The resource of any chainsaw, no doubt, depends on the quality of its service and operation. The most important requirement for this unit is the timely lubrication of all its moving parts. Chainsaw oil is available in various types, namely: motor and chain. The motor is poured into the internal combustion engine, and the chain is designed for the saw chain. We will figure out how to choose the right oil for the chainsaw.
What parts of a chainsaw need oil
If you look closely at the working chainsaw, it immediately catches the eye its main moving part. the saw chain, which slides along the tire during sawing. Since the law of friction still exists, both parts gradually wear out. To slow down this process, it is customary to use chain oil, specially designed for the lubrication of saw chains.
Chainsaws can be equipped with both four-stroke engines. and two-stroke ones. In 4-stroke units, the crank group is lubricated with oil located in the crankcase. Two-stroke engines are slightly different in their design and principle of operation. Gasoline for this type of drive enters directly into the space under the piston, where the crank mechanism is located, which has several bearings and bushings that need lubrication. Therefore, it is added to gasoline two stroke engine oil chainsaws, so that it, getting on the rubbing parts of this block, lubricates them.
Engine oil selection
An oil intended for a 2-stroke engine must meet the following requirements.
- The grease should form during combustion minimum ash. Ideally, it should burn completely.
- The lubricant must have good solubility in gasoline and a high degree of purification from various impurities that can cause clogging of very narrow channels of the carburetor.
- The oil must have high anti-corrosion, anti-wear and lubricating qualities.
There are certain standards for oils designed for 2-stroke engines: TC-W3 and 2T. Appropriate lubricant TC-W3, used for water-cooled engines (outboard motors, jet skis). 2T oil used as an additive in gasoline for 2-stroke engines with air cooling (lawn mowers, mopeds, chainsaws, etc.).
MOTUL Outboard Tech 2T Oil
Oils can be green, red or blue. This is done so that their presence in gasoline is easily determined.
When using poor-quality grease, the entire piston group of the engine can fail due to the formation of soot under the piston rings. As a result, they will not be able to compress, and nicks will form on the cylinder walls. Also, improper lubrication of the bearings of the crank mechanism leads to their overheating and, ultimately, to jam. Important: it is forbidden to use diesel oil to prepare the fuel mixture, since it does not correspond to any of the above parameters.
Overview of ICE Oil Manufacturers
Among the manufacturers producing the best two-stroke oils, we can confidently name 2 leaders. these are the companies Husqvarna (Husvarna) and Stihl (Stihl). Companies produce not only conventional mineral oils, but also synthetic lubricants designed for 2-stroke engines operating in difficult conditions.
Husqvarna HP
This is a Swedish manufacturer, which includes several well-known brands, including the Partner (Partner) company, known for its gardening equipment for semi-professional and professional use. Husqvarna produces not only equipment, but also high-quality lubricants used on almost all brands of gasoline powered tools.
The photo below shows a 2-stroke Husqvarna HP oil, which has in its composition 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 is not always consistent with the declared one.
This grease is green and contains semi-synthetic basis. It can be packaged in a 10-liter container, and in a liter. The mixture is diluted in a standard proportion of 1:50 (20 g per 1 liter of gasoline). But when the engine has not yet been run-in, or work is to be done in the cold, the proportion can be increased to 1:40.
Stihl hp
The grease has been specially developed for Stihl engine technology. She has mineral base, possesses high lubricating and cleaning abilities and it can be used at ambient temperature not lower than 10 ° С.
The bottle has a special dispenser that allows the process of mixing the fuel mixture without the use of additional measuring containers.
The grease has a red color and is stored for no more than 4 years in a closed container. The latter can have different capacities, both large and small (for a single refueling). For example, there is a 20-gram container for sale, the contents of which are added per 1 liter of gasoline. This is a very convenient option for owners of chainsaws, using them from time to time. Important: a mixture of gasoline with this oil should not be stored for more than 1 month, since it will already lose its lubricating properties during this time.
Video: All About Choosing Chainsaw Oil
Stihl HP Ultra
Oil belongs to the highest category. It is created on fully synthetic based, It has a green color and has high lubricating properties, and thanks to salt-free additives it does not create carbon deposits.
The oil was specially developed for the lubrication of engines operating for a long time at high loads and low ambient temperatures, up to 25 ° C. In addition, this lubricant does not harm the environment. If shed on the ground, it will decompose by 80% in 21 days. The lubricant is packaged in bottles of 100 ml and 1 liter.
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.
Gasoline with an octane rating of 95 is not recommended, since it contains many different additives that harm two-stroke engines.
To prepare the mixture, only motor oil from well-known manufacturers should be used. The grease should be designed for high speed engines with an air cooling system. This component, designed for low-speed engines (moped, motorcycle, snowmobile), is prohibited to use.
When preparing the mixture, it is required to strictly observe the proportion of gasoline and oil. As a rule, this 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 running-in required. In this case, the oil-gasoline ratio may be 1:40. For break-in, 2-3 full refueling of the unit with a fuel mixture with this ratio is required. If you dilute the fuel mixture in the proportion of 1:30, then inevitably a deposit forms on the piston and inside the cylinder, which, as already mentioned, leads to the breakdown of the entire crank mechanism.
Below is a table that helps you quickly determine the gas-oil ratio if you need to prepare a large amount of the fuel mixture.
Rules for the preparation of the fuel mixture
It is necessary to dilute gasoline with oil in containers, resistant to oil products (plastic or metal canisters). It is not recommended to use plastic bottles for water, juice or milk for these purposes, since food plastic decomposes under the influence of gasoline. As a result of this process, the fuel mixture will change its properties, and it is difficult to predict what effect it will have on the engine.
The combustible mixture for the chainsaw is easy to prepare.
- Take the required amount of lubricant and pour it into the prepared container. Pouring all prepared gasoline into a container with oil should not be enough, half of the required amount will be enough.
- Shaking the container slightly, wait until the lubricant has completely dissolved in gasoline.
- Now you can fill in the remaining gasoline, mixing it well with the mixture in the tank. This completes the preparation of the fuel mixture for the chainsaw.
Before each refueling of the chainsaw, the combustible mixture must be shaken. Also, do not forget to tighten the fuel tank cap well, otherwise this will lead to lean mixture and engine failure.
Ready fuel mixture is better use immediately. Therefore, it is necessary to cook it in such a quantity that it is enough for the estimated amount of work. If the mixture still remains, then it is impossible to store it for more than 1-1.5 months. During this time, it will lose a significant part of its lubricating properties.
Chain oil selection
After each refueling of the chainsaw, do not forget to check the amount of oil in the oil tank. In a chainsaw, the oil pump is engaged in the delivery of lubricant to the tire along which the saw chain slides. Normally, the refueling of both tanks. fuel and oil. should be done simultaneously. Chain oil must be poured into the appropriate tank up to the neck. Otherwise, it may end earlier than fuel, which will lead to overheating of the circuit and tire.
Chainsaw chain lubricant oil should be developed specifically for this purpose. The use of other lubricants is inefficient and reduces the service life of not only the saw, but also the unit tires. This is because the chain oil in its composition has adhesive additives, thanks to which the grease literally “sticks” to the chain. This property of the oil reduces its consumption, as a result of which the lubrication of the tire of the chainsaw and the saw chain is improved, and their service life is increased.
An important parameter of chain lubrication is its density. If you intend to use grease that is not intended for chainsaws, you may notice that oil is leaking during operation of the unit or after it has stopped. This fact indicates that the grease is too fluid. In addition, the liquid lubricant will quickly scatter in all directions and, accordingly, will quickly end.
When operating a chainsaw in winter, use oil designed for low temperatures to lubricate the chain, otherwise the oil pump will fail. Therefore, the grease remaining in the tank must be replaced with a low temperature grease.
Leading manufacturers of gasoline powered tools, such as Stihl, Husqvarna, Makita, Bosch and Oregon chainsaw component manufacturer, recommend special highly adhesive oils, including biodegradable. But the oils of well-known brands have the only drawback. the price is 300 rubles per 1 liter and above. In addition, the grease in the reservoir may thicken over time and clog the channels. For this reason, it has to be drained, and this already increases consumption. But despite this, one has to admit the fact that only the use of special lubricants can extend the life of the chainsaw.
Oil Recommendations
It should be noted that there are fakes on sale for well-known brands, by buying which you can ruin your chainsaw. Therefore, lubricants must be purchased only from authorized dealers who have product certificates.
Chainsaw Chain Lubricant, according to some users, it is possible to replace any mineral oil with a viscosity of 15-40 for the summer period and with an index of 10-30 for the cold season. The brand can be M8 or M10. Also, many chainsaw owners are beginning to wonder if something can be done. replace 2-stroke oil. Experienced craftsmen are extremely advised not to add other lubricants to gasoline, since it is possible to completely disable the engine of the unit, the repair of which will take as much money as you do not save on lubrication. over, if you count, then one liter of oil is enough to make 50 liters of fuel mixture, which can be used up only by working on a logging site.