Bar And Chain Oil On Sale At Menards

[Steve NW WI]

I bought 2 gallons. IIRC it's on sale till the 1st. First impressions, at room temperature, are pretty good. It's not super tacky, but I think that's overrated by some. If tacky were the most important thing, we'd be using honey. It is good and, well, oily. Smells like oil, I've had much worse smelling stuff.

I'll let you know how it pours in the cold later this weekend, it's gonna get close to 0 up here Saturday night, and I'm leaving it out till then. I can't stand bar oil that pours like pancake batter in the cold.

 

[Oliver1655]

Chain Pro was the old name Menards used for their in house bar & chain oil. As mentions it is now FVP. I use both, over 6 gallon of each this year & haven't had any problems. I rely on the b/c oil to lubricate my sprocket tips & haven't lost a one. My "big" saw is an Stihl 08-S (56cc) with a 25" Total Super Bar. I also have a Husqvarna 338XPT California (45cc) with a muffler mod tach'n close to 14,500 running a 14" bar. But then again, cutting wood is just a hobby for me.

 

[wfsdno]

Just bought 2 gallons of the FVP oil. Turned out our Menards had both brands (ChainPro and FVP) on sale. I picked up one of each, opened the top and stuck my knife blade in. The ChainPro, when I pulled the knife out had a thin coat of oil but that was all. Cleaned the blade and did the FVP and blade came out with thick oil clinging to the blade. Hung on the blade for 1o seconds before I wiped it off.

Just my experience today.

 

[chucker]

b4 the menards fvp brand I had used pro chain from fleet farm for about 5 years. 2 years ago I had bought a case of the pro chain and found gritty sludge in the bottom of the gallon containers!?? checking menards and using the fvp brand has been a win/win situation to this day! I have no complaints summer or winter.

 

[Butch(OH)]

I It's not super tacky, but I think that's overrated by some. If tacky were the most important thing, we'd be using honey. It is good and, well, oily. Smells like oil, I've had much worse smelling stuff.

.

X2 Steve, glad to read what I have experienced for 40 years myself.
I have purchased very little "bar oil" in my life and I dont run used motor oil either. What I use is new oils purchased at auction for cheap, half cans or gear oil, engine oils etc all dumped into a 55 gallon drun for "blending" . This started back when I was running 610 and 650 Macs and the recommended "bar oil" WAS 30wt motor oil. Those Macs wouldn't pump enough glue oil to lube anything. I used to run aw32 hydraulic oil when it was cold out because experience taught me it is more important to have oil flow than thick oil that doesnt flow, BUT! neither do I cut wood when it is 96 degrees! I might have a different opinion if I did?

Keep the chains sharp so you dont have to stand on the saw to make it cut and make sure you have oil flowing,, and forget what it says in the oil can label. Use what is cheap.

 

[AIM]

By-the-way... I've paid more than $5.oo for a gallon of bar oil only once (that I remember anyway) when I wasn't paying attention. A couple (maybe 3) years ago I spotted a jug of "winter" Husqvarna brand (with a red "Sale" tag above it) and tossed it in the cart with some other things at a "big-box" store; I felt corn-holed when I got home and looked at the receipt... friggin' $7.oo!! Really?? On Sale?? If'n the store wasn't 50-miles away I would have taken it back!!

Normally the husky stuff is like $11.99 a gallon. Nope,,,, aint worth it.

I never seem to hit the sales on oil. I average about $7 a gallon.

 

[Oliver1655]

I have been blessed with having family who go within a mile of Menards on a weekly basis. I haven't spent for than $5 a gallon for bar oil since they opened up.

I cut year round & again never have had a problem. Temperatures ranging from 0 to 105 degrees.

 

[Steve NW WI]

X2 Steve, glad to read what I have experienced for 40 years myself.
(SNIP)
Those Macs wouldn't pump enough glue oil to lube anything. I used to run aw32 hydraulic oil when it was cold out because experience taught me it is more important to have oil flow than thick oil that doesnt flow, BUT! neither do I cut wood when it is 96 degrees! I might have a different opinion if I did?

(SNIP)

A lot of newer saws run plastic oil pump gears. I wouldn't want to have the thick stuff in them when I go cutting. Nine days of deer hunting starts tomorrow, then prime wood cutting season begins for me. I'll cut down to about 0, and don't much care for cutting any time it's above 50. If I'm cutting when it's 96, you can be certain it's because a tree is down between me and the nearest body of water!

 

[c5rulz]

A lot of newer saws run plastic oil pump gears. I wouldn't want to have the thick stuff in them when I go cutting. Nine days of deer hunting starts tomorrow, then prime wood cutting season begins for me. I'll cut down to about 0, and don't much care for cutting any time it's above 50. If I'm cutting when it's 96, you can be certain it's because a tree is down between me and the nearest body of water!

My dealer said the same thing. When it's really cold, you should use winter weight oil and I have great respect for his advice.

 

[spike60]

If I found a place selling GOOD quality bar oil for $5, I'd have them send me a trailer load. As you guys are pointing out, some of these off brands are absolute junk, but others are just as good as the name brand stuff. When running across a brand you haven't used before, I'd suggest that you buy a couple gallons to see what it is before loading up. If it's good stuff, then head back to the store and empty the shelf! And as a few have pointed out, it's best to run winter weight oil in the cold weather.

Here's a few prices that you guys can have some fun with. I only sell the Husky oil. Sell it at $10 a gallon. Don't make a lot, but bar oil is kind of like milk. Got to have it reasonable so guys will come in, and they always buy other stuff while they are here. Prices are my cost/list. So, when you see some prices at local dealers, don't assume that the dealer is the crook.

Husky: 7.45/13.75 (I sell @ $10)

Others available to me:

RedMax/Jonsered: 9.25/14.50
SuperLube: 8.48/12.71
Dolmar: 9.02/13.54
Oregon: (I'm not making this up) 15.82/28.76 What do you suppose is in that stuff?

I'm not a Stihl dealer, but I think they are $11-$12 dealer cost.

 

[c5rulz]

If I found a place selling GOOD quality bar oil for $5, I'd have them send me a trailer load. As you guys are pointing out, some of these off brands are absolute junk, but others are just as good as the name brand stuff. When running across a brand you haven't used before, I'd suggest that you buy a couple gallons to see what it is before loading up. If it's good stuff, then head back to the store and empty the shelf! And as a few have pointed out, it's best to run winter weight oil in the cold weather.

Here's a few prices that you guys can have some fun with. I only sell the Husky oil. Sell it at $10 a gallon. Don't make a lot, but bar oil is kind of like milk. Got to have it reasonable so guys will come in, and they always buy other stuff while they are here. Prices are my cost/list. So, when you see some prices at local dealers, don't assume that the dealer is the crook.

Husky: 7.45/13.75 (I sell @ $10)

Others available to me:

RedMax/Jonsered: 9.25/14.50
SuperLube: 8.48/12.71
Dolmar: 9.02/13.54
Oregon: (I'm not making this up) 15.82/28.76 What do you suppose is in that stuff?

I'm not a Stihl dealer, but I think they are $11-$12 dealer cost.

Great info Spike.

Wow, dealers really get squeezed by the big box stores. So the $7.99 @ Farm and Fleet doesn't leave much margin.

 

[rancher2]

Pickup 10 gallon today at menards on the way home. I have used the chain pro in the past no problems they had both so I pickup five of each. So we will see how the new brand is. It is nice to hit a good sale.

 

[chucker]

stopped and got 12 gallons of the fvp brand this morning along with 6 quarts of quaker state 2 cycle oil mix ... nice to see change back from a franklin yet! hope the bar oil stays on sale till next Friday! been missing my old cant hook an seen fleet farm had them on sale for a new tool to tote around in the truck to probably lose b4 I use??/ lol

 

[Steve NW WI]

stopped and got 12 gallons of the fvp brand this morning along with 6 quarts of quaker state 2 cycle oil mix ... nice to see change back from a franklin yet! hope the bar oil stays on sale till next Friday! been missing my old cant hook an seen fleet farm had them on sale for a new tool to tote around in the truck to probably lose b4 I use??/ lol

If its the same hook I got, its gonna be grinder time. Mine had a cone shaped tip, wouldn't bite well at all. I got lucky and found an old hook in the shed that actually works. Guess it was worth the price of the handle anyhow.

 

[chucker]

If its the same hook I got, its gonna be grinder time. Mine had a cone shaped tip, wouldn't bite well at all. I got lucky and found an old hook in the shed that actually works. Guess it was worth the price of the handle anyhow.

yupp! noticed the wide flat beveled edge on the hook! going to run it over the grinder to round it out to a point! this should make it bite deep for a better hold ?

 

[lmbrman]

I've had much worse smelling stuff.

you are what you eat opcorn:

 

[Fuzly]

I went and bought some this morning just because you guys did.

 

[Joesell]

I switched to the Menards stuff from Stihl last year. I couldn't be happier. I guess even orange plastic costs more to make!

 

[Fuzly]

Was in a different town on other business, so got a bottle at that Menard's too hahaha

 

[chucker]

Was in a different town on other business, so got a bottle at that Menard's too hahaha

Friday is black jug day I guess? another dozen or so, what ever a big dollar bill will buy....