freezing point of canola oil

pete3d

pete3d

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Hinchinbrooke
A couple of years ago I started using exclusively canola oil in my electric saws. This winter I got lazy and have been storing them in the cold instead of bringing them in at night, only bringing in the batteries. I now see the error of my ways.

The oil congealed at the temperatures we’ve been having night and day around here this year. In fact it freezes (according to Google) at 14°F or -10°C.

I’m sure all you savvy form members knew that, but for me it’s live and learn.
 
I'll have to check mine. The truck is in the shop (uninsulated/unheated) which is usually warmer than outside, but it is supposed to be 4° F later this week.... Probably should put it in the "warm room" I made for pesticide storage.
 
That's pretty much my experience. It gels at around 15 f. It seems To be more freeze proof if it is a new bottle. humidity/ little bits of snow as contaminants can make it freeze at warmer temps
 
RopeShield said:
Minus 15 c no ics, aerial work few hours and more at times for several winters, no problemo
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I have had the same success at those temperatures - but that was when taking my saws out to work after they spent the night heated indoors.

I believe the oil doesn’t “freeze” quickly - it’s more a slow thickening molasses like business, unlike the distinct solidification of water.
 
pete3d said:
A couple of years ago I started using exclusively canola oil in my electric saws. This winter I got lazy and have been storing them in the cold instead of bringing them in at night, only bringing in the batteries. I now see the error of my ways.

The oil congealed at the temperatures we’ve been having night and day around here this year. In fact it freezes (according to Google) at 14°F or -10°C.

I’m sure all you savvy form members knew that, but for me it’s live and learn.
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I always forget how lucky I am in this context, being in FL, have not even considered a petrol-based bar oil for probably a year now, being in-tree breathing a mist of Oak dust & bar-oil, and subsequent cleaning & maintenance, even storage & transport, are so much nicer knowing it's simple canola instead of petrol, nevermind how cheap it is too (oh and how good for the enviroment, if that's not a "doesn't need saying" lol, if you saw a lot you are dumping a TON of oil into the environment, it's your call if it's biodegradable or not...unless you live in some countries where it's actually a legal mandate for biodegradable bar-oil!

(@pete3d I learned the hard way w/ a 40v Ryobi pole that you can't leave ANY oil in it-- a new/late model, from '21, quite literally weeps oil - by design!! Figured I had a leak, wasn't able to resolve it, turns out it was by-design and even mentioned in the manual, blew my mind any saw, pole or otherwise, made in the past decade could have anything-besides a clutch-driven oiler, let alone one that weeps when unit is Off!!! Love that pole regardless, very happy w/ my lil 40v ryobi kit actually, will "go pro" with lithium gear once they get more reasonable w/ prices!!)
 
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eyehearttrees said:
...Or anywhere, really- try Canola Oil instead of Petrol-based! I'm at 3mo+ now of using it for all my b&c's, here in FL, have noted no losses/downsides whatsoever...
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I wouldn't say we've experienced NO downsides. Have been doing it for about 5-6 years now. The only thing I've noticed is that Canola causes the saws to collect more of the fine sawdust under the clutch cover.

On my 18V Makita top handle, I need to clean that out more frequently or it bogs down.

I just had an MS261 in for service and the tech asked "are you using this to cut ties or wood mats". I said, "no, what makes you think that". He said "the way the dirt/dust is packed in there is not typical". Wasn't hurting the saw at all.

This is not a big problem...just needs a little more cleaning when the clutch cover is off anyhow. Probably picking nits, but just noting that we've had one small downside. I'll continue using 100% Canola.
 
eyehearttrees said:
Figured I had a leak, wasn't able to resolve it, turns out it was by-design and even mentioned in the manual, blew my mind any saw, pole or otherwise, made in the past decade could have anything-besides a clutch-driven oiler, let alone one that weeps when unit is Off!!!
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Don’t feel too bad, your in good company.:cry::cry:
Shortly after buying my Husky 536LiPT5 pole saw, chain oil was “pouring” out of the saw head when stored, so I checked the manual - nothing there. Took it in to the dealer. He just glanced at it and said, “They do that.”
 
Further investigation of this issue has made me realize that in practice canola oil is really quite tolerant of lower temperatures.
For example during a recent temperature dip (-20°C or -4°F at night and -16°C or 3°F daytime) the small container of canola oil I keep aside for my pole saw (which must be emptied at day’s end or it will leak) remained sufficiently fluid to fill the saw and function properly all day, though both the saw and oil are stored in an unheated garage.

When I started this thread I was taken aback finding all my outdoor canola oil holdings, whether in containers, or in saws, were solid, opaque, white, plastic-like masses, but this was after several days of constant sub-zero Fahrenheit (<-18°C) temperatures.
 
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Are you guys running running canola oil in all your saws year round? With the raising cost of bar oil is looking like a more and more tempting option we're around 15$ a gallon here for bar oil now.
 
1 Gal of canola is 9 bucks at Walmart, or 12 at the local grocery store. Definitely makes the equation skew towards canola
 
Vicente said:
Are you guys running running canola oil in all your saws year round? With the raising cost of bar oil is looking like a more and more tempting option we're around 15$ a gallon here for bar oil now.
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Yes. 100% in all saws for the last +/-6(?) years.
 
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