Bar Oil's too thin

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
abohac

abohac

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
781
Location
Michigan
I usually use Husqvarna Bar oil (premium when it's cold). However, it is too thin for summer use (at least in my opinion). I used to use that real thick stuff from TSC but thought the Husky stuff probably was better. I am going to be doing a lot of cutting this summer (not my usual routine) and need some advice. Any opinions?
 
tramp bushler

tramp bushler

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Feb 3, 2007
Messages
3,376
Location
Interior ,Alaska, Copper River Valley,, Coastal Al
Bar oil

It,s kind of spendy, but try some 10/30 synthetic blend motor oil .. Do a tank by tank comparison and I think you will be very surprised .. I buy it @ Walmart in the 5 quart jugs .., actually I often use full synthetic ... Bar oil in 8-10 bucks a gallon and this new biodegradeable crap is terrible ... .
 
Zodiac45

Zodiac45

Paleostoveologist & Sawwhisperer
Joined
May 26, 2005
Messages
2,425
Location
Downeast Maine
I usually use Husqvarna Bar oil (premium when it's cold). However, it is too thin for summer use (at least in my opinion). I used to use that real thick stuff from TSC but thought the Husky stuff probably was better. I am going to be doing a lot of cutting this summer (not my usual routine) and need some advice. Any opinions?

I don't mind the thin stuff. I had a couple jugs of the 10wt clear stuff , green jug(can't remember the brand?) from this winter and I've been mixing it in with the summer 30wt. about 1/2 and 1/2. My saws all oil pretty good with it. Although messier, I prefer to sling a little oil. $5 a gal round here.
 
abohac

abohac

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
781
Location
Michigan
I'll try some

I'll try some 10/30 synthetic. The Husky stuff isn't cheap and is barely getting the job done no matter how much I slop out there. And by the way I tried some of the bio-degradable stuff and I had the same opinion.
 
fsfcks

fsfcks

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
259
Location
Kansas
And by the way I tried some of the bio-degradable stuff and I had the same opinion.

That it was too thin? What were the issues with that - too hot a bar / chain?

Reason I'm asking is I'm using bio-degradable oil on a Dolmar 5100S and it is getting very hot. However I thought the heat seemed to be coming from the powerhead and not the bar/chain. I'm wondering if I'm mistaken.
 
tramp bushler

tramp bushler

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Feb 3, 2007
Messages
3,376
Location
Interior ,Alaska, Copper River Valley,, Coastal Al
junky enviro friendly oil

Yes the bar , chain , tip and drive sprocket all suffer alot from enviromentalist crap ....
I used to buy Chevron bar oil in the 55 gal barrel and it worked good , Used to use Rock drill oil also ...
I,ve even mixed 90 wt gear lube with 30 wt motor oil and used it ..
But nothing I,ve ever used is as good as synthetic oil .......
 
2dogs

2dogs

Addicted to ArboristSite
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
Sep 3, 2007
Messages
8,080
Location
Santa Cruz CA
I use Stihl Bio Plus and I'm very happy with it. It cleans up easily with Oil Eater and water. For many years I have flushed out the oil tank every so often with saw mix so the build up Andy speaks of has not been an issue for me. Using Bio Plus and Opti 2, both biodegradeable, is a good selling point when a job is environmentaly sensitive.
 
abohac

abohac

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
781
Location
Michigan
Hot

That it was too thin? What were the issues with that - too hot a bar / chain?

Reason I'm asking is I'm using bio-degradable oil on a Dolmar 5100S and it is getting very hot. However I thought the heat seemed to be coming from the powerhead and not the bar/chain. I'm wondering if I'm mistaken.

Yes, just simply not enough lubrication. Don't notice it too bad on a 20 inch bar but can't hardly run a 36 in the summer.
 

Ed*L

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Aug 7, 2006
Messages
690
Location
Bancroft, Mi
I run the straight 30 Husky oil. No problems with lack of lube, excess heat abnormal wear or anything else in the summer. It doesn't matter if it's a 20" or 36" bar, works fine.

What saw are you running?

Ed
 
Last edited:
Philobite

Philobite

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
99
Location
Philo, CA
Straight canola oil in my Husky 372xp w/28" skip for felling and bucking redwood timber, and 24" non-skip felling and bucking tanoak firewood. 120,000bf of redwood on one bar last year with nominal wear (replaced the tip and tuned the bar is all) and used it to fell and buck 22,000 this year. 30+cords of tanoak this year and no visible wear on the 24". Also use it in the 346xp limbing saw w/20" bar.

Canola doesn't oxidize in the tank or on the bar/chain. Over the winter I empty the tank and then leave some petroleum based bar oil in just to make myself feel good.

My clothes don't smell nasty or take a stain, my lungs stay clean, the forest is happy, the saws are happy, the hippies are happy... what's not to like?
 
Last edited:
ray benson
Joined
Sep 11, 2002
Messages
32,007
Location
Indiana
I usually use Husqvarna Bar oil (premium when it's cold). However, it is too thin for summer use (at least in my opinion). I used to use that real thick stuff from TSC but thought the Husky stuff probably was better. I am going to be doing a lot of cutting this summer (not my usual routine) and need some advice. Any opinions?

What saw? Can you adjust the oiler output? Does it use almost a full tank of oil to a tank of gas? If the oiler isn't adjustable and you do use more than a half tank of oil to a tank of gas - then keep chain sharp and tensioned properly. I started using canola oil this year with no overheating problems in 3 saws. Canola is thinner than bar and chain oil.
 
2dogs

2dogs

Addicted to ArboristSite
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
Sep 3, 2007
Messages
8,080
Location
Santa Cruz CA
Straight canola oil in my Husky 372xp w/28" skip for felling and bucking redwood timber, and 24" non-skip felling and bucking tanoak firewood. 120,000bf of redwood on one bar last year with nominal wear (replaced the tip and tuned the bar is all) and used it to fell and buck 22,000 this year. 30+cords of tanoak this year and no visible wear on the 24". Also use it in the 346xp limbing saw w/20" bar.

Canola doesn't oxidize in the tank or on the bar/chain. Over the winter I empty the tank and then leave some petroleum based bar oil in just to make myself feel good.

My clothes don't smell nasty or take a stain, my lungs stay clean, the forest is happy, the saws are happy, the hippies are happy... what's not to like?

Are you using food grade canola?
 
abohac

abohac

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
781
Location
Michigan
I run the straight 30 Husky oil. No problems with lack of lube, excess heat abnormal wear or anything else in the summer. It doesn't matter if it's a 20" or 36" bar, works fine.

What saw are you running?

Ed

395 XPG and 2171 2077
 
Last edited:
abohac

abohac

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
781
Location
Michigan
What saw? Can you adjust the oiler output? Does it use almost a full tank of oil to a tank of gas? If the oiler isn't adjustable and you do use more than a half tank of oil to a tank of gas - then keep chain sharp and tensioned properly. I started using canola oil this year with no overheating problems in 3 saws. Canola is thinner than bar and chain oil.

Yes I can adjust the oiler but things work out pretty well. No issues in cold weather just when its hot. I always told my dad that saws were not made to run in the summer but I will be this year.
 
Top