Chainsaw Leaks Bar Oil When Sitting? Here’s Why and How You Can Fix It!

Leaking oil in chainsaw most commonly shows up as a case full of bar oil. Especially if you haven’t got something stuffed at the bottom of the chainsaw case. Oil is found on the shelf where the chainsaw sits on.

This happens in electric chainsaws as they sit. But why does it happen even if the chainsaw is barely used?

It can be many things starting from gas oil caps to the environment the chainsaw’s been sitting in.

This article is about how to detect the causes of a chainsaw bar oil leak and how to prevent it.

Why Chainsaw Bar Oil Leaks?

There are a few reasons why a chainsaw bar oil leaks. But you will find that chainsaw oil leaks for no reason either. Below are a few reasons and the fix.

1. Gas Caps Going Bad

Firstly, gas and oil caps going bad are the most common reason of chainsaw bar oil leaks. Because:

• They are made of cheap material.
• They close the oil reservoir.
• They are overlooked and unchecked for a long time.

They easily go bad over frequent pulling out (with the notches and they split).

Fix: Gas Cap Replacement

Change the gas or oil cap.You should be easily able to find a part on amazon (from any of these ones)

2. Displacement of Small Parts

The second reason, which is sneaky, is the tiny parts (e.g: a grommet) displacing. It may seem like there is no possible reason for a oil leak. However,

1. The chainsaw heats up after frequent revving cycles (revving and stopping then revving and stopping again).

1. This heat causes it to throw up much oil and gunk.
2. This is because grommets at the bottom get displaced.

Fix: Put the Pieces into Place

The expert professionals from Florida, Texas (all the hot states) seem to face this problem. And they solve it with various socket tools, wrenches and in general go creative in gently putting the displaced piece in order.

If you want an example and an idea of how to do it, check this video.

3. Excessive Oil

Thirdly,(and this is the most annoying cause) is excessive oil. There is no possible reason for a chainsaw to leak, yet it would still leak. This is the reason. You’re throwing tons of bar oil up into the clutch cover around the sprocket.

Putting in cold bar oil and then bringing the saw into a warm building will build just enough pressure to push out some oil.

And in hot weather like 86-90 degrees Fahrenheit, the chainsaw will leak if let to sit for 2-3 days. Even if your garage is a hot and cool one.

This causes oil to be stuck up inside the clutch cover, and attract gunk. So like many online blogs tell you, dirt does not cause an oil leak, but an oil leak is the cause of gunk.

And what speeds up this process? HEAT!

The more the temperature, the runnier the bar oil, and the more it will leak.

This brings me to the fourth reason.

Fix: Change Oil

Put new thick oil after usage. This prevents thin oil from escaping, that causes leaking. 

4. Bending of Metallic Apertures

The metallic plate near the oil cap gets bent often due to heat or impact. This causes an overall change of the structure of the saw. And new spaces for the oil to leak shows up.

Fix: Replace Bent Metallic Parts

As discussed, metallic parts get bent due to heat and creat spaces for the oil to seep through. These parts should be replaced.

Replace metallic plates that are bent. Check metallic areas of other openings. Definitely use genuine parts.

Some Other Ways to Control Oil Leakage of Sitting Chainsaws

Here’s are a few tips to control the leakage of oil from chainsaws:

Fix 1: Release Gas Pressure

Release the built pressure by opening the fill cap. Additionally, leave the saw rest on its side.

Fix 2: Optimum Environment for the Saw

Keep the saw in a cool and hot garage. A hot and cool garage means temperature balnced, in short. Frequent cooling and normalization of temperature ( especially in Florida hot weather takes place)

Do not let the saw sit outside if the weather is too hot.

Fix 3: Clean Oiler Hole

Make sure the oiler hole is really clean. Clean the groove inside the bar regularly. Because sawdust builds up and absorbs a lot of the oil on the chain. And sometimes the absorbed oil would leak.

Which Chainsaws Leak the Most?

6-month-old 455 R chainsaws leak very badly. The Stihl MS 250 C chainsaws have problematic tool escape caps. A Poulan Super DA is notorious for oil leaks.

A Husqvarna 365, 346xp, 545, and 450 are also prone to oil leaks. A  Jonsered 2152-C also frequently leaks oil when let to sit. The same is the case for Jonsered 2150.

What Is the Price of the Replacement Parts for Oil Leak in a Chainsaw?

Some common part replacement is needed which cause oil leaks. You don’t need to change them all together. But depending on the problem, you should order a new part. Here’s a list of common parts that cause problems:

Name of Parts	Price
Oil Plate (For Husqvarna; no: 503 87 56-01)	$10-20
Oil Line (For Husqvarna; no: 503 85 47-01)	$6-11
Oil Cap	$7-15
Oil Pump Kit	$16-44

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)