods of their consumption.
The high-quality operation of a chainsaw with a four-stroke engine is due to the absence of oils in the combustion chamber, therefore different types of motors have different requirements. For example, two-stroke engines are usually filled with oil, which does not cause carbon deposits when burned.
A chainsaw with a four-stroke engine can work for a long time as a result of lubrication with oil, which is not subject to special requirements for its complete combustion. You can select additives without taking into account the ash content, the level of which should be more than 2%.
If the chainsaw is equipped with a two-stroke engine, which runs on oils suitable for four-stroke engines, as a result, ash settles on the walls in the combustion chamber. Ash can remain on the surface of the piston, and an abrasive powder is also formed that acts on the saw piston on the principle of sandpaper.
Checks for chain lubrication.
The erasure of parts of the structure of the toolkit is carried out and the term of its use is reduced. The presence of settled soot at the end of the use of the oil is harmful to the tool, which can lose quality of work due to the loss of power from its motor.
If soot is deposited in the exhaust ports, then their cross-sectional area is reduced, which is associated with difficulties during the exhaust gas emission and power loss. If ash is deposited on the piston of the cylinder, as well as on its head, detonation and drip ignition occurs. All this leads to a decrease in the saw power, which reduces its useful life.
For chainsaws, two types of oil are made, one of which is suitable for creating a fuel mixture. At the same time, gasoline of brand 92 is taken in a ratio of 50 parts of gasoline to 1 part of oil (Super 95) used in the operation of a two-stroke engine, respectively. Different manufacturers of chainsaws produce oil for them under different brands, of which there are a sufficient number. So, 5 liters of gasoline are usually mixed with 100 ml of the substance. If you use one that is not suitable for the model of the tool used, this will lead to damage to the saw and quick wear.
Unsuitable oil poured into the saw can simply settle in the cylinder on its walls if it entered the combustion chamber, but did not have time to burn. This approach to the use of a chainsaw leads to a slow reduction in the life of the tool or its trimmer. If the total life of the chainsaw is 400 hours, then this indicator can be reduced to 200 hours.
The saw chain should be lubricated with a special adhesive oil, which must be poured into the saw tank provided for this purpose. After turning on the saw, it is pumped up by a special pump in automatic mode, after which the chain is lubricated.
The chainsaw can, which includes two containers, can be filled with 6 liters of fuel mixture and 2.5 liters of oil. Changing this ratio, pour in 5 liters of fuel mixture and 3 liters of adhesive oil, the consumption of which will be 1 liter for a fuel mixture with a volume of 1.6-2.4 liters.
Conditions for using oils in chainsaws
Synthetic Motor Oil Test Results Table.
Chainsaws operating at high temperatures can function well due to oils equipped with iron additives. Their main property is to provide lubrication at elevated temperatures.
Important! Experienced craftsmen do not recommend using a tool that works for a long time at “idle”.
With this operation of the motor, its running-in is not carried out. The use of a chainsaw with a four-stroke engine with a suitable oil, with its complete combustion, is not associated with special requirements.
Solvents in two-stroke oils can be 20%. The result of their application can be negative, since the quality of chain lubrication decreases with increasing temperature. If the chainsaw is equipped with a two-stroke engine, then the oil should not be used with the maximum number of additives, as they contribute to an increase in the viscosity.
How a chain oil system should work?
Saw fuel tanks are selected by volume, taking into account a certain ratio, which allows leaving the tank with a small amount of oil at maximum fuel production. Correct carburetor adjustment determines the amount of fuel consumed for the chainsaw, otherwise if it is not correct, then the fuel runs out very quickly.
With a slow decrease in the amount of oil during the operation of the saw, in the absence of its decrease, the chain lubrication process is disrupted, and the conductivity of the channels where the lubricant moves is reduced. It is necessary not only to identify, but also to eliminate all faults. You can measure the performance level of the oil pump with the adjusting screw manually.
You can check the correct operation of the lubrication system by bringing the bar, the chain of which is rotating, to the illuminated surface. When oil splashes appear on this surface, the system is set up correctly. The amount of oil consumed by the chain itself is provided depending on the specific situation.
Cutting the longest length on solid or dry type of wood should be done with the greatest amount of lubricant, which also applies to cutting thick bark. If you want to make a cut, the length of which is small, then the presence of moist and soft wood will require the least amount of lubrication.
One of the reasons for the strong heating of the cutting attachment, followed by the appearance of smoke, can be the lack of sufficient lubrication of the chain.
Excessive heat can cause the chain to pinch in the bar groove. The reason for the appearance of smoke can also refer to those cases if the chain is not sharpened correctly, is dull, or this happened when the chain is tightly tensioned. If the end of the tire has a maintenance-free sprocket, then no lubricant gets on it, that is, lubrication occurs separately if there is a special hole.
If the chainsaw is well adjusted, it can be easily started. For this purpose, the saw is installed on level ground, making sure that the tire does not sink to the ground. It is imperative to activate the chain brake, its handle should be pushed in a certain direction towards the end of the bar. Start the chainsaw holding the saw with your left hand by the front handle, and with your right foot resting on the rear handle, which should be pressed to the ground.
HP Super
Designed for high-performance engines and 4-stroke engines made using 2-MIX technology. The characteristics are slightly worse than that of the HP Ultra, so at the moment HP Super is not available on the counters of official Stihl dealers.
Mixing ratio
Very often people ask the question, how much oil per liter of gasoline is considered the norm. It’s easy to answer, because the instructions for any Stihl chainsaw, as well as on the additive package, indicate that when using original Stihl products, the proportions of oil and gasoline should be 1:50. This means that for one liter of fuel, it is necessary to add 20 ml of the additive.
Which oil to choose
If you are a regular user of a chainsaw and do not use it daily for 6-8 hours, while working only in the summer, then you can use a regular Stihl HP to prepare the fuel mixture for your chainsaw. The optimal ratio of the price and quality of the lubricant made it popular with millions of gasoline tool users.
Forestplus
ForestPlus mineral oil for chain lubrication is a quality product that creates a reliable film on the bar and chain links, which is well retained even at maximum chain speeds.
Packaged in three types of containers, a liter bottle and canisters of five and twenty liters.
Forestplus has the lowest shelf life of the Stihl range at just three years when stored properly.
Which Stihl oil to choose for a chainsaw
Any two-stroke engine of a chainsaw runs on a mixture of gasoline and oil, respectively, how long it will last depends on the quality and correct mixture of these components. Also in chainsaws, it is necessary to lubricate the bar and chain, and the quality of the lubricant is not the last factor affecting the duration of use of these parts of the chainsaw. In this article, we will talk about the oils that Stihl produces and recommends for use not only on chainsaws of its own production.
Stihl chain oil (overview of oils)
The Stihl range of chain lubricating oils comprises three types of products:
- Forestplus;
- Bioplus. for chains;
When working, it is necessary to use the type of lubricant that best suits the conditions and duration of work. Let’s consider each of the oils for the Stihl chain in more detail.
What oil to choose for the chain
BioPlus is the best choice for chain lubrication and should be chosen by those who use chainsaw from time to time. Optimal price and quality BioPlus makes it the most popular chain oil in the Stihl range.
It is also worth remembering that BioPlus does not harm the environment, because it is made on a plant basis and decomposes in the shortest possible time, which is also important when working with a chainsaw on your own site.
Synthplus
Synthplus is a semi-synthetic oil that retains its properties even under the most severe conditions. It is able to maintain performance at minus 25 degrees. Synthplus mixes well with BioPlus, making it easy to switch from one oil type to another.
Synthplus has a long shelf life, which, if properly stored, reaches seven years. SynthPlus oil color, brown.
Stihl SynthPlus is packaged in containers of the same capacity as BioPlus.
How to distinguish fake Stihl oil
Cybercriminals do not miss the opportunity to make money selling fake products of a well-known brand. Stihl oil is no exception. The most commonly encountered counterfeit Stihl HP because it has the highest sales volumes of all Stihl lubricants.
In order to distinguish a fake from the original, the Stihl company issued a special brochure on which it recorded all the main differences between the original and the fake.
Also, we invite you to take a look. In which, with a specific example, it is shown how the packaging of high-quality Stihl oil should look like and how to distinguish a fake.