Chainsaw Oil Protects Engine From Excessive Wear
A majority of chainsaws used by most homeowners are powered by a two-cycle engine as opposed to many lawn mowers that use a four-cycle power plant. A two-cycle engine requires the gasoline to be mixed with chainsaw oil in order to provide lubrication to the internal parts of the combustion engine. While the choice of chainsaw oil is open to debate, there are some things to consider when mixing the fuel for use in the saw.
It is important to understand that today's unleaded gasoline has numerous additives that actually spur the breakdown of the oil's lubrication properties. When mixing gasoline with chainsaw oil, the amount should only be enough for about a month's use. After about 30-days, the oil will lose its properties and can lead to damage to the engine. Additionally, it can have a negative effect on the reed valves inside the engine and cause the engine to run rough or not at all.
For the most part, chainsaw oil is not overly expensive, when considered the job it is doing to protect the engine. Once the chainsaw oil gas mixture is over a month old, it is recommended that it be disposed of properly and a new mixture made. This will help insure the chainsaw runs efficiently and will maintain the inner workings of the engine.
Used Oil Is Death Knell For Two-Cycle Engine
Some people may attempt to save a few cents by using used motor oil in place of chainsaw oil when they mix fuel for their saw. Consider the used motor oil has probably lost the majority of its lubricating properties before it was drained from the vehicle's crankcase, there is no reason to believe it will be a benefit to the chainsaw engine.
The typical ratio of chainsaw oil to gasoline is two ounces per gallon of gasoline, however fuel mixed chainsaw oil should follow the manufacturer's recommendation. Additionally, many people will mix the fuel in a one-gallon container, which in the end will mix the recommended amount of chainsaw oil with slightly less gasoline that is required.
This slight disparity may not cause major damage to the chainsaw, it could cause the saw to smoke slightly is there are two-ounces less gasoline in the chainsaw oil mixture than required. This provides a higher oil mixture than needed and over time, can affect the operation of the engine. When mixing gasoline with the chainsaw oil insure the oil is new and of the type recommended for use in two-cycle engines to help prolong the life of the chainsaw engine.
