how to put gas and bar oil in a husqvarna 555 chainsaw
How lubricant quality affects engine life
Now let’s talk about how specifically the quality of the oil affects the operation of the engine and its resource, since many do not understand this.
The principle of operation of a two-stroke engine implies that the lubrication of its internal parts is due to the oil in the gasoline. It lubricates the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings. Also, the oil envelops the cylinder walls and reduces the friction of the piston rings.
The engine of the chainsaw is highly revving, some models can develop up to 15,000 rpm, which puts a tremendous load on the bearings and other engine parts. Insufficient or poor quality lubricant will cause the bearings and piston to run virtually dry, resulting in increased temperatures. Elevated bearing temperatures can cause bearing seizure.
Heating the piston to the limit causes it to melt, particles of aluminum from the piston are transferred to the surface of the cylinder and, cooling slightly, become solid. Rings, passing a section with aluminum build-ups, get damaged or wedge.
Another danger of poor-quality lubrication is carbon deposits. Carbon deposits can form under the piston rings, making it difficult or completely stopping their proper operation, and in the exhaust port. It is not uncommon for carbon deposits to completely seal the exhaust window and muffler. Below is a video about the consequences of using low-quality oil.
STIHL HP
STIHL HP mineral grease has been specially developed by STIHL engineers for use in their tools. That is why owners of STIHL chainsaws and brushcutters are recommended to use this type of oil.
Its color is red, the shelf life in a closed container is no more than four years. It is packed in several types of containers, so you can choose the most convenient packaging for yourself. Not so long ago, a convenient container of 20 grams appeared, which is diluted by one liter of gasoline. For those who rarely use a chainsaw, this is the best option. Can be thinned and consumed immediately.
Important: it is not recommended to store the ready-made fuel mixture for more than one month, since it gradually oxidizes and the lubricating properties are lost.
STIHL HP fully complies with high European standards.
Main brands of chainsaw motor oils
STIHL and Husqvarna are leaders in the production of quality lubricants for chainsaws and brushcutters. Their range includes both conventional mineral lubricants for two-stroke engines and synthetic heavy-duty oils. Let’s consider the assortment in more detail.
Choosing the right chainsaw oil
Almost all modern chainsaws and brushcutters are equipped with two-stroke engines. Their lubrication is due to the oil that is added to gasoline, there is no oil sump and pump in them.
In order to extend the life of the engine, it is necessary to use special lubricants, which will be discussed in this article.
Husqvarna HP 2-stroke
Husqvarna HP, like its STIHL HP counterpart, is also specially designed for 2-stroke engines.
According to the manufacturer, this type of oil has additives that compensate for the low quality of the fuel, which is important for our country. The declared octane number of gasoline at filling stations rarely corresponds to the real.
Husqvarna HP. semi-synthetic, green. It is packed in a liter or ten-liter container. The proportion of the mixture is 1: 50, i.e. 20 grams per liter. During the running-in period of the saw engine or when working in cold weather, it is allowed to increase the proportion to 1:40, which will give the engine more protection and increase its service life.
Today, there are a large number of two-stroke engine lubricants on the market from different manufacturers. For this reason, it is quite difficult to answer the question of which chainsaw oil is better. In our opinion, you should trust reliable companies such as STIHL, Husqvarna, Oregon, Champion. It is their oils that will allow you to maximally protect the engine of your tool and extend its resource.
Unscrupulous manufacturers often disguise their products under well-known brands (Husqvarna, STIHL, etc.). Such oils are of poor quality and can damage the engine. In order not to be deceived, it is necessary to purchase lubricants from official representatives who have the necessary certificates for the products. How to distinguish a fake from an original can be found in
HP Ultra
Another STIHL oil. Has a synthetic base, due to which it has improved combustion characteristics, cleanliness and engine protection.
Recommended by the manufacturer for long-term use in harsh conditions. Ideal for low temperature applications. HP Ultra is environmentally friendly as spilled oil decomposes 80% in just 21 days.
It is packed in two types of containers, 100 ml and liter bottles. The proportion of the finished fuel mixture is 1:50, which means that a 100 millimeter bottle is enough to prepare 5 liters of the mixture. Green colour. Shelf life 4 years.
It is worth noting that STIHL oils, before they go on sale, go through the company’s laboratory, where they are tested for compliance with all requirements.
When developing oils, great attention is paid to fuel combustion, starting characteristics during cold start, biodegradability, viscosity change at different temperatures (information from the official website of the company).
What oil to use for a chainsaw engine
To lubricate the internal parts of a chainsaw engine, special oils must be used that differ from lubricants for four-stroke engines in several ways.
- The first is the quality of cleaning. Chainsaw engine oil should be as cleaned as possible from various impurities. This is due to the fact that the channels in the carburetor of the chainsaw are too small and if the fuel mixture has any impurities, they will clog up, and accordingly the engine will stop working.
- Second, it is low smoke when burning. As you know, saw oil must be mixed with gasoline, which subsequently burns out in the engine cylinder, and, accordingly, the lubricant burns with it. If a large amount of smoke is emitted from the burning mixture, this will negatively affect the exhaust system and, alternatively, the health of the operator.
- Third, chainsaw lubricant should burn with minimal carbon deposits. Low-quality oils, when burning, form a large amount of carbon deposits, which coke the piston and the exhaust system.
The consequences of using low-quality oil can be very sad, to the point that it will be necessary to replace the piston group of the chainsaw. Coking of the exhaust system entails a decrease in engine power, since the throughput of the muffler and the exhaust window of the cylinder decreases, up to their complete clogging. Carbon deposits under the piston rings will not allow them to shrink, which will lead to the formation of scuffs on the cylinder walls and engine seizure.
Important: it is strictly forbidden to use diesel oil for a chainsaw, since it is not suitable for all of the above parameters.
Using special lubricants for two-stroke engines is not only beneficial for the engine, but also convenient, since manufacturers add dyes to them, thanks to which it is possible to determine whether gasoline is diluted or not, which is impossible in the case of conventional engine oils. Four-stroke engine oil mixed with gasoline is colorless.
The mixing ratio for a two-stroke engine is indicated on the packaging. Manufacturers recommend adhering to the dosage, since the use of the wrong mixture of oil and gasoline also affects the life of the engine, and it is harmful to both increase and decrease the proportion.
Tip: a guarantee of the performance of the chainsaw engine is the use of high-quality oil in the correct proportion.
Elimination of the consequences of using low-quality lubricants is quite expensive, so it is worth calculating in advance whether you need to save and pour oil of dubious quality, which, as a rule, is not much cheaper. Buy oils from authorized representatives, so you can protect yourself from scammers who offer low-quality lubricants under well-known brands. Dear readers, what kind of oil do you prefer to use and why? Share your experienced opinion with us via the comment form below.
How to dilute gasoline with chainsaw oil
The surest solution is to follow the recommendations specified in the instructions for the product! In the absence of such an opportunity, you can use a special fuel preparation formula.
Proportions
There are several options for the ratio of fuel and lubricant. As a rule, this number ranges from 20 to 50 ml of oil per 1 liter of gasoline.
Again, you must follow the instructions for the product or the recommendations indicated on the oil label (priority of the instruction). In the absence of such, before diluting gasoline, you need to pay attention to the power indicator of the product, since the created proportion directly depends on it.
- Up to 1.5 kW, the recommended ratio is 25 ml of oil per 1 liter of gasoline;
- Above 1.5 kW 20ml / L.
In gasoline for a chainsaw, it is allowed to add oil a little more than the recommended proportions (up to 5 ml per 1 liter). In this case, you should be extremely careful, because non-observance of the proportions can lead to breakdown, and as a result, expensive repairs.
If you dilute gasoline with a large volume of oil, then during operation the number of shock loads on the cylinder-piston system will be increased, and carbon deposits may also form, as a result of which the CHP will fail.
The addition of a small amount of oil to gasoline for a chainsaw can lead to insufficient lubrication of the surfaces of moving elements, which will lead to additional friction of the elements and their heating, followed by the destruction of the entire mechanism.
Butter
According to the international classification, oils of the following markings are used for chainsaws:
- API-TB;
- API-TS;
- JASO-FB;
- JASO-FD.
- Use oil for 2-stroke engines only;
- Do not use the material after the expiration date;
- It is strictly forbidden to add working off (it contains many unnecessary impurities. harmful to the central mechanism of the chainsaw);
- You can not use chain lubricant (for each device: chain and engine. it is its own);
- It is preferable to use synthetics or semi-synthetics (during development, it almost does not form combustion products, but the price of such material is higher than that of mineral oils).
Technology
Not only the quality and proportion of fuels and lubricants is important (although it is dominant in this matter), but where and how (how) gasoline is diluted with oil for chainsaws.
The technology provides for the use of containers with graduated divisions, some brands (along with chainsaws and oil) produce containers for mixing and storing fuel. Made of a special non-combustible material, they are produced in the form of a canister or bottle, often endowed with measuring lines, and some of them have two entrances (separate for each type of fuel and lubricants).
Often, improvised means are used for mixing:
- Plastic / glass bottles;
- Syringe (no needle);
- Measuring cups;
When using household products, be extremely careful, because during the mixing process, when combustible material interacts with the surface of non-specialized containers, static electricity can be generated. this is fraught with an explosion. When making a mixture, oil is added to gasoline, since it has a higher density.
Petrol
According to experts, it is necessary to use unleaded fuel with an octane rating exceeding 90. Gasoline A92 and Ai92 is considered ideal. You can use the 95th, but there is an opinion that it is better to refrain from this kind of gasoline, since some of them are made on the basis of the 92nd with the addition of additives. The latter, in turn, are harmless for 4-stroke car engines, but they will be superfluous for the “sensitive” mechanisms of 2-stroke motors.
It is recommended to use fresh gasoline for chainsaws, since when stored in cans the fuel can lose its octane properties.
How to gas and oil a chainsaw
Fuel quality
If you want the tool to do its job perfectly and last for more than one year, you must provide it with fuel and lubricant of the proper quality.
How to choose your chainsaw oil
The main quality indicator that can be assessed on your own is smoke during combustion. Modern standards for two-stroke oils directly set the ultimate requirements. Therefore, high-quality oil with a normal composition of the fuel mixture should smoke minimally.
Unlike automotive lubricants, where API (American Petroleum Institute) sets the standard, two-stroke oils are mostly based on their own quality grades. The JASO F system developed in Japan is now the most widely used system. The largest proportion of lubricants for two-stroke engines are JASO FC and FD. It was the JASO FC class that in due time introduced the concept of “low-smoke oil”. That is, the oil for lubricating the chainsaw must at least correspond to this class, in order not only to protect the engine from wear, but also to make the work more comfortable.
For heavy loads, it makes sense to use JASO FD lubricant. This class defines more stringent requirements for engine carbon deposits. So the motor will need to clean the piston ring grooves less often.
It is also desirable that the oil has confirmed grades according to the European ISO system. It is based on the JASO system, but further strengthens the requirements for engine cleanliness. Therefore, an oil with an ISO-L-EGD grade (based on JASO FD) will give the engine the best possible cleanliness.
What parts of a chainsaw need oil
The quality of the lubricant directly determines the life of the engine. Despite the small working volume, chainsaw motors are used relatively heavily. The inertial loads on the parts of the crank mechanism are proportional to the square of the revolutions. Since most gasoline tools most often run at “full throttle”, chainsaw oil must retain its properties at high shear rates, avoid dry friction in the crankshaft bearings and piston group.
In addition to the engine, the tire also needs lubrication: the sliding chain inevitably wears it out. Forced oil supply from a separate reservoir saves resource both for the tire and for the chain itself. The oil used for lubrication should, if possible, be as viscous and sticky as possible in order to better adhere to the chain and tire, and not fly apart. In addition, according to the requirements of environmentalists, such oils are usually biodegradable.
Chainsaw engine oil must meet a number of requirements. First of all, this is high thermal stability and antiwear properties: when using a chainsaw, especially in summer, the engine can heat up to high temperatures. Since the exhaust goes directly into the work area, minimal smoke is desirable. Taking these points into account, ROLF Lubricants GmbH creates a special oil for gasoline-powered tools and garden equipment with two-stroke engines.
Oil for chainsaws ROLF Garden 2T
The oil is produced on a synthetic base, which ensures the highest quality. Therefore, ROLF Garden 2T has low smoke, burns completely and with extremely low carbon deposits. At the same time, it reliably protects the engine from wear, since it has a balanced additive package. Long-term operation of the engine on ROLF Garden 2T eliminates the rapid contamination of the muffler with carbon deposits and products of incomplete combustion of oil, which reduce the power of the chainsaw.
The oil was developed specifically for garden equipment, where the main lubrication method is a ready-made fuel mixture. When creating ROLF Garden 2T, this was taken into account, and the product received excellent stability when mixed with gasoline. The ready-made composition during storage excludes stratification, clogging of the carburetor channels. The oil does not reduce the octane number of gasoline, eliminates the risk of detonation under load.
Due to its low freezing point, ROLF Garden 2T is excellent for winter work, which maintains the efficiency of engine lubrication with the fuel mixture. The oil burns well in the engine, reducing the risk of spark plug failure. Thus, the amount of maintenance required for the chainsaw can be kept to a minimum.
Chapter 7: Fueling Your STIHL Chainsaw
The quality of the oil is confirmed by the approvals of the largest chainsaw manufacturers. In addition, ROLF Lubricants GmbH offers a simple and effective anti-counterfeiting system: all the company’s products are packaged only in tin containers. As practice shows, counterfeit in such conditions practically does not occur on the market: packaging in plastic is more profitable for counterfeiters.
Fuel mixture preparation rules
The fuel mixture for chainsaws must be prepared in a clean container to prevent clogging of the carburetor and damage to the engine from mechanical impurities. The measured volume of oil is poured first. this way you can spend less time mixing until smooth. When filling with gasoline, it combines well with oil.
It is most convenient to prepare the mixture in the same quantity. For example, 1 liter of gasoline will require 20 milliliters of oil. The same measure can be used for any other multiples of the volume.
It is advisable to use the prepared composition as quickly as possible. This is due to the inevitable aging of gasoline: a mixture that has been stored for a long time can impair the starting of the chainsaw. The smoke of combustion may also increase; detonation is likely at high loads. At the same time, the risk of mixture stratification, due to which the storage of benzene-oil mixtures was not previously recommended, is not relevant for modern two-stroke oils.
Physicochemical characteristics
| Density at 15 ° С, kg / m 3 | 876.8 |
| Kinematic viscosity at 100 ° С, mm 2 / s | 10.76 |
| Kinematic viscosity at 40 ° С, mm 2 / s | 81.36 |
| Viscosity index | 118 |
| Flash point in an open crucible, ° С | 158 |
| Pour point, ° С | -37 |
| Quality classes | JASO FD / ISO-L-EGD, JASO FB / API TC |
| Tolerances | Husqvarna HVA 242, HVA 346, STIHL |