So you’re checking your chainsaw fluids and all you have is a super old container of chainsaw bar and chain oil. Now you’re wondering, does chainsaw chain oil go bad?
Chainsaw chain oil lasts between 4-6 years when it’s stored in an unopened container or an opened container that has been tightly sealed. Bar and chain oil should be stored in a dark, dry, cool location.
Chainsaw chain oil is an important part of your chainsaw running smoothly. In this post, we’ll dig deeper into bar/chain lubricant, and how to tell if it’s expired (i.e. gone bad).
- Does Chainsaw Chain Oil Go Bad?
- How to Tell if Your Chain Oil is Still Good
- What is Chainsaw Chain Oil (Refresher)
Does Chainsaw Chain Oil Go Bad
Like I said at the beginning, chain and bar oil should last 4-6 years in an unopened or opened but tightly sealed container.
Although most manufacturers list the shelf life as 4-6 years, in all reality, the oil probably lasts much longer than that.
Because the oil is made of, well, oil, it should last an extremely long time. However, it is technically possible for the oil to become resinous and to form chunks at the bottom of the container.
If it sits in the same place for an extended period of time, the solid within the oil will begin to settle to the bottom. This will cause a sort of resin on the bottom of the container.
But, I have absolutely no idea how long it takes for oil to get complete separation like this. More than likely, the plastic container that most bar and chain oils come in would probably break or crack far before your oil would become unusable.
Now that we’ve gone over some of the things that can happen to bar oil overtime, let’s talk about how to tell if your chain oil is still usable.
How To Tell If Your Chain Oil is Still Good
If you haven’t used your chain oil in a long time and are uncertain if it’s still good, here’s a couple ways to tell if you can still use it.
First off, chain oil should be fairly clear or have a slight yellow tinge.
Get yourself a container and pour your chain oil into it. While you’re pouring, check to see if there are any dark streaks or chunks in your oil. If there are this can be a sign that your oil has started to separate or ‘resinify’ (I know that’s not a word but you know what I mean).
Another way to tell, is if you pour all your oil into another container and check the bottom of the original container. If there’s any silt looking stuff in the bottom then your oil has probably started to separate.
At the end of the day, if your chain oil is old and you aren’t sure if you should use it, it’s still okay just to buy new oil. That way you’ll know it’s good to go and you’ll know how much longer it should last.
What is Chainsaw Chain Oil (Refresher)
If you’re evaluating your chain oil supply, then it may also be helpful to have a refresher on what it actually is, and how it works.
There are two different types of oil that chainsaws use. Chain oil and engine oil. Let’s go over what these are and what they’re used for.
Chain and Bar Oil
Chain and bar oil is a lubricant used to make your chain run smoothly across your chainsaw bar.
It also helps keep your bar clear of any debris such as sawdust, sap, and anything else that might get stuck in your chain.
Without chain and bar oil, your chain can overheat and even look burnt. This can cause your chain to not cut as effeciently and could even cause damage to your engine.
If your bar and chain aren’t working but you’re not sure why or how to fix it, check out our other article to troubleshoot.
Bar and chain oil is added to a separate tank on your chainsaw usually towards the front of the saw.
While your saw is running, it bubbles out of a section on your engine that sits directly behind your chainsaw bar. The chain oil gets into the oil hole on your chainsaw bar, here’s a picture to see what I’m talking about.
When the chain oil leaks through this hole, it goes into the bar groove. This allows the drive links of the chain to pick up the oil as it spins around the bar, evenly coating the chain and bar at the same time.
This is a pretty brief overview of chain and bar oil, if you’re curious to learn more about it, check out this article.
Engine Oil
The other type of oil that a chainsaw uses is engine oil.
Just like every other engine, including your car, chainsaw engine oil helps lubricate and cool the engine of your chainsaw.
Unlike other engines, however, chainsaw engine oil is mixed directly with the fuel you put into your chainsaw.
So, when you’re buying fuel for your chainsaw, you may often see ‘pre-mixed’ fuels. This just means that the fuel already has the engine oil mixed in at the correct ratio.
You can also easily mix your own fuel and oil which is usually cheaper than buying it pre-mixed.
Wrap-Up
As we bring this post to a close, theres a couple things to remember.
Chainsaw chain oil has a shelf life of 4-6 years according to manufacturers, but it will typically last much longer than this in reality.
If you’re worried about it, pour out a stream of oil into another container, if it has no streaks or chunks your oil is good to go.
And, if you’re still not sure, you can always buy new oil just to be safe.
That’s all folks, now go do something awesome!
Related Questions
Can I use motor oil in a chainsaw?
You should not use motor oil in your chainsaw as bar and chain oil for three reasons. It’s toxic and will get on you, your clothes, and equipment, it’s too runny to work effectively, and it’s more expensive than bar and chain oil. If you want to know more, check out this article dedicated to bar and chain oil.
How often should I oil my chainsaw chain?
You don’t physically oil your chainsaw chain yourself. the chain picks up the chain oil and self lubricates as it runs. However, you should check your chain oil level before you use your saw and everytime you refill your chainsaw with gas.
