Many users of gas-powered tools are quite irresponsible when preparing the fuel mixture. For example, I have met saw owners who diluted gasoline and oil “by eye.” They just poured as much as they wanted and then came to me with a faulty tool.
It is important to understand that more, like less, does not mean better. It is the golden mean that is important.
If you prepare a mixture with a deficiency of oil, then everything is clear. There will not be enough lubrication for the cylinder and bearings, which means friction and temperature will increase, scuffing will form in the cylinder and the crankshaft bearings may seize.
What happens if you overfill it? A large volume of oil, during combustion, creates a lot of residual combustion products, which settle on the piston, in the cylinder exhaust port and muffler, impeding the movement of exhaust gases. The result is a drop in power or complete loss of performance.
The carbon deposits that form when there is an excessive proportion of oil can settle under the compression rings, preventing them from compensating for thermal expansion, which will lead to scuffing; in general, the consequences can be quite serious.
Shtil chainsaw oil
To begin with, it would be nice to mention that all Stihl chainsaws are created with rather small dimensions, but despite their dimensions, they have very impressive power. Thanks to this feature, Stihl chainsaws are in great demand.
Despite its high quality, the longevity of a chainsaw depends on the use of the correct lubricant and fuel. The first problematic question that owners of this equipment face is: What oil and fuel should you choose for your chainsaw? In this article you will learn about which oil is best to use for your chainsaw, and about which fuel is best to fill in your “baby”.
Choosing oil for a Stihl chainsaw
The first thing you should know is that almost all Stihl chainsaws are equipped with a carburetor two-stroke engine. They also have two separate tanks: the first for oil, and the second for gasoline.
First, and most importantly, remember that in domestically produced chainsaw models, simple oil is poured, which is usually poured into motorcycle tanks, and their proportion should be no more than 1 to 25. As for chainsaws manufactured abroad, for them you will need to buy branded oils, the proportion for which is 1 to 40. Of course, you can try to fill an imported saw with oil for domestic saws, in which case the power of your tool may noticeably drop. The best advice that can be given when purchasing oil for such equipment is to refer to the manual for using your tool.
If you are the owner of a Shtil brand chainsaw or just want to buy one of the presented models, we offer a review of the Shtil MS 180 branded chainsaw.
A good choice would be synthetic oil for two-stroke air-cooled engines of the API-TB and API-TC classes. When you come to the store, ask the seller about the availability of such brands as Stihl, Husqvarna, HAHOTEK, Champion, ALCO, etc. In no case should you be greedy on ingredients; it is better to spend money on a quality product rather than then spend a lot of money on repairs.
Choosing gasoline for a Stihl chainsaw
When choosing gasoline for your chainsaw, you should pay attention, of course, to the quality of the gasoline itself and its octane number. It is best to take gasoline with an octane number of AI92. You can try AI95, but there are too many questions about its quality. If you doubt the quality of AI95, then AI92 will be the best choice for you.
We do not advise you to use gasoline that has been sitting in any container for a long time, be it a canister, a tank, or anything else. For the fuel mixture, you need to use only fresh gasoline, otherwise it may lose all its useful qualities: octane number, etc. If you still use not fresh gasoline, then your chainsaw will operate at incomplete power. If your chainsaw breaks down due to the use of such fuel, you will have to spend a lot of money on repairing it, since such a case is not covered under warranty, and you would be better off purchasing a new tool.
Chainsaw oil ROLF Garden 2T
The oil is produced on a synthetic base, which ensures the highest quality. Therefore, ROLF Garden 2T has low smoke, burns completely and with extremely low soot. At the same time, it reliably protects the engine from wear, since it has a balanced additive package. When the engine runs for a long time on the ROLF Garden 2T, rapid contamination of the muffler with carbon deposits and products of incomplete combustion of oil, which reduce the power of the chainsaw, is eliminated.
The oil was developed specifically for garden equipment, where the main method of lubrication is a ready-made fuel mixture. This was taken into account when creating ROLF Garden 2T, and the product achieved excellent stability when mixed with gasoline. The finished composition during storage prevents delamination and clogging of carburetor channels. The oil does not reduce the octane number of gasoline and eliminates the risk of detonation under load.
Due to its low freezing point, ROLF Garden 2T is also ideal for winter work, which maintains the efficiency of engine lubrication with the fuel mixture. The oil burns well in the engine, reducing the risk of spark plug failure. In this way, the amount of maintenance required for the chainsaw can be kept to a minimum.
The quality of the oil is confirmed by approvals from the largest chainsaw manufacturers. In addition, ROLF Lubricants GmbH offers a simple and effective anti-counterfeit system: all of the company's products are packaged only in tin containers. As practice shows, counterfeit goods are practically never found on the market under such conditions: for manufacturers of counterfeits, packaging in plastic is more profitable.
Benefits of branded oils
Many domestic and foreign manufacturers specialize in the production of special motor oils, but the highest rating indicators are for branded products Shtil, Husqvarna and Makita.
Only in certain parameters the branded assortment is inferior to domestic motor oils of the Lukoil brand.
→ HUSQVARNA AT THE BEST PRICE
The list of advantages of branded motor oils:
- economical consumption;
- stability of performance characteristics under difficult operating conditions and during long-term storage;
- minimal amount of toxic compounds in exhaust gases;
- almost complete absence of soot.
According to the American classification, oils of the API-TB category can be used for work in household and professional models. The Japanese equivalent is JASO-FB and JASO FD. Preparation of a flammable mixture using oil for 4-stroke engines is strictly prohibited.
Red, green or any other color of the oil determines whether the product belongs to the range of a particular manufacturer, therefore it is not taken into account when determining the characteristics of the material
You should be extremely careful when choosing motor oil of unknown composition and origin.
Until additional information about quality and operational parameters is obtained, it is better to temporarily abandon the use of such material.
It is allowed to mix motor oils of the same type in composition and purpose produced by brands known for the quality of their range. Under no circumstances is it permitted to mix mineral and synthetic oils.
Preparing the fuel mixture for a chainsaw
Let's look at everything in order:
Petrol
Gasoline must have an octane number of at least AI92. You can also fill in AI95, but its quality at our gas stations leaves much to be desired, so if you are not sure of the quality of 95, then it is still better to take AI92 gasoline for diluting gasoline in a chainsaw. You should also not take gasoline that has been sitting for a long time in a canister, tank or any other container. Gasoline for preparing the fuel mixture for a chainsaw must be fresh, otherwise it loses its properties, in particular its octane number, and even if you run the chainsaw on such fuel, it will not produce full power. And the saddest thing in this case is that the failure of a chainsaw due to low-quality fuel is considered a non-warranty case and leads to expensive repairs. Sometimes it’s easier to buy a new chainsaw than to repair it after such a breakdown!
Fuels and lubricants
Petrol
Engine manufacturers recommend using high-octane gasoline AI-92, 95. The use of fuel with various additives to increase the octane number is not allowed. During this time, the process of resin formation and polymerization may occur in it, which negatively affects the operation of the engine.
We do not recommend consuming gasoline that has been stored for more than 60 days.
Most chainsaw engines use leaded gasoline. If you purchased a tool with a catalyst (the tank cap will be green), we recommend unleaded gasoline.
Important: you should not save money and use gasoline with an octane number below 90. It is also not recommended to use gasoline with an octane number higher than 95. This leads to premature wear of the engine piston group.
Oil
The design of two-stroke air-cooled engines does not provide a separate lubrication system. Moving parts are lubricated by the oil present in the fuel mixture. Therefore, it is so necessary to use only high-quality oils from trusted manufacturers.
Recommended oils for refueling chainsaws:
- STIHL HP – developed specifically for chainsaw engines. It has proven itself in all weather conditions and ensures ideal engine operation.
- Husqvarna HP is an oil from a well-known manufacturer of garden equipment. Special additives reduce carbon formation on the engine crankcase, which can occur due to the use of low-quality fuel.
- Oleo-Mac Prosint 2T is a multifunctional oil with synthetic esters. Protects engine parts from corrosion, reduces wear of mechanisms and parts.
- CHAMPION JASO FD is a high-quality oil from a well-known company. Provides good protection for all moving engine parts;
- Vitals Semisynthetic is an all-season oil for budget chainsaw models, intended for use at temperatures from -20 to +40C 0 .
Important: the use of mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic motor oils is prohibited. They are intended for engines of a different type and do not have the necessary properties.
Refueling during run-in
During break-in, all rotating and mating components and parts of the engine are ground in. In some places, increased friction is possible, which can be relieved by additional lubrication.
The operating instructions for most models and brands do not provide specific instructions on the amount of oil for the break-in period. But many experts, with many years of experience, recommend filling 20% more during break-in .
For example, if for a particular chainsaw the proportion is 1:50 (20 ml per 1 liter), then another 20% should be added, that is, a fifth - 4 ml. As a result, 24 ml per liter is poured.
The break-in period is approximately 10 engine hours. During this time, a small excess of oil will not cause any harm. However, the running-in will take place in a more gentle mode, which in the future may increase the engine's service life.
What kind of gasoline should I put in my chainsaw?
According to experts, you should use unleaded gasoline obtained by adding lead-free additives, the octane number of which exceeds 90. For foreign models, it is necessary to fill in higher grades of gasoline and use branded oils from tool manufacturers. AI-92 grade fuel is considered perfect. How to dilute gasoline for a Shtil 180 chainsaw? In this case, the oil content in the mixture is assumed to be 1:40. AI-95 fuel is also quite suitable for it, but according to professionals it is better not to use it for chainsaws.
The fact is that it is made on the basis of AI-92 using certain additives that change the quality of the fuel. These components are deposited on the internal parts of the instrument and when a critical mass is reached, they begin to peel off, disrupting the operation of the mechanism. The best option is to follow the instructions that come with the selected model. It is recommended to use fresh gasoline, because octane properties are lost during long-term storage in containers.
How to thread the saw
A plastic bottle is best for refilling a chainsaw. The container volume should be two liters if you will use the tool frequently. A smaller container should be used when you rarely use the saw.
Fuel and lubricant must be diluted in a separate bottle. It is necessary to observe the exact proportions indicated in the instructions. It is recommended to leave an empty space so that the liquid can be mixed well.
This mixture should be stored for no more than two weeks. Be sure to shake the bottle before use. Experts do not recommend diluting a large amount of the mixture at once and storing it for years. Storage temperature should not exceed more than twenty-five degrees Celsius. If it is more, then the shelf life is reduced.
Refilling the chainsaw with oil
Long-term storage of the mixture greatly impairs the traction capabilities of the engine. Carbon deposits form and the ability of the pistons to move quickly is reduced.
What happens if you don’t take the recommendations into account?
An inexperienced person does not know how to dilute gasoline with oil, how to choose the right fuel, what proportion of gasoline to use, and many other nuances. Often such ignorance leads to a large number of problems in the operation of equipment:
- increase in fuel consumption;
- defects of the unit and its components;
- the appearance of extraneous noise;
- strong toxic exhaust, etc.
Therefore, experts recommend following advice related to all aspects of equipment operation, from how to choose the right fuel to how to dilute gasoline for a chainsaw.
