Importance of Bar & Chain Oil

[rowdy235]

First off, if this is in the wrong section, I am sorry, and feel free to move it.

Okay, so I have always run just SAE 30 oil in my saws for bar/chain lube, as I get that oil in bulk. However, I am being told that I have to run Bar and chain oil, and any other oil will not work, or will damage the saw. Now, I talked to some friends that log and they said that was a load of bull. I'd like opinions as my saw should be running soon (we hope).

[OBR]

i hope not...i've run everything from good ole 10w30 to 15w40 deisel tractor oil through mine... ;D

i guess i figure the oil's job is to lubricate the contact between the bar and chain...thats it. So if 10w30 can lubricate a truck engine proficiently I would say its more than up to the task of keeping the old b/c cool. my 10 cents (inflations a killer) -obr

[RBW]

B&C oil does have benefits that a motor oil wont give you. Some saws will over pump 30 or even 40tw oils. I use Itasca brand from auto zone and its actually cheaper than using motor oil, something like 3.79 a gallon?



All bar oils have a tackifier in them that helps the oil make it past the tip and get down to where the cutting is going on. Motor oils just fling off the end, but I must admit I used them for years, but then again I cut with dull chains and didnt even care or know better.



Whatever you do dont use used motor oil, the list of reasons not to is too long to get into.

[rowdy235]

Hmm, I have noticed that both of my saws have a slight oil seep when they sit. Could switching to B & C oil resolve this?

[woodburner44]

Have been using Canola oil winter and summer with no problems.

[rowdy235]

Just for reference, with motor oil both of my saws would "seep" oil when they sat. Switched to bar and chain oil (actually cheaper than motor oil), and they don't leak a drop.

[mikevan]

Back in '68 when I got my first saw, I just used the cheapest Texaco oil [about .25 qt. then] I'd use sae 10 in the winter, sae 30 in the summer. Never even knew about 'bar oil' until the mid 70's or so - Talk about small town life!

[billg]

Jul 5, 2008 6:19:37 GMT -5 mikevan said:

Back in '68 when I got my first saw, I just used the cheapest Texaco oil [about .25 qt. then] I'd use sae 10 in the winter, sae 30 in the summer. Never even knew about 'bar oil' until the mid 70's or so - Talk about small town life!

It is now 2008 and the neighbor county has 2 stoplights in the entire county. The county to the southwest I still think has none. We are very heavily populated here but still a lot of small towns mixed in. He''' my legal address was in a different state until a few years ago. Try expaning why your Illinois drivers license has an Iowa address on it. Not to mention state taxes.

Bill

Bill

[bosshoss1]

Hmm, I have noticed that both of my saws have a slight oil seep when they sit. Could switching to B & C oil resolve this?

all my saws seep-including my hedge trimmer.a little cardboard under the saw shelf fixes that.
b and c oil-or not.

[rowdy235]

Actually when I switched to B & C in the SEZ, it quit leaking. Haven't tried it in the poulan yet.

[mikevan]

I'm not sure about the seepage thing, it would seem if you have a leak, eventually whatever's in there would come out ? Thinner oil would come quicker though, for sure. When I was looking for the source of the leak on the XL 400, I put kerosene in the tank, and let it sit, it sure leaks faster than bar oil! Something with a dye in it would have helped too -

[bosshoss1]

i had an old time saw guy show me the difference one day.
he had a bit of regular oil and bar and chain oil.
he poured the regular oil over my finger tips-and said-do they stick together?-no.
then the stihl b-c oil.
it was stringy like glue.
lesson learned.