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Bar oil vs canola oil

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by swags, Dec 30, 2013.

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  1. swags

    swags Moderator

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    So today while cutting up a locust and stretching the legs on the 460 I tried a few different oils. The saw had a tank of regular bar oil in it. With the cold today it was really thick, after emptying the gas tank I refilled the oil with canola oil. The canola oil was noticeably thinner an I was amazed at the difference. The saw cut much better after swapping out to the canola oil. Was fun to get to try some different oils and bee a difference.
     
    swags, Dec 30, 2013
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  2. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    Is Canola oil cheaper?
     
    firecracker_77, Dec 30, 2013
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  3. raybonz

    raybonz Moderator

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    raybonz, Dec 30, 2013
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  4. swags

    swags Moderator

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    I buy it at an over stock grocery store. Cuts down the cost for sure. Other benefits is it has the same viscosity as bar oil so is good for the bar and chain and it's not a pollutant
     
    swags, Dec 30, 2013
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  5. Pallet Pete

    Pallet Pete Moderator

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    Hmm I might try that again it's been a while.
     
    Pallet Pete, Dec 30, 2013
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  6. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    How does that canola oil do when it's warm out? Does it stick to the bar ok?
     
    firecracker_77, Dec 30, 2013
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  7. thistle

    thistle

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    Yes it does.
     
    thistle, Dec 30, 2013
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  8. Nixon

    Nixon

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    Quick question here . Does it go all tacky over time like some vegetable oils do when left exposed to air and heat?
    Basically does it make clean up more difficult?
    Sorry ,that was two questions . :whistle:
     
    Nixon, Dec 30, 2013
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  9. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    If it is thinner I assume you go through more.. which makes it about the same cost as bar oil??
     
    the GOAT, Dec 30, 2013
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  10. Pallet Pete

    Pallet Pete Moderator

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    I will admit this time of year I have to thin my bar oil with 5w or synthetic because of the cold. I could see the cost being about the same due to that.
     
    Pallet Pete, Dec 30, 2013
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  11. raybonz

    raybonz Moderator

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    Not true the pump will not increase the volume but it flows easier to the chain and bar.. I have used it and fill both tanks as normal..
     
    raybonz, Dec 30, 2013
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  12. swags

    swags Moderator

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    Used it for a long time and haven't noticed it get tacky yet. I get bottles that are smaller, I think about a liter. This partial jug of bar oil I used came with a lot of tools I traded for. First time I've used actual bar oil in over a year.
     
    swags, Dec 30, 2013
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  13. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Prob real good for the 460 in cold weather as the stock oil pump is known to be a bit stingy.

    Good question Nixon, my understanding is that Canola does not have that problem (whereas plain veggie oil does?) but I do not know for sure?

    Could always turn the pump down.

    Depends, I picked up 3 gallons of bar oil at TSC this summer for $7 a gallon which is a screamin' deal. It's awful thick for real cold weather use IMO so maybe I'll consider Canola as my winter oil?
     
    MasterMech, Dec 30, 2013
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  14. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    I'm running oil that was about $8 a gallon, so that's not much more than canola...sounds like the canola would be a little more fluid when cold, but I'm not sure it would make a difference once that bar is really warm. The oiler probably gets hot off that engine.
     
    firecracker_77, Dec 30, 2013
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  15. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    The muffler tends to pre-heat the oil in the tank as well. But it does take time to get everything up to temp and if you can get oil flowing sooner, better. And if it's real cold and snowy, nothing is gonna heat up much.
     
    MasterMech, Dec 30, 2013
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  16. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    Unless you're a goof like me and have your chain way too tight. Then, that bar gets over heated quick.
     
    firecracker_77, Dec 30, 2013
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  17. Nixon

    Nixon

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    Brian,
    The reason I asked about Canola vs vegetable oil is that in a previous life ,I was a construction superintendent .
    One of the things I would have our crew do is spray down all the windows on newly framed houses with WD40 before the masons bricked up the house,as the mortar would stick to the glass and frames and was heck to get off if we didn't .
    Well, I tried veg. Oil because it was cheap . The folks that clean the houses after they were done were not amused . It turned into a sticky mess ,and took some pretty healthy detergent to remove .
    Kinda want to avoid that on my saws . :D
     
    Nixon, Dec 30, 2013
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  18. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Don't worry, every once in awhile I catch myself putting a chain on backwards. :emb:
     
    MasterMech, Dec 30, 2013
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  19. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    IIRC, Zap (aka. TheWoodlands ) runs canola quite a bit. Betcha he could tell you what happens long-term.
     
    MasterMech, Dec 30, 2013
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  20. HDRock

    HDRock

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    Bought some canola oil, haven't used it yet, but the bar oil coming out of the bottle like motor honey ,doesn't seem like it would flow very well
     
    HDRock, Dec 30, 2013
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