Doug Miller wrote:
In article , "George E. Cawthon" wrote:

Doug Miller wrote:

In article .com, "dean"

wrote:

Because every professional user I have ever seen is using 10W30 engine
oil. Now I'm not about to put that into my Stihls but I was just
wondering if I am wasting money on expensive bar oil?



Bar & chain oil is a *lot* thicker and stickier than motor oil. This helps it

stay on the chain. Motor oil will work, but it gets slung off the chain

pretty

quickly, so you have to replenish the oil reservoir more often. And it makes

a

hell of a mess.

Getting slung off the bar doesn't cause the saw to
use more oil. Just means that the bar gets
hotter,


i.e. it isn't getting adequate lubrication...


unless you dial up the oil flow.


And obviously if you dial up the oil flow, you use more oil.


'Course
all you need to do is add a little Motor Honey or
STP additive.


Or just use bar & chain oil to start with....


Bottom line: motor oil is cheaper, but you use more of it. I'm guessing it's
about even, price-wise.

That isn't true either, standard brands of motor
oil are more expensive unless you find a really
good sale.


In that case, what possible point is there in using motor oil? More expensive,
and you need more of it, equals "bad idea" from where I stand.

Absolutely.

Then there's your suggestion of adding STP... making a more-expensive
alternative even *more* expensive. I'm having trouble understanding why anyone
would want to do that...

Simple. You don't buy motor oil in preference to
bar oil. But if you have oil that otherwise you
wouldn't use (bad brand, high viscosity, low
quality/service rating; somebody gives you oil; or
you buy oil on sale for less than 50 cents a
quart, then use it instead of buying bar oil.
BTW, adding STP/Motor Honey will add less than 50
cents to a gallon of oil. And then, maybe
somebody will give you the Motor Honey.