What to put in your chainsaw?

Chainsaw chain oil. which one to use?

You are a chain saw owner quite recently, and you still don’t know what oil to use to lubricate the chain of a chain saw. lack of this knowledge, can be detrimental to the tool, t. к. the type and quality of the lubricant depends on how long the bar and chain will stay in working order.

After reading this article, you will have filled the gap in your knowledge, because.к. we will consider the use of oils, of different manufacturers and brands, to reduce the friction between the parts of the saw head. And also let’s understand what additional lubricants are used for chainsaw maintenance to maximize the life of its operation.

Chainsaw oil range

The current list includes brand-name special-purpose products that differ from their single-type counterparts by excellent lubricating properties, thermal stability, stable operating characteristics when working in regions with harsh weather and climatic conditions.

When evaluating the merits of a lubricant, the following attributes are considered:

• type of basis, mineral or synthetic;
• lubricating properties;
• Smoke and presence of toxic compounds in exhaust gases
• no carbon buildup;
• detergent and anti-caking properties.

As standard it is a semi-synthetic or synthetic oil for two-stroke chainsaw engines (2T), which forms an oil film that is resistant to external influences and does not leave any residue after combustion. The best oil for a particular chainsaw is a semi-synthetic composition, recommended by the manufacturer as the main option.

Alternative fuel option

For gasoline of household and professional chainsaws it is recommended to use motor gasoline AI-92 without alcohol components and additional additives.

Up to the present moment it is still a moot point whether to put gasoline of the 95th type in a gasoline-driven saw. Theoretically, anti-detonation properties of gasoline AI-95 is higher than those of standard fuel AI-92, but in practice it is better to give preference to the second option.

The problem is that in order to improve the anti-detonation characteristics of gasoline, producers and sellers introduce additives, the quality and efficiency of which raise reasonable doubts among specialists.

Such fuel does not fully meet the required characteristics, it does not have the necessary stability during long-term storage. After 3 to 4 months of storage its working properties worsen by 25-30%.

How to prepare the fuel mixture

It is recommended to mix the mix just before starting work. Storing it for more than 10 days can lead to chemical reactions between the additives in the oil and the gasoline components. Engine performance and exhaust composition will be adversely affected.

If you do not use the tool for an extended period of time, drain the tank contents or run it at idle until the engine stops on its own.

Dilute oil in gasoline in the ratio recommended by the tool manufacturer. This ratio can vary from 1:20 to 1:100 for some models. For STIHL 180 chain saw the ratio is 1:50. That means you need 20 ml of oil for 1 liter of AI-92. Deviation from these figures may affect the performance of the motor:

• reducing the proportion of oil will lead to mechanical wear of the cylinder and piston;
• too much oil causes incomplete combustion.

It is strictly forbidden to use for two-stroke engines the oil intended for other engine types, much less waste.

Alternative fuel option

As an alternative, many are suggested to fill the tank with gasoline AI95, but the question is still debatable. In theory the characteristics of such fuel are better, but in practice it is better not to risk and fill up the gasoline saw with usual Soviet АI92.

The main nuance is that in A95 there are additives individually selected by a fuel producer. In some cases, such additives may adversely affect the work of the two-stroke engine.

Risks of using fuel and oil surrogates

In the technical documentation for chainsaws of any manufacturer you can find a warning that it is forbidden to fuel the engine with biofuel and gas condensate surrogate. This is due to the unstable characteristics of such fuel, which can significantly damage the engine and reduce its resource. If you put such a mixture in your chainsaw, it will void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Besides there is a risk of buying low-quality motor oil, the market of which is estimated at 10-12%. In order not to buy low-quality oil, it is recommended to use only trusted stores, preferably approved by the chainsaw manufacturer.

What octane number should be used. 92, 95 or 98??

Here begins the most interesting part. Is it safe to fill your chain saw with 95 gasoline?? In all chainsaw user manuals the manufacturers specify in bold print: “Do not use gasoline with an octane number higher than 92 to prepare the fuel mixture”. It is understandable, but apparently not for everyone, because.к. chainsaws with a burned-out cylinder are delivered to service centers time after time!

Let’s understand, what kind of gasoline you should put in your chainsaw, and what kind you should not! For all two-stroke chainsaw engines you should use 92 gasoline, that’s what the tool is designed for.

Filling up with 95 gasoline, the engine will start detonating (the piston will kick back), something like a micro shock, which will occur almost at every crankshaft revolution. I think everything is clear about the 98 gasoline, the effect will be even stronger, and it will already be a mini-stroke.

For your reference! Did you know that fuel doesn’t always have to be prepared in a 1:50 ratio?? It turns out the ratio can be 1:40 and even 1:25. What it depends and when to choose the right ratio, you can read in our detailed article-guide about proportions of oil and gasoline for chain saws of all brands.

Why isn’t the oil flowing to the chainsaw chain??

If, in the case of the oil does not go to the chain saw chain at all, it means that either the oil pump actuator itself is out of order, or there is a problem with the air suction.

• Breakdown of the oil pump. If with the oil pump plunger adjustment screw unscrewed, there is still no oil flow to the chainsaw chain, then the actuator, which is a plastic ring with grooves, is broken. the slots can wear out over time and the actuator will fail, after which it must simply be replaced.
• The hose that feeds the pressurized oil to the chain is broken or worn. It must be re-fitted or replaced.
• Grooves in the chain saw chain are clogged and this is the most common problem. You must clean them after which it will start working again.