Hydralic fluid for bar oil?

[avalancher]

I recently stopped by a logging crew that is working in our area, I clean up all the pieces cut off the ends of logs at the knuckle boom before they load the trucks(and get some nice wood too!) and noticed one of the guys pumping hydralic oil from a drum into a one gallon container. Then he sauntered over to his saw on the tailgate and filled up the oil reservoir. I asked him about it, and he said hydralic oil by the drum is far cheaper than bar oil, and works just as good. Anyone use this stuff, or know if its as good as genuine bar oil?
I buy my stuff from Walmart, the cheapest place in town. they have one gallon jugs for 5 bucks and some change, and seems to work just fine. Wondered if hydralic oil is really cheaper by the drum?

 

[peterrum]

Not sure about the hydraulic fluid, I get my chain oil from Wlmart as well. Is hydraulic fluid by the gallon any cheaper than the chain oil. I'm always looking to save a nickle if it works.

 

[TJ-Bill]

I could have sworn I heard my buddy say they used to used old motor oil for bar oil.. I'll have to ask him again..

 

[gtstang462002]

back when I was runnin pouland and crapsman saws I used old motor oil. Havn't gotten the courage to do such in the stihls though... I used to use the motor oil as 2 cycle oil as well... Did that for years for casual cutting....

 

[Booshcat]

Last time I bought new Hydraulic Oil for my splitter, I believe it was around $8 a gallon.

I guess it's cheaper if you are getting it free from the boss.

 

[avalancher]

I wouldnt even consider using old motor oil for bar or 2 cycle oil. Old motor oil for one is full of tiny metal fragments, do you really want to run that through your chainsaw? Or have it run between your saw chain and bar?
Second, motor oil doesnt have any cling properties, so it is going to fling off the bar at the tip. Right before it runs over the tip and back through the wood. No oil or very little oil is still on that bar and chain as it is ran through the wood.
Bar oil isnt expensive enough for me to gamble a bar and chain, especially when you consider what a 30 inch bar and chain will run you.

 

[2FatGuys]

I could have sworn I heard my buddy say they used to used old motor oil for bar oil.. I'll have to ask him again..

Back in my younger / dumber days, we kept used motor oil for bar oil. Now, however, studies have shown the health problems associated with excessive exposure to it. The carbon / oil combination has been proven to be carcinogenic. It is dirty, smelly and does a poor job of lubrication. There is no way I'd stray from a good quality bar oil when expecting it to protect my investment in bars and chains. Let's face it... some of us are running bars that cost more than some of the saws being discussed on this site! For the cost of one good quality 60" bar, you could buy several Poulan or Crapsman saws....

 

[Jkebxjunke]

The price of bars, chains and saws... I think I will stick with bar oil... It sticks better to the bar and chain especially when you have saws with non adjustable oilers and you have to make due with the frugal amount that it puts on the bar. I think I can afford 2-3 quarts of the good stuff a year especially if you spend 3-500 and up for a new saw... are you really gonna take the chance of screwing up a $500+ saw for a few cents? the only thing I use used oil for is manure spreader bed chains and any other equipment that has chains ( like a log elevator which is on my wish list )

 

[Mike Van]

When I was 16 [mid 60's] I used 10 weight oil in the winter, 30 in the summer. It worked fine, back then I didn't even know they made 'bar oil' I don't know why hydraulic oil wouldn't, it sure is slippery on a floor - Never used old oil though [even as cheap as I am] It is full of crap, back then we threw it on the driveway to keep the dust down. Probably go to the 'big house' if you did that today.

 

[Jkebxjunke]

When I was 16 [mid 60's] I used 10 weight oil in the winter, 30 in the summer. It worked fine, back then I didn't even know they made 'bar oil' I don't know why hydraulic oil wouldn't, it sure is slippery on a floor - Never used old oil though [even as cheap as I am] It is full of crap, back then we threw it on the driveway to keep the dust down. Probably go to the 'big house' if you did that today.

SHHHHHH!!! careful the enviro cops will wanna know where the driveway is so it can be declared a superfund site and cost you millions in fines!!

 

[Rookie1]

I would guess if you could get bar oil in a 55 drum it would be cheaper than in a gallon jug. At work I buy oil bulk and in drum,depending on which type. Salesman is always telling me bulk is the way to go cause its alot cheaper. That being said thats the only way I could see Hyd.oil being that much cheaper than bar oil. Also try searching AS and you will find a whole bunch of threads about chain oil.:deadhorse:

 

[husky455rancher]

i used old motor oil in the poolie until it could hardly spin the chain anymore. i never wore out the bar or had problem with anyting related. the saw still runs and oild great it just has ZERO power anymore. prolly just needs a re ring. do i use old motor oil in my huskys....no usually walmart or ts oil. ts oil is pretty damn good imo. really tacky stuff. but if i get another poolie or a crapsman its gettin the drain oil.

 

[Engineeringnerd]

Hydraulic fluid is bad for many types of rubber. If you have rubber seals or parts that come in contact with the Hydr fluid, you may find them a pile of goo in the near future.

 

[Wirenut2266]

Yup, agree what nerd said. Hydro oil very corrisive!

 

[Mike Van]

Every hydraulic system I've ever seen has o-rings & seals somewhere - Wouldn't they all be falling into a pile of goo ? There's equipment out there running for who knows how many years with hydraulic oil in it that still works fine. One 60 year old Farmall H comes to mind - Had hydraulic oil in it since day one. I can't imagine the one or two o-rings in a chainsaw oiler are going to fail because of hydraulic oil.

Hydraulic fluid is bad for many types of rubber. If you have rubber seals or parts that come in contact with the Hydr fluid, you may find them a pile of goo in the near future.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Every hydraulic system I've ever seen has o-rings & seals somewhere - Wouldn't they all be falling into a pile of goo ? There's equipment out there running for who knows how many years with hydraulic oil in it that still works fine. One 60 year old Farmall H comes to mind - Had hydraulic oil in it since day one. I can't imagine the one or two o-rings in a chainsaw oiler are going to fail because of hydraulic oil.

I typed up an answer too, and for the corrosive post that followed but I deleted them before I hit the submit button. I didnt want to get throwed off the site,,,

 

[Mike PA]

Hydraulic oil should not be used as bar oil. For one, it does not work as well for eliminating pitch on the bar. A quality bar oil will help reduce buildup of pitch on the bar and chain, which helps to reduce wear and increases cutting efficiency. I guess if you cut all dead hardwoods, you would likely never notice. Cut live pine, and it may be a different story.

Second, hydraulic fluid contains PAH's which are known to cause cancer. Prolonged and repeated exposure through the use of hydraulic fluid could be hazardous to your health. There are also environmental implications to using hydraulic oil. I'm not saying the risks to the environment are huge, but it is there.

Also, someone made the point about seals, etcetera, and I would like to reitterate that point. Hydraulic oils can be terrific penetrators. Plastics that are not made to withstand this can and do degrade over time when in contact with hydraulic fluids. I do not know how long it takes or how severe the damage, but it is a real concern and I would not want to risk it. Overall, the benefit does not seem to outway the risks, in my opinion.

 

[Wirenut2266]

Every hydraulic system I've ever seen has o-rings & seals somewhere - Wouldn't they all be falling into a pile of goo ? There's equipment out there running for who knows how many years with hydraulic oil in it that still works fine. One 60 year old Farmall H comes to mind - Had hydraulic oil in it since day one. I can't imagine the one or two o-rings in a chainsaw oiler are going to fail because of hydraulic oil.

Mike: I beleive you may be somewhat correct. But I'll assume Stihl puts just plain old Buna o rings in there saws. Hydro systems would chew them to pieces I beleive. Need Voooootron seals or better to handle corrisive agents in hydro oil. :monkey:

 

[Dennis_Peacock]

But if you're going to spend $8 a gallon on hydraulic oil? Why not stop by your local Stihl dealer and pick up a gallon of their own brand of bar/chain oil and smile while using it? At least here, it's cheaper that that $8 a gallon hydraulic oil.

 

[husky455rancher]

i used to work with hydraulics alot back when i did plastic injection molding. volton (spelling) o-rings are the norm for those systems. im sure a buna one would work fine for a while anyway. but i cant comment on the longevity of the buna ones. but if they use the good o-rings and seals in the saws then have at it!