Buying Chainsaw Bar and Chain Oil

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Chainsaws aren't cheap so it pays to take care of your investment, and one of the best ways to take care of your chainsaw is buying good-quality bar and chain oil.

Chainsaw bar oil

To work safely and properly chainsaw chains and bars must be lubricated, and this is especially important during the initial break-in period when chain friction and heat will be at its highest. Bar oil has a specific blend of additives to help maximize chain lubrication while also reducing heat caused from normal bar and chain friction. Bar oil also has detergents and lubricants that help minimize resin (sap) build-up. Finally, chainsaw bar oil is formulated with yet another additive that helps the oil stick to the chain even at high revs.

Motor oil instead of bar oil

Chainsaw motors and car motors have different needs, so motor oil is not a good alternative to chainsaw bar oil. Motor oil is designed for the closed environment of a car, while chainsaw bar oil needs to be much tackier in order to adhere to the chain. You wouldn't put bar and chain oil in your car, and it's not a good idea to put motor oil in your chainsaw.

Best chainsaw bar oil

Most chainsaw owner's manuals simply say to use a 'high-quality' bar oil, but they don't normally specify a brand. The good news is, there really isn't any 'best' bar oil. The bar oil made by the brand-name manufacturers is specifically designed for lubricating bars and chains, and the oil works year-round in all weather conditions. No more switching to thin oil in the winter, and thicker oil in the summer.

We usually use the Stihl Platinum or Echo bar oil. Both are available locally and both have worked well over the years. The image below shows the bar oils:

Where to buy bar oil

Chainsaw bar oil is readily available at chainsaw dealers, big-box home improvements stores, hardware stores, Walmart, and Amazon. The cost varies but as mentioned earlier, as long as you're buying good-quality bar oil, compare different brands and go for the best price. For example, Amazon carries Stihl Platinum, Husqvarna, and Oregon bar oils. Any one of those brands would be a good choice.