High Quality Chainsaw Bars Husqvarna Toys Hockfire Saws

Ok to add motor oil to bar chain oil?

Bill G

Pinnacle OPE Member
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
2807
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
3,838
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Illinois
Country flag
I bought a case awhile back at farming cheap and it was nowhere near $20 a gallon. That is plum nuts.
 

jblnut

Flabs of Stihl
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
28381
Joined
Jan 26, 2024
Messages
403
Reaction score
2,445
Location
Central Mn
Country flag
I've used untold gallons of bar oil mixed with strained used motor oil
No downside i have ever found.
Same here but I don't strain it. I figure it came out of the engine being constantly filtered so there shouldn't be anything chunky in there.

Just changed oil on the S300 Skiddy and now I have another 3-1/2gal of fresh oil to run through the saws. I will say though that I usually only use the used motor oil mix on sub 20" bars as it isn't as tacky. Anything longer and I'll mix it with either bar oil or corn head gear grease. That stuff is like syrup and mixing it with motor oil makes a similar consistency as actual bar oil. There is a sweet spot getting the mix right with that stuff. I got a 55gal barrel of the stuff on a auction a long time ago and won't go through it in my lifetime on the farm so it gets used for other things. Like gumming up chainsaws lol

It isn't as much about saving money as it is getting rid of something I have to dispose of anyway. I cut around 25 cord a year for myself and help family and neighbors cut another 90+ so we'll burn a decent amount of oil between all of us.
 

Creaky Limb T C

Active OPE Member
Local time
4:46 PM
User ID
29547
Joined
Jun 29, 2024
Messages
6
Reaction score
11
Location
Wales UK
Country flag
The only problem with using gear oil is some of the modern vehicle blends contain sulphur (the eggy smelly ones) Over time this will eat away any brass you may have in the pump mechanism.not a problem on modern saws but the older models may have brass components.
 

farminkarman

I like the red & black ones
GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
13535
Joined
Aug 17, 2020
Messages
4,352
Reaction score
25,050
Location
Neenah Wisconsin
Country flag
Todays Mystik prices at Farm and Fleet ...aka farming cheap.
1 gallon $6.99
2 gallon $14.89........yeah that makes sense :confundio1:
I doubt you find engine oil that cheap.

View attachment 430613

View attachment 430614
I've used plenty of it....seems to work well. I don't think it sticks to the chain quite as well as the Poulan stuff I got from Menards last year.
 

Bill G

Pinnacle OPE Member
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
2807
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
3,838
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Illinois
Country flag
I've used plenty of it....seems to work well. I don't think it sticks to the chain quite as well as the Poulan stuff I got from Menards last year.
Nards is $9.99 a gallon on the Poulan branded oil but then you can SAVE 11% if you mail in a ridiculous rebate. They need to take their 11% rebates and shove them where the sun don't shine.
 

Bill G

Pinnacle OPE Member
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
2807
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
3,838
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Illinois
Country flag
Well no but if I’m going to BUY oil to put in a chainsaw it’ll be actual “bar oil”. The used stuff coming out of the machinery on the farm is “free” so I use that when I can 🤷‍♂️
I was referring to "new" oil.
 

farminkarman

I like the red & black ones
GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
13535
Joined
Aug 17, 2020
Messages
4,352
Reaction score
25,050
Location
Neenah Wisconsin
Country flag
Nards is $9.99 a gallon on the Poulan branded oil but then you can SAVE 11% if you mail in a ridiculous rebate. They need to take their 11% rebates and shove them where the sun don't shine.
I bought 5 gallons of the Poulan stuff last year. My store had it on clearance because the bottles were “damaged”…they had glue on them from the case sealer. I should have cleaned them out.
 

Bill G

Pinnacle OPE Member
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
2807
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
3,838
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Illinois
Country flag
I bought 5 gallons of the Poulan stuff last year. My store had it on clearance because the bottles were “damaged”…they had glue on them from the case sealer. I should have cleaned them out.
I have a love/hate relationship with "Nards".

I am going to guesstimate it was about 15 years ago my son and I were in there getting stuff. This was back when copper was skyrocketing. a few years before I had been paying around $40 per 250' roll of 12-2 N-MB cable. Of course it had skyrocketed since. I think at the time a 250' roll was up to $150 or so. We were walking down the wire aisle and I see several 1000ft spools on the bottom shelf. I notice the shelf tag read around $175. I thought no way in hell and pulled the tag and checked it over. It clearly read 1000ft of 12-2 NM-B. I pick a spool up and put it in the cart. We finished our shopping and I told my son to watch how the poo show was going to go. She rings up our other stuff and then scans the spool. Of course it shows up in the mid $500 range. I nicely explain that is not the shelf price. she radios to electrical. There is some radio conversation and after a bit they say the shelf price is wrong but they agree the shelf price was what I told them of around $175. They sell it to me for that price. Of course I would have liked to clean them out but why look a gift horse in the mouth. I know we got a smoking good deal so I was happy with that.

The current Nards price on a 250 foot spool is $119.99 and 1000 foot is $490.00
 

Bill G

Pinnacle OPE Member
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
2807
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
3,838
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Illinois
Country flag
I wonder if a little STP (Super Tomcat Piss according to my Dad) would act as a tackifier mixed into standard motor oil?
Well with STP at $5.29 per 15 ounces I believe that would be like selling your car for gas money.........
 

Bill G

Pinnacle OPE Member
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
2807
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
3,838
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Illinois
Country flag
These fukers here don't honor that
I've had words with them before
A TSC 30 miles away will be 4.99 my local one 13.99
And they won't price match

It just makes a man shake his head when stores make claims they will not honor. Roughly 15 years ago my wife bought a large 2 wheel wheelbarrow at Menards. I believe it was around $120. Well the next week I see it is on sale in the $80 range. I figure they will just refund the price difference because they have a policy if an item goes on sale a short time after purchase they give you the sale price if you bring in the receipt. On the weekend one of my sons and I go into Menards to get some supplies and I take the receipt with me figuring this will be a simple transaction. Folks in the Midwest know how Menards stores are set up and actually they are the same as most all big box stores everywhere. You enter on one side and exit on the other side. The service desk is just inside the entrance door. Well we walk in and up to the service desk with receipt in hand. The cute lady looks at it and says "well sir you bought this 15 days ago and we only honor the sale price difference reimbursement for 14 days". I give her a puzzled look and smile a bit. I nicely ask her to get a CSR manager which she does. The guy comes over and repeats the same thing. I explain that the item is still currently on sale. He acknowledges that but says company policy is the price difference reimbursement must be completed within 14 days of the initial purchase and my wife bought it 15 days ago. At this point I reiterate that the item is still on sale. Then my son hears the words that he has heard me say so many times, I look at the manager and say "Sir, we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way, which do you prefer ?" My son starts laughing because he knows what is about to happen. The manger is puzzled. We walk over to the area where the wheelbarrows are and get the same one. I take it through the checkout and pay the $80 something sale price. We take it out the out door and proceed to wheel it along the outside front of the store then in the in door and up to the service desk. Of course it is the same girl and manager working from 8-10 minutes ago. I pull out my receipt for the one my wife bought 15 days earlier for $120 and say "yes I would like to return this please" The girl laughs and the manger walks away. I receive the refund for the $120 she paid. I had to do it the hard way because they just would not do it the easy way.
 

Bill G

Pinnacle OPE Member
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
2807
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
3,838
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Illinois
Country flag
I'm not sure how people decided they are smarter than Engineers without actually doing any engineering (with numbers and equations and such), but I think that's where this whole corn-gas thing came from. If corn-gas was so great farmers would use it to run their tractors and come out ahead, but that's not the case. Bar oil is similar.
I realize you made this post a few months back but I just saw it. I am not sure how familiar you are with modern farming. I am not sure when the last gasoline powered actual farm tractor was produced. I remember being at an auction in roughly 1985 where the man had (3) John Deere 4020's and (1) 4030. They were all gas. I did not even realize that Deere made a 4030 gas. To give you some perspective.
The 4020 built from 1963 until 1972. They made 184,879 total. Of those 8123 gasoline, 8445 propane, and 168,311 diesel. Rated at 83HP
The 4030 built from 1973 until 1977. There were 15,690 total with only 222 being gasoline, 0 propane, and 15,468 diesel. Rated at 67HP
The 4230 there with only 22 being gasoline. Rated at 84HP

The larger Deere tractors were
The 4320 built from 1971-72. There were 21,485 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 102HP.
The 4520 built from 1969-1970. There were 7894 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 107HP.
The 4620 built from 1971-72. There were 6928 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 116HP.
The 5010 built from 1963-1965. There were 7553 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 109HP.
The 5020 built from 1965-72. There were 12,909 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 122HP.
The 6030 built from 1972-1977. There were 4028 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 149HP.

With the exception of the 222 rare 4030 and 22 ultra rare 4230 gas tractors...(both 80 HP) I do not believe you will find that Deere seriously made a gasoline tractor after the end of the 4020 in 1972. Now I am the furthest you will find from a Deere guy, hell I do not even have one. if it is green it is Oliver green. I just used Deere as an example. I challenge you or anyone to find a gasoline farm tractor built over about 125hp. I remember a guy here had (3) Minneapolis -Moline A4T-1600 4 wheel drives. He was a propane guy and had a 18,000 gallon LP tank. All of his tractors were LP with the exception of an IH 1468 with a diesel V-8, what a sweet machine.:D All the Minneapolis-Moline A4T-1600 were LP and they are rated at 123HP. There were just a handful made in LP.

You say.......If corn-gas was so great farmers would use it to run their tractors and come out ahead, but that's not the case. Well sir there are many reasons why farmers do not use "corn-gas" to power tractors outside of vintage ones and lawnmowers.
1. As I have shown above no manufacturer has produced a gasoline powered farm tractor in the last 50 odd years.
2. Farming today is not Eddie Albert from the 1960's TV show "Green acres"
3. Gas is not an efficient fuel for lugging loads that require torque. When was the last time you saw a gasoline powered semi in commercial use?
4. In case you did not know Indy cars run what you call "corn-gas" I doubt an EV can keep up with the "corn-gas".

I realize for whatever reason some folks are anti-agriculture but it is best that they do a bit of research before coming to the table.
 

ammoaddict

Pinnacle OPE Member
Local time
11:46 AM
User ID
4713
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Messages
1,856
Reaction score
6,823
Location
NC
Country flag
Last gasoline tractor I know of was a 1971 international harvester, maybe 60 or 70 hp.
 

WI_Hedgehog

Super OPE Member
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
27428
Joined
Sep 8, 2023
Messages
355
Reaction score
918
Location
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Country flag
I realize you made this post a few months back but I just saw it. I am not sure how familiar you are with modern farming. I am not sure when the last gasoline powered actual farm tractor was produced. I remember being at an auction in roughly 1985 where the man had (3) John Deere 4020's and (1) 4030. They were all gas. I did not even realize that Deere made a 4030 gas. To give you some perspective.
The 4020 built from 1963 until 1972. They made 184,879 total. Of those 8123 gasoline, 8445 propane, and 168,311 diesel. Rated at 83HP
The 4030 built from 1973 until 1977. There were 15,690 total with only 222 being gasoline, 0 propane, and 15,468 diesel. Rated at 67HP
The 4230 there with only 22 being gasoline. Rated at 84HP

The larger Deere tractors were
The 4320 built from 1971-72. There were 21,485 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 102HP.
The 4520 built from 1969-1970. There were 7894 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 107HP.
The 4620 built from 1971-72. There were 6928 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 116HP.
The 5010 built from 1963-1965. There were 7553 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 109HP.
The 5020 built from 1965-72. There were 12,909 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 122HP.
The 6030 built from 1972-1977. There were 4028 made and all were diesel. They were rated at 149HP.

With the exception of the 222 rare 4030 and 22 ultra rare 4230 gas tractors...(both 80 HP) I do not believe you will find that Deere seriously made a gasoline tractor after the end of the 4020 in 1972. Now I am the furthest you will find from a Deere guy, hell I do not even have one. if it is green it is Oliver green. I just used Deere as an example. I challenge you or anyone to find a gasoline farm tractor built over about 125hp. I remember a guy here had (3) Minneapolis -Moline A4T-1600 4 wheel drives. He was a propane guy and had a 18,000 gallon LP tank. All of his tractors were LP with the exception of an IH 1468 with a diesel V-8, what a sweet machine.:D All the Minneapolis-Moline A4T-1600 were LP and they are rated at 123HP. There were just a handful made in LP.

You say.......If corn-gas was so great farmers would use it to run their tractors and come out ahead, but that's not the case. Well sir there are many reasons why farmers do not use "corn-gas" to power tractors outside of vintage ones and lawnmowers.
1. As I have shown above no manufacturer has produced a gasoline powered farm tractor in the last 50 odd years.
2. Farming today is not Eddie Albert from the 1960's TV show "Green acres"
3. Gas is not an efficient fuel for lugging loads that require torque. When was the last time you saw a gasoline powered semi in commercial use?
4. In case you did not know Indy cars run what you call "corn-gas" I doubt an EV can keep up with the "corn-gas".

I realize for whatever reason some folks are anti-agriculture but it is best that they do a bit of research before coming to the table.
I'm sure you've heard of bio-diesel, it's "corn gas for tractors."

 

ammoaddict

Pinnacle OPE Member
Local time
11:46 AM
User ID
4713
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Messages
1,856
Reaction score
6,823
Location
NC
Country flag
It is possible to make biodiesel from corn oil but all I have heard of is soybean oil and animal fat. Farmers don't really have the means to make it themselves and biodiesel tends to be more expensive than petroleum diesel.
 

Bill G

Pinnacle OPE Member
Yearly GoldMember
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
2807
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
3,838
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Illinois
Country flag
I'm sure you've heard of bio-diesel, it's "corn gas for tractors."
Well Sir,
1. Gasoline is not diesel...........try each in corresponding engine and see for yourself..........
2. I would love to see you quote anywhere on Al Gore's internet where I advocated for soy diesel in any engine that sits a period of time.
 

WI_Hedgehog

Super OPE Member
Local time
10:46 AM
User ID
27428
Joined
Sep 8, 2023
Messages
355
Reaction score
918
Location
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Country flag
Well Sir,
1. Gasoline is not diesel...........try each in corresponding engine and see for yourself..........
2. I would love to see you quote anywhere on Al Gore's internet where I advocated for soy diesel in any engine that sits a period of time.
This tangent seems to be a Bill G Challenge which you've a solid reputation for, and in an oil thread nonetheless! (It's like the Internet version of opening a portal to hell!)

1. Gasoline and diesel come from the same base product. Gasoline used to be used to start high-compression diesel engines (2-minute mark shows the gas tank, spark plugs, carburetor, etc., the 7-minute mark shows the diesel engine running on gas). Both gas and diesel are used to run engines, and from that standpoint are substantially similar, to the point both are bio-fuel targets with similar end-goals.

2. That's a distraction so far off the bar oil topic I personally wouldn't go there. There are threads discussing canola oil jelling up bar oil tanks over time (post #82), if you're interested.
 
Top