What oil to use to lubricate the chainsaw

What kind of oil to fill in the electric saw to lubricate the chain?

When choosing oil for chain saws, owners of garden equipment have 2 options: a special proprietary product or ordinary machine lubricant used to maintain the operation of moving parts of equipment. It should be noted that a special lubricant is better and more efficient, since in its production, brands take into account the peculiarities of the operation of the drive mechanisms of electric saws, as well as the load on them during operation.

To improve its performance, brand-name electric chain saw oil always contains important additives. It is they who make high-quality branded lubricants better and more expensive than machine lubricants.

Most gardening machine operators and power saw manufacturers advise the use of formulations for chain lubrication, the packaging of which is marked with the letter “N”.

Their main benefits include:

• high degree of biodegradability;
• special additives responsible for protecting rubbing parts from wear and heat;
• increased adhesion.

All these qualities extend the life of the drive and the cutting attachment of the tool, which significantly reduces the frequency of bar and chain replacement.

TOP 5 Saw Chain Oils

The market today is overflowing with lubricants that their manufacturers claim are capable of ensuring trouble-free operation of the cutting attachment and its drive mechanism. But not every composition shows a truly high performance and efficiency. We are talking about inexpensive fluids with a minimum of m of necessary additives, as well as non-original oils that are marketed under the name of well-known brands, that is, counterfeits.

In order not to be mistaken when choosing an oil, it is best to give preference to the following chain compounds:

• 1. Forest Plus from STIHL. The main advantages of this formulation include good adhesion as well as high workability up to 15C. Observing the recommendations specified by the German manufacturer, the service life of the composition will reach 3 years;
• 2. Bio Plus from STIHL. For the production of these lubricants, a natural plant base is used. This allows the oil to decompose in the soil without damaging the soil. German manufacturer’s grease can be used at temperatures up to 15⁰C;
• 3. Synth Plus from STIHL. This oil successfully withstands increased loads and work at temperatures down to. 25⁰C. For the production of the composition, a balanced synthetic base is used;
• 4. Husqvarna Vegoil. The use of this material from a well-known Swedish manufacturer allows you to save up to 40% oil without reducing the protection of the drive and the cutting elements of the electric saw. The oil prevents the formation of resinous deposits and rust on the surface of the tool parts;
• 5. Champion BAR CHAIN ​​OIL. Inexpensive chain oil designed for intensive use in summer and winter. The liquid is released with high adhesion and decent anti-corrosion properties.

Regular use of any of these oils will ensure trouble-free operation of the saw chain and bar, regardless of the stress on the cutting attachment.

Electric Chainsaw Oils

As is the case with gasoline saws, electric powered garden chain tools need to be lubricated. Oil in this type of equipment is necessary only to ensure the operation of the cutting attachment. Without the right amount of high-quality lubricant, the tire and chain will start to wedge and fail quite quickly. To prevent this, the owner of the tool must constantly monitor the level of the liquid, as well as rinse the parts responsible for the drive of the headset in time.

Electric saw chain lubrication functions

The mechanisms for transmitting force from the motor to the sawing organs of the power tool consist of several elements. During operation, they give in to increased and continuous friction. To reduce the stress on these parts, the owner of the chain tool must ensure that a suitable hydraulic fluid is available.

Saw chain oil speeds up the operation of the installed cutting attachment. In addition, the lubricant protects the metal parts of the tool from dust and moisture on their surface, which lead to corrosion, as well as destruction of the drive mechanism.

Another important function of the fluid is to protect the chain, bus, and power saw drive bodies from the formation of resinous deposits and carbon deposits. A high-quality composition maintains the integrity of the metal guide, preventing it from glowing, as well as further deterioration. As a result, the cutting headset of the power tool will cut efficiently and smoothly for several seasons in a row.

Electric saw chain lubrication system. design and principle of operation

In most cases, factory-installed power saw fittings include:

• reservoir for periodic introduction of liquid;
• a mesh filter that cleans the liquid from foreign solid fractions;
• a short hose made of technical rubber through which the composition flows from the tank to the moving parts of the tool;
• oil pump. under its action, the liquid is pumped from the reservoir to the rubbing elements of the tool drive;
• gear. through it, the force from the electric motor is transmitted to the saw oil pump.

The pump plays a key role in this unit. As soon as the engine speed rises, the built-in gear receives enough force to drive the oil pump. When operating, the pump increases the pressure inside the lubrication system. As a result, the air pushes the liquid out of the tank towards the tire. Getting into the place of contact between the saw housing and the guide, the liquid flows into the groove, which is needed to lubricate the bar. The end link of the lubrication system becomes a chain, in the links of which grooves or holes are also provided. Through them, the chain oil for the electric saw is distributed along the entire length of the cutting body.

Oil does not flow to the saw chain. reasons and self-repair

Most often, the “culprit” of the lack of lubricant supply is the electric saw pump. During operation, he, like all other elements of the system, lends itself to increased loads. In addition, the pump gradually becomes clogged with debris, which passes through the strainer along with the oil. The accumulation of fine debris interferes with the normal operation of the pump and, over time, leads to serious damage to the tool.

At the same time, it is far from always a problem in which the chain on the electric saw is not lubricated. connected to the pump itself. The gear wheel, which is responsible for transferring power from the motor to the oil pump, can also fail. It can be displaced during the impact of the electric saw or simply become unusable due to wear. This is easy to spot when looking at the star. If during self-diagnosis it was proved that the star is out of order, then it needs to be replaced.

Another reason due to which oil is not supplied to the chain of the electric saw is the depressurization of the system. Pressure must be built up to circulate fluid inside the assembly. If it is not there, then this indicates the formation of holes or cracks that may appear in the walls of the oil hose, as well as in the place where it is connected to the pump or to the guide of the electric saw. In any of these cases, you need to carefully check the oil supply system and restore its previous tightness.

Mineral and organic chain lubricants

Chain oil for an electric saw of a budget price level has less perfect properties. Consequently, the scope of its application includes short and not intensive sawing work performed in the range of optimal loads.

The lubricating properties of mineral and organic chain oils are almost identical. The essential advantage of organic lubricants is neutrality and environmental friendliness. For Chinese-made saws, chain lubrication oil with proprietary additives is recommended, which in many characteristics is not inferior to European counterparts.

Branded chain oils

• STIHL ForestPlus mineral oil can be poured into the saw system at ambient temperatures up to 15 ° C, maximum shelf life is up to 3 years.
• A characteristic feature of BioPlus organic oil is the rapid decomposition of the vegetable base when it gets into the ground. Adhesion and temperature characteristics identical to ForestPlus.
• SynthPlus, a low temperature mineral oil, maintains performance at ambient temperatures up to 25 ° C.

The Husqvarna range of chain oils is represented by the brands Vegoil and Husqvarna Bio Advanced. According to experts, chain lubricants of the brands Oleo-Mac, Makita and Champion with similar performance characteristics are produced at a high quality level.

The practice of using proprietary formulations for lubrication and effective cooling of professional-grade saw equipment shows that their cost is fully compensated for by the full and low-cost development of the resource of the tire, saw chain and drive sprocket.

Value for money alternatives

The price of a chain oil of an average quality range is several times less than the cost of an engine oil, and automated lubrication systems allow the lubricant to be consumed in an economical mode (up to 50%).

On the other hand, the use of alternative materials can significantly reduce the life of the bar, saw chain and drive sprocket. In different versions, this indicator can vary from 5 to 15%.

Disadvantages of lubricant substitutes

A household or professional electric chain saw, when filling the lubrication system with a cheap surrogate, may require replacing the standard headset long before its designated resource is exhausted. According to proven data, the use of substandard oil reduces the service life of the saw mechanism by an average of 35-40%.

• Used automobile oil contains microparticles of metal, combustion products and acid-base compounds, which negatively affect the wear and corrosion resistance of the metal of the sawing mechanism.
• Also, it is not recommended to pour automobile and tractor engine oils into an electric saw with a chain set. Such a refueling can initiate a decrease in performance and even a breakdown of the oil pump drive of the lubrication system.

Only in the absence of other options, for a one-time operation, you can fill the system with diluted to standard density. autol or dismeasto.

Caution. fake!

dangerous is the use of cheap oil-chain counterfeit, which accounts for 7 to 12% of total sales. Counterfeits, with varying degrees of success, copy the appearance and labeling of branded products from leading manufacturers, therefore, when choosing an oil yourself, you should be especially careful.

Criterias of choice

Engine oils and their chain counterparts are not interchangeable. The compound for chain lubrication has a number of characteristic differences, in particular, an increased level of adhesion to metal.

• Saw sets of all types of hand saws have the same design, therefore the chain oil for the electric saw is identical to the composition that is used in sawing mechanisms of gas-powered models.
• When choosing a chain lubricant for a specific model, it is recommended to give preference to the grades and grades indicated in the operating instructions. As a rule, these are proprietary developments, created taking into account many factors.

In the absence of a recommended consumable, it is better to use a well-known brand of oil. Branded products of these manufacturers are characterized by universal lubricating properties, stable operating parameters in a wide range of temperature effects.

Saw chain oil: choose and use correctly

The service life of the electric saw headset largely depends on the quality and correct dosage of the special lubricant supplied to the rubbing components. Saw chain oil is a mineral or organic based compound with special functional properties.

The tandem of the bar and the saw chain is operated under conditions of high static and variable loads, therefore, in parallel with the lubrication of rubbing parts, their full cooling is realized.

Oil system health monitoring

Lack or absence of lubrication in the tandem “bar-saw chain” is manifested by additional load on the electric motor and the characteristic smell of burnt wood. In this case, work should be stopped to determine the cause of the failure and eliminate the malfunction.

To check the standard or automatic lubrication system, it is enough to hold the saw headset with the engine running over a sheet of paper for a short time. The size and density of the oil spot can be used to judge the real performance of the oil pump and the health of the system as a whole.

Electric saw oil. a guarantee of its correct operation

It is difficult to disagree with the fact that oil for chain saws is hardly the most important consumable component for this category of power tools. After all, a high-quality lubricating product not only simplifies the operation process, facilitating the contact of the cutting blade with materials of different hardness and density, but also significantly increases its production resource by at least several years. Therefore, the question of which oil to pour into the electric saw to lubricate the chain is one of the central ones that each user must decide for himself, deciding to acquire a household assistant in the form of an electric hawk. We will talk about all the features of this seemingly difficult process further.

Tips for choosing oil

The fact that oil should be poured into an electric saw is understandable. But another moment, which one, can also be taken by surprise. The whole variety of existing types of grease can be divided into several types:

special, adapted specifically for electric saws. in its composition it contains adhesive additives, which serve for better adhesion of the liquid with the blade itself and do not allow it to drain instantly.

new environmentally friendly formulations made only from safe vegetable raw materials.

motor and transmission oils. can also be used as a lubricant for certain models, which is regulated by the instructions for them. However, mineral oil should be avoided. In addition to the lubricating effect, engine oil can also be used to remove residues of “biological” lubricant, which not only clogs the oil system, but can also provoke serious breakdowns.

Incredibly, many craftsmen have learned to use waste engine oil and even regular table sunflower oil for chain lubrication. This way out of the situation, although it is economical, since it allows you to reuse the resource, but it carries with it many threats to the cutting working mechanisms. So, used car oil can clog the oil filter and pump, which is generally threatened by the prospect of going to a landfill. This increases the load on the motor, often leading to overheating and damage. Vegetable oil is generally a risky option that categorically cannot be used for pouring into an oil tank. As a last resort, when acceptable, use to lubricate the outside of the chain. Of the options offered, the special oil is the best. Experienced experts advise purchasing grease from the same company as the saw itself, but the price of such a product can be overstated by several orders of magnitude compared to universal chain grease, which is a serious competitor to expensive and not always available branded counterparts.

Features of the lubrication process

Oil for lubricating the chain of an electric saw is necessary so that the cutting blade performs the tasks assigned to it as quickly and efficiently as possible. And the fact that at a certain stage of operation it is necessary to make great efforts to make the cut is one of the main indicators of the need to either check the oil level (if possible), or manually lubricate the chain. Modern electric saws most often have a built-in system for auto-pumping oil into the chain and bar area, therefore the second option with manual chain lubrication is used only for outdated primitive designs.

Most often, the oil for the electric chain saw comes from a special tank, where it needs to be filled periodically. Already directly from it with the help of an oil pump. a separate component of the oil supply, by converting the rotational movement of the gear to a translational rod, the chain receives oil in the volume necessary for normal functioning. It is also very easy to monitor its level thanks to the transparent window of the container filled with oil for a convenient indication of its remainder.

Unlike new modifications of electric saws, older ones do not have such a constructive possibility. But this defect can be eliminated. To do this, take a container (you can use an ordinary household bucket) and fill it with oil, into which the chain mechanism is simply immersed before operation. Such actions need to be done often, since part of the oil will go not only to lubricate the canvas, but also simply go to waste with sawdust.

Oil supply system. nuances of care and maintenance

The oil injection part of the electric saw design, like the one-piece unit, needs to comply with all the requirements prescribed by each manufacturer individually for a specific series and its modification.

Vegetable oil as chainsaw bar oil

Often, during the use of an electric hacker, you can encounter a problem when oil does not flow to the chain of an electric saw, which can significantly affect the state of working elements rubbing against each other. This may be due to several reasons, such as:

Use Vegetable Oil to Replace Chainsaw Bar Oil

• failure of the oil pump and its gear;
• clogged passages in the oil filter through which grease flows;
• a hole in the tire is clogged;
• depressurization of the oil tank itself.

How to Lubricate Chainsaw Chains

As you can see, there can be a lot of versions due to which oil is not supplied to the electric saw chain, which you can figure out on your own, but it is much better to resort to the help of experienced specialists.