What Kind of Oil Do I Need for a STIHL Chainsaw?

Engine Gas

• Two-stroke engines mix oil and gasoline together in one tank to provide power. A specially formulated oil from Stihl should be put into the gas tank at the same time the gas is added, but generic oils that are labeled as being "for 2-stroke engines" are also available from hardware stores. Usually, the oil comes in a package of four or more small bottles. The bottles have the correct ratio for one gallon of gas. Many people pre-mix the gas and oil in a container that they only use for two-stroke engine maintenance.

Engine Gas Management

• Forgetting to add oil to the engine gas will result in an engine that has "seized." This means that the pistons are frozen in place and are no longer working. This usually requires an engine rebuild to fix, which is quite expensive. One way to prevent this is to add a label near the gas tank that reminds you to always use the right gas can when you're refueling the Stihl.

Chain Oil

• The Stihl chainsaw chain revolves around the bar many times per second for long periods of time. Metal-to-metal contact at this speed generates a great deal of friction and high heat. Chainsaws depend upon oil to minimize the friction and reduce the heat. Specially formulated oils that clean and lubricate the chain are sold by Stihl and other companies. They are available at hardware stores -- look in the yard and garden power tools section for "chain oil." Early chainsaws required the operator to remember to press a button that squirted oil onto the chain, but current chainsaws have a self-oiling feature.

Chain Oil Management

• The consequences of running out of chain-lubricating oil can be catastrophic. The chain can break from the friction and fly in many directions. The high speed and sharp parts make this an extremely dangerous occurrence. According to the University of Missouri, chainsaws with automatic oilers manage the chain oil so that they run out of gas before they run out of oil. It is vital to always add chain oil when you're refilling the gas tank.