Waste motor oil as bar oil

[Backyard Lumberjack]

several hours later; fast forward - update:





any suggestions?

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Here is a question though:
Say you get up Sunday morning and are loading up for a half day of cutting up your neighbor's tree that fell over, but find out your bar oil bottle is empty, and you forgot to buy more. Is there another product you could use in a pinch to get you through the day?

that's why i always buy two at a time....

then, i'd just have to go back home and get the other jug.

........................................

 

[GeorgiaVol]

that's why i always buy two at a time....

then, i'd just have to go back home and get the other jug.

I have 3 half empty jugs.
I misplaced the 1st 2 and just bought another.

 

[sean donato]

Here's a link for mystik bar and chain oil, in stock with $7.00 shipping over $75.00 purchase. Pretty good deal right now. The link bill posted is pickup only and I don't live close enough to one lol.
https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1344967-mystik-1-gal-bar-and-chain-oil.html

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I have 3 half empty jugs.
I misplaced the 1st 2 and just bought another.

lol, know what you mean... i'd list some of the stuff i put here or there... just so i wouldn't loose it, but the list is so long I am sure it would bore you!

but... just day before... i decided time for a new plug for one of my Echo's.... and so i pull it. first pull of plug. it was tight! read the #, i want only that plug... and so write it down to order. and that is the last of that... piece a paper i have seen since!! go figure! and so... yesterday, i get to do it all over again...

so it goes...

yes, know just what you mean!

 

[GeorgiaVol]

lol, know what you mean... i'd list some of the stuff i put here or there... just so i wouldn't loose it, but the list is so long I am sure it would bore you!

but... just day before... i decided time for a new plug for one of my Echo's.... and so i pull it. first pull of plug. it was tight! read the #, i want only that plug... and so write it down to order. and that is the last of that... piece a paper i have seen since!! go figure! and so... yesterday, i get to do it all over again...

so it goes...

yes, know just what you mean!

I am terrible about ordering a part, getting it, setting it down because I'm busy, then finding it later and not remembering what that was for.
I have started writing what it is for on the package as soon as I get it so I don't forget.

 

[sean donato]

I am terrible about ordering a part, getting it, setting it down because I'm busy, then finding it later and not remembering what that was for.
I have started writing what it is for on the package as soon as I get it so I don't forget.

I have to do the same thing, or place all the parts in one box and label that.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Here's a link for mystik bar and chain oil, in stock with $7.00 shipping over $75.00 purchase. Pretty good deal right now. The link bill posted is pickup only and I don't live close enough to one lol.
https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1344967-mystik-1-gal-bar-and-chain-oil.html

each to his own. as one poster stated... do as you want, it's your equipment. my take: i don't buy cheap bar oil, despite what it says on the label. TSC has some cheap stuff... even for my Echo's I buy Stihl bar lube. i just belly up and pay the price. then i know i got good stuff... it's kinda like ! i can buy the cheap stuff... drink enuff and the effects still the same... but, i prefer the good stuff!

imo, cheaply priced bar lube is cheap lube. and usually much thinner that i prefer. sorta like some of that %^$#@ oil they sell at the convenience store. if that stuff is oil, i'll buy ya a jug of Stihl oil. once time few years back... ok, bit more than just a few... and i was going to change the oil in one of my trucks. so, at the auto parts store... i got me a case of their recycled oil. back when? well, a case then of pennzoil was less that $10/case! i asked the counterguy about it...'well, we do sell a lot of it!" (little doubt in my mind who would buy it!) and i started to fill my oil pan... and stopped! cold!! if that p-water like stuff was oil... well... so i took it all back and got me a case of that $10 pennzoil! same counter, guy. i said, bringing back!! this don't look like oil to me!!! his reply:

"I don't blame you!"

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

I am terrible about ordering a part, getting it, setting it down because I'm busy, then finding it later and not remembering what that was for.
I have started writing what it is for on the package as soon as I get it so I don't forget.

that, too! lol

 

[OM617YOTA]

I am terrible about ordering a part, getting it, setting it down because I'm busy, then finding it later and not remembering what that was for.
I have started writing what it is for on the package as soon as I get it so I don't forget.

I have to do that with oil filters. I buy a pile of filters at a time, have a stack of them on the shelf, and want to make sure I have a filter for the vehicle I'm changing oil on "in stock" before I pull the old one off and need to make a run to a parts store mid oil change.

 

[GeorgiaVol]

that, too! lol

Carb kits are the worst.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

So at the risk of starting a war…

And just for fun....

I can buy an OEM replacement bar for between $25 and $30 and often much cheaper on Facebook Marketplace. That bar would guide an 18 inch 62 drive link low profile 3/8 inch chain. This would fit about every Poulan and some of the Echos (my400) and goodness knows what else and cut bunches of firewood. These saws use a ton of oil pumping it out all over the place and leaking when not in use. BTW, If I buy an imported bar from Walmart, I’m at roughly $13.

A gallon of bar oil is somewhere between $10 and $15 depending upon what you get.

So for the cost of 1 to 2 gallons of bar oil, you can replace a bar.

I’ve read in about a dozen places how horrible it is to use free waste motor oil as bar oil. The idea being it’s not as sticky and therefore doesn’t lubricate as well. Ok I get th argument. Probably makes sense for pro saws with expensive bars.

Can someone convince me that it’s so much worse to use free waste oil that doing so would trash the bar before I hit the economic break even point?

When the consumable guide bar and a gallon of consumable bar oil cost so close to the same amount, everything’s disposable/consumable. Not that the Poulan isn’t also disposable, but what about the oil delivery system can possibly be harmed by motor oil? Can’t think of any issues there.

hi mwg - over all, a pretty good thread! i even told the QB about it... she had a good
better than a good cup a with donuts...



ok, only close....

 

[OM617YOTA]

Our local BiMart has bar oil for $6/gal every so often. I keep a couple gallons on hand in addition to the one I'm working on emptying. I don't know what brand it is and don't care. I've yet to find something that doesn't work. Have run new/clean motor oil, vegetable oil, transmission fluid, etc and never had a bar and chain issue with any of it. Vegetable oil gummed up bad all over everything, so I won't run it anymore, but it lubed the bar and chain just fine.

 

[GeorgiaVol]

I've used Echo, Poulan, and TSC bar oils.
I can't see a difference, but I'm not a pro by any means.
Certainly cannot compare it to beer. Lol

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Carb kits are the worst.

haha! i just got one it... along with some primer bulbs for an Echo. didn't want to prime up week back when i went to cut some mesquite out on the FM frontage at my place. and just in case, it mite be pump related... i got a kit! put the primers on bench... but day or so later, found... by chance the carb kit! i subscribe to the philosophy: keep looking, it's here! will be last place i look!! lol

 

[GeorgiaVol]

For what it is worth, HD has Powercare for $10 a gallon.

 

[GeorgiaVol]

I wouldn't think it would really make a difference unless you are running some long bars or milling.
Your typical 16-18" bars probably can oil with just about anything.

 

[sean donato]

each to his own. as one poster stated... do as you want, it's your equipment. my take: i don't buy cheap bar oil, despite what it says on the label. TSC has some cheap stuff... even for my Echo's I buy Stihl bar lube. i just belly up and pay the price. then i know i got good stuff... it's kinda like ! i can buy the cheap stuff... drink enuff and the effects still the same... but, i prefer the good stuff!

imo, cheaply priced bar lube is cheap lube. and usually much thinner that i prefer. sorta like some of that %^$#@ oil they sell at the convenience store. if that stuff is oil, i'll buy ya a jug of Stihl oil. once time few years back... ok, bit more than just a few... and i was going to change the oil in one of my trucks. so, at the auto parts store... i got me a case of their recycled oil. back when? well, a case then of pennzoil was less that $10/case! i asked the counterguy about it...'well, we do sell a lot of it!" (little doubt in my mind who would buy it!) and i started to fill my oil pan... and stopped! cold!! if that p-water like stuff was oil... well... so i took it all back and got me a case of that $10 pennzoil! same counter, guy. i said, bringing back!! this don't look like oil to me!!! his reply:

"I don't blame you!"

Sorry buddy I don't see the correlation here. Mystic is a well know oil supplier, of which I used on heavy equipment for years. If their bar oil is junk, so is the pennzoil you run in your truck. Engine oils have to meet API standards in the US. Bar oils are nearly all based off a 30 weight oil with a tackifier added in. I've seen zero evidence that a stihl labeled bottle protected a bar anybetter then a super tech brand. I'm not into paying for a name when it's getting drenched over the wood I'm cutting.

 

[sean donato]

I wouldn't think it would really make a difference unless you are running some long bars or milling.
Your typical 16-18" bars probably can oil with just about anything.

Haven't burned up my 36" bar on the mill with just the saws oiler maxed out on the cheaper bar oil.
You know what I find really funny, years ago we had a similar debate but the cheap oil was around $3.00gal and the name brand stiff was like $5 or $6 a gal. Now the cheap stuff is $6 to $10gal and the name brand stuff is closer to $15gal. One hasn't changed, the rate the saw uses it and I sure hate spending money I don't have to.

 

[Backyard Lumberjack]

Our local BiMart has bar oil for $6/gal every so often. I keep a couple gallons on hand in addition to the one I'm working on emptying. I don't know what brand it is and don't care. I've yet to find something that doesn't work. Have run new/clean motor oil, vegetable oil, transmission fluid, etc and never had a bar and chain issue with any of it. Vegetable oil gummed up bad all over everything, so I won't run it anymore, but it lubed the bar and chain just fine.

well, i subscribe to the case that... in general, some lube is better than none! except for engine oil pans, as some usually is about as worthless as none! i also subscribe to the case that... a chain saw is an extreme duty tool! and ranks right up there with FOD on the deck of an aircraft carrier! and tip wheels help, but many bars are sliders. i have tried a mix of TSC bar lube and gear oil... did fine. but i prefer the good stuff. however, if i made my living cutting wood with a saw, i prob would be influenced by what the other lumberjacks were using...