Let’s Talk Stihl Chainsaw Oil Recommendations and Ratios

[04UZJ100]

Recently found myself down the rabbit hole of chainsaw(s) ownership. I picked up a MS261 as my first saw and was hooked. Few weeks went by and I picked up something bigger….an MS661.

I’ve run a tank of 50:1 MotoMix in them then started reading about how bad Stihl Ultra oil is. I promptly switched to VP 50:1 premixed.

For those that are in the know - what ratio are you using? Seems there is lack of consensus (surprisingly) as to 50:1 , 40:1, or even more. What are your thoughts and experiences?

These will not be in heavy use, at all.

 

[04UZJ100]

Before you ask - yes, got and wear all the PPE too.

 

[mudgudgeon]

I find the Stihl bar oil to be vastly better than any generic bar oils I tried.

Some of the generic bar oils weren't as slippery. Chain and bar would get hot faster. And seemed to use it up faster.
Stihl oil was more expensive, but I used less and was sharpening chains less.

It's 15+ years since I regularly used a saw though.

No real comment on fuel. I used stihl oil, and mixed to the recommended ratio

 

[Hugh Heifer]

If only there was an area of the forum to discuss something like this...
Oh wait!

Workshop and Home Improvement

Remodeling your kitchen? Sealing your shop floor? Trying to kill the weeds in the yard? Get your advice here!

forum.ih8mud.com

And maybe even a resident expert...
Oh wait!
@D'Animal

Now, having to taken the opportunity to make fun of you, I will state I use Opti-2 in everything 2 cycle I own.

 

[Spook50]

I've become a shameless shill for AMSOIL after experiencing the results firsthand. I mix their Saber 2-cycle oil at 90:1 with ethanol free 91 octane for all my 2-cycle engines (my Husqvarna blower that calls for 50:1, my old Ryobi trimmer and my 1980 Homelite chainsaw that both call for 32:1) and the improvement in power, starting, idle and acceleration when I blip the throttle (especially on the old Homelite) is nothing short of impressive.

I use their bar & chain oil in my saw also, and while it works great and the chain doesn't get hot even after heavy use, I have to qualify that with the fact that I have not used any other brand of bar & chain oil before using the AMSOIL in it.

 

[Bob Morazes]

Seems like we all have done this before, but its fun to look back and see if the advice has changed.
For me and my 50 years of chainsawing, (damn thats been way to long), I use old engine oil for the bar, and ONLY Stihl mix for the gas and ONLY non ethanol.
Interesting about the Saber oil mix. That might make starting and running a bit smoother, but I wonder how the reduced lubricating oil affects the engine wear?
Bobmo

 

[pb4ugo]

I generally use all stihl gas mix per stihls' instructions along with their bar oil. . Using more oil mix than recommended or a different mix like 40:1 leans out the engine. The oil will take the place of the gas and causes a lean condition and increases the compression ratio. Some folks think more oil is better, but it's not.

 

[1911]

I generally use all stihl gas mix per stihls' instructions along with their bar oil.

Me too. The dealer I bought mine from doubled the warranty, as long as I would only run Motomix in it.

 

[Rednexus]

Great minds think alike! I snagged this a few weeks ago after a day of using my FIL's 20+ year old MS291. It was $590 on a phantom, non-advertised Father's day sale. I have not used it yet either, but now as the proud owner of 4 acres of overgrown woods, hope to enjoy using it for the next 20 years.

I've owned a number of the homeowner-grade Stihl tools over the years. The first was a FS-45CE trimmer. I ran both the normal Stihl mix and 10% ethanol fuel in it, and it lasted maybe 7 years. The second is a BG 56 blower that's got the the normal mix and then HP Ultra for the past few years, but 91 octane (which here is usually 0% ethanol). All has been mixed at the recommended Sthil rate. The blower still runs great ~9-10 years in. All of my local dealers really recommend the HP Ultra synthetic oil. I'll keep using that and 91 octane, which also works very well in my small 4-cycle gas engines. The pre-mixed stuff is just too expensive for my blood.

 

[bj70_guy]

I don't have a stihl saw (mine's an old husky) but do have one of their string trimmers. Used motomix til the (doubled) warranty ran out and have run Aspen fuel ever since.
I don't use either of those tools enough that the cost of the Aspen fuel is an issue, and they always start right away after sitting all winter.

Lack of available non ethanol fuel up here now makes the premix even more preferable.

 

[04UZJ100]

Great minds think alike! I snagged this a few weeks ago after a day of using my FIL's 20+ year old MS291. It was $590 on a phantom, non-advertised Father's day sale. I have not used it yet either, but now as the proud owner of 4 acres of overgrown woods, hope to enjoy using it for the next 20 years.
View attachment 3668990
I've owned a number of the homeowner-grade Stihl tools over the years. The first was a FS-45CE trimmer. I ran both the normal Stihl mix and 10% ethanol fuel in it, and it lasted maybe 7 years. The second is a BG 56 blower that's got the the normal mix and then HP Ultra for the past few years, but 91 octane (which here is usually 0% ethanol). All has been mixed at the recommended Sthil rate. The blower still runs great ~9-10 years in. All of my local dealers really recommend the HP Ultra synthetic oil. I'll keep using that and 91 octane, which also works very well in my small 4-cycle gas engines. The pre-mixed stuff is just too expensive for my blood.

How about all this: @bj70_guy @Rednexus
@1911




Follow up. Delete Stihl Ultra Two Stroke Oil - https://youtu.be/SeirlL-sTOc?feature=shared

Stihl Ultra 50:1 Test. Stay to the end please! - https://youtu.be/3Mh9W7LklrU?feature=shared

 

[BadReligion]

Recently found myself down the rabbit hole of chainsaw(s) ownership. I picked up a MS261 as my first saw and was hooked. Few weeks went by and I picked up something bigger….an MS661.

I’ve run a tank of 50:1 MotoMix in them then started reading about how bad Stihl Ultra oil is. I promptly switched to VP 50:1 premixed.

For those that are in the know - what ratio are you using? Seems there is lack of consensus (surprisingly) as to 50:1 , 40:1, or even more. What are your thoughts and experiences?

These will not be in heavy use, at all.

View attachment 3668734

Having one large saw and a medium/small one is the perfect set up, using the large one for felling and bucking with a 28"+ bar, and an 18-20" bar on the smaller saw for limbing.

If you haven't tried the ES Lightweight bars, they are a bit $$, but incredibly light. A 36" ES Light weighs the same as a 28" ES. While I just mentioned using the small saw for limbing, with the 36" lightweight bar, it's almost easier to limb with that compared to a small saw and 18" bar because you don't have to bend down!

I've been running the Stihl Ultra for the same reason stated by others, the local dealer doubled my warranty if I bought some. It's the mix 1 with a gallon size, so I just follow the directions.

I haven't run a 661, but I am absolutely loving my 500i. Easy to start and absolutely rips with a 36" bar running full skip semi chisel. Fuel injection lives up to the hype.

 

[1911]

How about all this: @bj70_guy @Rednexus
@1911




Follow up. Delete Stihl Ultra Two Stroke Oil - https://youtu.be/SeirlL-sTOc?feature=shared

Stihl Ultra 50:1 Test. Stay to the end please! - https://youtu.be/3Mh9W7LklrU?feature=shared

I've never used the Ultra; I'm lazy and buy the pre-mixed Stihl Motomix.

 

[04UZJ100]

I've never used the Ultra; I'm lazy and buy the pre-mixed Stihl Motomix.

MotoMix uses Ultra as the lubricant.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I use the ultra in my 3 Stihl chainsaws, Kombi, and backpack blower. Chainsaws range from a 35 yo 028 Farm Boss to a new MS400. I keep the 1 gal and 2 gal bottles around and mix 50:1 per their recommendation. FWIW, I rarely bother with ethanol free and have never had a problem. I also prefer the Stihl bar oil vs Logger's Pride, etc.

 

[Big Ed]

I find the Stihl bar oil to be vastly better than any generic bar oils I tried.

Some of the generic bar oils weren't as slippery. Chain and bar would get hot faster. And seemed to use it up faster.
Stihl oil was more expensive, but I used less and was sharpening chains less.

It's 15+ years since I regularly used a saw though.

No real comment on fuel. I used stihl oil, and mixed to the recommended ratio

What do you Aussies call a chainsaw anyways? Gotta be something weird.

 

[mudgudgeon]

What do you Aussies call a chainsaw anyways? Gotta be something weird.

Nope.

But this gets called "the toothbrush"

 

[Rednexus]

Not exactly oil-related, but made some firewood-friendly mods to the tractor ballast box to make hauling the saw, oil, fuel, and other stuff a bit easier. Paint was still too wet to attach the jugs.

 

[04UZJ100]

Any feedback @D’Animal

 

[ZackR]

I run the Stihl ultra in my saws, no issues. I cut about 5-7 cords a year.

This wood is from a friend of mine, he had a huge ponderosa taken down and offered me the wood. The rounds were over 4' in diameter and too heavy to move so I had to noodle them up with my Husqvarna 365 Special.