Is All Bar Oil the Same?

[GaTrapper]

Bar Oil
-Itasca
-Stihl Orange Bottle
-Stihl Premium (Silver Bottle)
-Husqvarna Premium
-Other big box store brands

Are they all the same? Marketing (paying for the name)? Is one really better than the other? How? Will I ever notice the difference?

[Nebraska]

 

[btulloh]

I just use the store brand at Tractor Supply.  My theory is that any of it is good enough for me.  No doubt there'll be some strong opinions about various brands show up below.

Next you should ask about 2 stroke oil brands and ratios. :D

[Bandmill Bandit]

As long as i was farming i never used the "Bar Oil" stuff.

I used put the #30 oil dropped out of the tractors in a 45 gal drum and that was my chain oil for most of my life. Now I just grab the cheap Canadian Tire brand and it works just fine. Not as messy as used #30 motor oil which is nice.

[Stephen1]

  
I usually buy chain oil at what ever store I am in when I need it. I only go through 1-2 gallons a year.

[thecfarm]

I use TS for years and I mean years. I have no way to turn back the clock and start all over. ;) 
I can go through a gallon in a couple weeks. Sometimes a gallon will only last me a week. 

[Southside]

Look at the SDS sheets, any I have seen show a range of what the oil itself is and then they add a tacifier.  Basically it's clean out oil that is used to flush out a line before a different grade of a primary product is bottled.  

I just buy the TSC stuff when it's on sale.  

[donbj]

Oil is always a good topic for a lively thread. I'm sure there are major oil manufacturers that label for numerous brands but a layman trying to figure that out would take time for sure.

I've always used Husky or Stihl bar oil but I'm sure others are just as good and some not.

[rusticretreater]

I have used Husqvarna, Stihl and TS County Line.  I like Husq the best, CountyLine(TS) the least. Stihl is pretty sticky stuff.  CountyLine tends to start smoking on my saw at the end of a big cut if I am trying to power on through.  But I am horrible at logging, so that is a factor too.  I will grab any of them if time/convenience is needed.  Pretty good hike for me to get Husq or TS.  

[Ianab]

I don't think there is enough difference between brands to warrant paying a premium. It's got to be oil, about the right consistency, with some "stickyness" added to keep it on the chain better.  If your bar is getting hot or wearing out too fast, you usually have problems other than the brand of oil. 

[barbender]

For my use, there's no difference between them. No one running a 16" bar on a firewood saw will ever see any difference,  either 

[Twowithone]

Always bought Sthil oil from my Sthil dealer then last yr I put a bottle up on the counter and he pointed me to this oil its called Kinetix and he said its the same as   Sthil oil maybe $1.50 cheaper he swears its all the same so I walked out the store with it.

[farmfromkansas]

I buy whatever chain oil is the cheapest.  Do find that some has less sticky oil than others.  The latest I bought was "mystic", which is pretty sticky.

[mike_belben]

Oh boy where is EHP

[lxskllr]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Canola-Oil-1-gal/13281828

[DaleK]

Bought 8 cases of Poulan at an online auction for $3/jug, seems to work so far

[trapper]

anyone use anything to thin the summer bar oil when the tempertature is below freezing?  I have some stihl winter oil but the summer oil I bought on sale is one third the price of stihl oil.

[barbender]

Diesel. 

[Walnut Beast]

Amsoil semi synthetic bar & chain oil 

[johnsayen]

You really use diesel?

[lxskllr]

to cut summer weight oil for winter.

[thecfarm]

I put a gallon on the front shelf of the OWB.
I only play in the woods in the wintertime. I might cut down 4 trees all day. I don't get started at 6am when there is snow on the ground. And most of my cutting is close to the house. 
Sometimes I don't even fill up the oil until I get back to the house. I bring the wood to where I cut it up and then bring the cut wood to the house.
I do have a big pile of wood just piled up. I cut it up as I need it.
Then when it dips down to around 12-13 I head for the house. warmer days are coming.  ;D

[sawguy21]

I use Stihl oil because it is proven and locally available. I don't use enough to get torqued over a buck difference in price and want the best protection for my tools, I take great pride in them. They are not disposable.

[barbender]

Yes, I just take a shot of #1 diesel out of my off road tank. I've never measured precisely, I just keep adding and shaking until I have the viscosity I'm looking for. If I have 3/4 gallon of summer weight oil, I'm probably adding a cup of diesel to it.

[hotshot]

Bar Oil
-Itasca
-Stihl Orange Bottle
-Stihl Premium (Silver Bottle)
-Husqvarna Premium
-Other big box store brands

Are they all the same? Marketing (paying for the name)? Is one really better than the other? How? Will I ever notice the difference?

Good info, from a college kid's class paper.