Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[nomad_archer]

They don't all actually leak... but it takes a long time for whatever bar oil is all over the sprocket, etc. to finally drip off. If they're weeping, loosen the oil and fuel caps, then tighten them back down. Some saws end up pressurizing the tank, or creating a syphon effect that makes them weep oil or fuel. This stops it on my Stihl saws.

Mine dont actually leak. I typically clean everything up and usually fire up the saw after sharpening to coat everything with oil. I especially do that after I put a chain on the grinder because I clean the chains really good and remove all of the oil. So I know my "leak" is from residual that is under the clutch cover etc. I know I could avoid it but heck everyone has there own ritual.

 

[Ambull01]

There were also the dislike wars. Where members would dislike everything certain people posted.

Grown men having a "dislike" war on a firewood forum. That there is pretty damn funny.

I stick with brand name two cycle oil. All I have used is the silver stihl ultra synthetic. I would switch to another brand with a recommendation off of AS. But it seems all oil threads devolve into a pissing match about mix ratios and oil brands with pieces and parts of various articles from the internet posted to support each person's view. Heck reading some of these threads it seems like I should be running a home made mix of stihl, husky, amsoil, and echo two cycle oils all mixed together at 16:1. Ok maybe I was stretching that a bit.

All I use is the Stihl silver/gray bottles too. They're probably all similar but I read an article on a chainsaw repair site that said the Stihl Ultra had the cleanest pistons. 40:1 for me. I've used new cooking oil for the B&C but it's too thin. I've found the TS oil to be too thick so I mix it with the cooking oil. Seems to work just fine. Still using my stock bar and it looks like it will last until all my kids are out of house.

 

[nomad_archer]

The bar oil works best when it starts on the bar. I have never had a need to cut bar oil with anything. TSC is a little thinner than some of the other oils I have used.

Why do you go 40:1? I use 50:1 because that is what the equipment is spec'ed to run at from the manufacturer

 

[Ambull01]

The bar oil works best when it starts on the bar. I have never had a need to cut bar oil with anything. TSC is a little thinner than some of the other oils I have used.

Why do you go 40:1? I use 50:1 because that is what the equipment is spec'ed to run at from the manufacturer

Well I really don't want to start an oil discussion here because it kind of bores me to be honest lol. The TSC oil just doesn't work well in my Makita. The Ace Hardware brand B&C oil works the best so far. I don't go through a ton of oil so $10 a gallon is no big deal.

I just go about 42:1. Definitely not needed but gives me a bit more peace of mind. I'm not a pro at adjusting the carb so a bit more lubricant helps me sleep at night. This site has some great info:
http://www.madsens1.com/saw_fuelmix.htm

They recommend 50:1 but also state "It is also important to realize how little oil there is in a 50 :1 mixture. Only 1/50 of the mix in a saw's fuel tank is lubricant. With this little oil in the mix, it needs to be good stuff!" So my ratio of 42:1 is just slightly more and again, it helps my overthinking personality.

 

[nomad_archer]

it helps my overthinking personality.

Nothing wrong with questioning things. But at least you can admit the root cause .

 

[Ambull01]

Nothing wrong with questioning things. But at least you can admit the root cause .

Well I question everything because, in my 30+ years of existence, I've found many things to be absolute BS. I just hope my patience will prevail when my kids develop the same trait.

 

[MustangMike]

I go 40:1 because most of my saws are ported, and just want to be a little safe. The 50:1 recommendation is influenced by the EPA, who also bring you restricted mufflers, etc.

 

[Marshy]

3 oz of oil per gal is the easiest way to mix gas I've learned. That's my ratio and I'm sticking to it. I'll still probably use the same even after my 2159 if ported but, I'll stay with the XP oil after porting.

 

[Ambull01]

3 oz of oil per gal is the easiest way to mix gas I've learned. That's my ratio and I'm sticking to it. I'll still probably use the same even after my 2159 if ported but, I'll stay with the XP oil after porting.

Yep, that's what I do. I think it was nmurph who told me about it. I just fill one of the Stihl 2.6 oz bottles to the brim and dump it in a gas tank. That makes it about 3 0z for a 42.67:1 ratio.

 

[nomad_archer]

I just buy the 6 packs and dump a container into the gas jug and add 1 gal of gas. No measuring or spilling required. I like to keep it easy.

 

[svk]

I always subconsciously revert back to 32:1 because that's what all of my older OPE ran on. I will tell you the AT on my 550 takes a little time to get used to more oil like that.

I think 40 (or 42) to 1 is probably perfect. I was told to run no less than that in larger and/or ported saws so it goes in everything.

I prefer the Husky oil but just buy whatever quality brand of air cooled oil is available if I can't find the Husky stuff. Didn't care for the smell of the Ace synthetic oil though.

 

[svk]

Grown men having a "dislike" war on a firewood forum. That there is pretty damn funny.

Forum wars are downright childish regardless of the reason.

 

[nomad_archer]

I may go to 40:1 eventually but I still have a bunch on 50:1 to use up. The leaf blower uses it up pretty quick. But there isnt a reason to use that right now.

 

[zogger]

I always subconsciously revert back to 32:1 because that's what all of my older OPE ran on. I will tell you the AT on my 550 takes a little time to get used to more oil like that.

I think 40 (or 42) to 1 is probably perfect. I was told to run no less than that in larger and/or ported saws so it goes in everything.

I prefer the Husky oil but just buy whatever quality brand of air cooled oil is available if I can't find the Husky stuff. Didn't care for the smell of the Ace synthetic oil though.

I use 4oz/gallon, which is funny, that is now considered heavy on the oil, but it is only roughly half what we used to use back in the Pleistocene.

 

[svk]

I use 4oz/gallon, which is funny, that is now considered heavy on the oil, but it is only roughly half what we used to use back in the Pleistocene.

I have an old outboard that is supposed to use 25:1 but I sneak it up to 32:1 with newer oils. You do need to keep it rich with those as they have bushings instead of bearings and WILL seize.

My grandpa's 12HP Gale Buckaneer is frozen because we were told by an OMC mechanic (before I was old enough to wrench) that you could run 50:1. It lasted less than one tank ;(

 

[Philbert]

If my bar and chain oil is too thick in colder weather (Minnesota) I thin it with kerosene, per the owner's manual.

I have had to thin even 'winter grade' oil.

BTW, this is even more of an issue with electric and battery powered saws, which don't have a muffler to warm up the oil in use. Have to keep that oil, and those saws, if possible, inside the house or vehicle cab, before use on really cold days (under 20F).

Philbert

 

[hardpan]

After thinning what do you end up with, 10% kerosene, 20%?

 

[svk]

If my bar and chain oil is too thick in colder weather (Minnesota) I thin it with kerosene, per the owner's manual.

I have had to thin even 'winter grade' oil.

BTW, this is even more of an issue with electric and battery powered saws, which don't have a muffler to warm up the oil in use. Have to keep that oil, and those saws, if possible, inside the house or vehicle cab, before use on really cold days (under 20F).

Philbert

I've used Stihl blue at well below zero with no issues. However I am too cheap to pay for it myself so I thin regular oil with 5w30 and never had a problem.

I usually store my saws in my guest cabin overnight when I can so they are definitely above freezing when I start them in the morning.

 

[chipper1]

I may go to 40:1 eventually but I still have a bunch on 50:1 to use up. The leaf blower uses it up pretty quick. But there isnt a reason to use that right now.

I use mine all year, leaves, grass, snow.
Just got used twice this last week on the light snow we had here, one time about an inch the other half an inch.
I have used opti-2 in my trimmer and blower for over 10 yrs and have not even changed a plug. Two pulls on the blower unless I forget to turn the throttle up a bit, then it takes more. I've worn multiple heads of the trimmer and replaced the recoil twice on the blower. Other than that I had to change the filter and gas line on them both. I also use 87octane with ethanol since I burn through a gallon pretty fast.
I have a bunch of the Huqvarna and stihl syn on hand from a deal I did so I will be using that 50:1.
most of the problems I've seen are from straight gassing equipment or air leaks.

Well I really don't want to start an oil discussion here because it kind of bores me to be honest lol. The TSC oil just doesn't work well in my Makita. The Ace Hardware brand B&C oil works the best so far. I don't go through a ton of oil so $10 a gallon is no big deal.

I just go about 42:1. Definitely not needed but gives me a bit more peace of mind. I'm not a pro at adjusting the carb so a bit more lubricant helps me sleep at night. This site has some great info:
http://www.madsens1.com/saw_fuelmix.htm

They recommend 50:1 but also state "It is also important to realize how little oil there is in a 50 :1 mixture. Only 1/50 of the mix in a saw's fuel tank is lubricant. With this little oil in the mix, it needs to be good stuff!" So my ratio of 42:1 is just slightly more and again, it helps my overthinking personality.

Oil threads may bore you, but I think a lot of newbies want this info. I can appreciate that you are not "dead set" or "this is the only way" about what your doing. If more people had that attitude it would sure be more civil, and oil threads might be more funner lol.

 

[nomad_archer]

Chipper, I got the leaf blower for leaves and snow. I have not had any snow this year. Not that I am complaining.