One of the most common points of confusion for new chainsaw users, is the difference between engine oil, and bar and chain oil.
Bar and chain oil is something all chainsaws need, whether it’s gas, electric, or battery. Without it, chainsaws are harder to use, and can easily overheat and get damaged.
So what is bar and chain oil?
Bar and chain oil is a lubricant used to reduce friction caused by the metal-on-metal contact between a chainsaw’s bar and chain. Bar and chain oil can be made of a petroleum or vegetable base, and is applied by filling a dedicated oiler tank.
Okay, that’s what it is, but if you’re like most people you’re going to have some follow-up questions. There are a lot of misconceptions about bar and chain oil, and to be frank, some people have gone very wrong.
So, we’re going to use the rest of this post to clarify the details, and answer some common bar and chain oil FAQs. Let’s get to it!
What is Bar and Chain Oil Made Of?
There are 2 primary materials used to make bar and chain oil.
Petroleum
Petroleum-based bar and chain oil has been used for ages, and it’s probably still the most common lubricant today.
You can find this type of oil in any chainsaw shop, and in most big box hardware stores (e.g. Home Depot, Lowes, etc.). It is typically labeled specifically as “bar and chain oil”.
A lot of the big chainsaw brands also make bar and chain oil. For example, you can buy it from Oregon, Stihl, Husqvarna, etc.
The biggest downside of using a petroleum bar and chain oil, is the environmental pollution.
By design, a chainsaw’s oiler releases lubricant onto the bar, where it is gradually carried off by the chain and flung into the environment in tiny droplets. Over time, this can send quite a bit of oil into the surrounding trees, dirt, plants, etc.
According to the United States Forest Service, thousands of gallons of bar oil are released onto forest land every year. They recommend using vegetable based bar oil whenever possible, as a result.
Vegetable Oil
Effective bar and chain lubricants are also made using vegetable oil as a base.
This is less common, but it is much more environmentally friendly compared to petroleum oil. It can be cheaper as well (especially if you’re using waste vegetable oil).
I’ve actually heard of people using straight vegetable or canola oil in their chainsaws. I’ve never done it myself, and I’m not sure the long-term impact it would have on the equipment, but that’s an option to consider.
If you’re not ready to take that leap, you can also find vegetable based lubricants developed specifically for chainsaw bar and chain use. For example, this one from Renewable Lubricants.
Why You Should NOT Use Motor Oil
Okay, I felt like I had to address this one. There’s folks out there, that say regular old engine oil works great as a bar and chain oil.
Don’t listen to them!
Frankly, this is a bad idea. I’m not sure where this originally started, but here’s why you should NOT use motor oil as your chainsaw bar oil:
- It’s toxic – most people know that motor oil is toxic, and if you use it as a bar and chain oil it’s going to get on you, your clothes, and into the environment.
- It’s too runny – bar oil needs to be tackier than engine oil, which just means it is more viscous, or “sticky”. Otherwise, the stuff is just going to run out and fly off everywhere.
- It’s more expensive – even if you don’t pay more at the cash register, you’ll run through engine oil much faster, because it’s runnier and gets used faster as a result.
If you’ve been using engine oil for your chainsaw, please stop. My heart cringes for your hands, and your equipment.
Okay, I’ll get off my soap box now.
Let’s take a look at the type of oil you should be using for your bar and chain.
Bar and Chain Oil Weight (Season Ratings)
The weight of bar and chain oil measures it’s tackiness/viscosity, which determines how sticky and thick the oil is.
For effective lubrication, a good bar and chain oil will “cling” to the metal where it’s applied. Too little weight and the oil will practically flow straight off the bar. Too much weight, and things could get clogged.
Bar and chain oil is also affected by environmental conditions, like the temperature, which is why the weight ratings are based on seasons.
There are 3 weight ratings for bar and chain oil, which are summarized in the table below:
| Oil Rating | Typical Weight Range |
|---|---|
| Summer | 40-50 weight |
| All Season | 30-40 weight |
| Winter | 20 weight or less |
You’ll want to use a summer or all season bar oil, unless you’re working in below freezing temperatures.
For homeowners and occasional chainsaw users, a good all-season bar and chain oil will probably be your best bet. Just buying one all-season oil can also help you keep things simple and reduce clutter.
How To Use Bar and Chain Oil
Using bar oil is super simple.
You don’t need to rub it on the bar yourself.
Instead, you simply fill up the lubricant tank, and let the machine pull in the oil it needs.
Check out this video from Stihl, which shows the basic steps for adding bar and chain oil in about one minute:
You may not have the same fancy caps they have for their oil jug, but that’s fine. The video gives a clear demonstration of where to add your chain lubricant.
After you do this, you should be all set.
If you’re having issues with the oil not coming through, then the oil hole on your bar is probably clogged. You can learn how to clean out the oil hole in this article and why the chainsaw oiler isn’t working in this article.
Can Bar and Chain Oil Go Bad?
I was curious about this myself, so I did a little research.
My conclusion is that it’s theoretically possible for bar and chain oil to become resinous or form chunks in the bottom of the container.
However, in practice, I don’t think this is going to happen to either of us.
And at the end of the day, you don’t have the same risks with old bar and chain oil, that you might have with something that you’re burning in an engine.
With bar and chain oil, it really just comes down to viscosity. You want your bar and chain oil to be smooth, and tacky. Remember, it’s sole purpose is to lubricate the chain, and then to fly off after a few seconds.
So, if you’re not sure your bar and chain oil is okay, simply pour some in a cup/can and have a look. If there’s no visible chunks, and it looks like a lubricant, then you’re probably good to go.
For more information about if bar and chain oil can go bad, check out our other post
Wrap-up
Alright, that’s it!
That’s what bar and chain oil is, and how you can use it.
Are we missing anything? If you’re looking for more information that we’ve missed, please let us know. We’d love to answer your questions.
Also, having read this article, you might be interested in our articles answering some other common chainsaw FAQs:
- Why is my chainsaw smoking?
- My chainsaw is not cutting straight, what’s wrong?
- How tight should a chainsaw chain be?
If you found something helpful in this article, please share it with with others who might find it helpful/interesting.
That’s all from me.
Now go do something awesome!
