Stihl 012 - Too much oil

CHDinCT · Oct 13, 2011

Been having this issue for a while and haven't found any similar posts doing a Google search. My 1990 Stihl 012 Avq goes through a tank of oil about as fast as the fuel mix. You can actually see it fling oil (I mean a lot of oil; I know some discharge is normal) on a fast rev up in RPM. Can't find out anything about an oil pump adjustment. Seems like 99% of the issues involve no or too little oil. I'm not a real chain saw geek so appreciate any suggestions on simple solutions before I have a dealer look at. It's my backup saw now, but it would be nice to have it working correctly if it's nothing too complicated/expensive to repair. Thanks

MMagis · Oct 13, 2011

Some saws have an adjustment, though I don’t think that one does? Anyways, a tank of oil to a tank of gas seems about normal to me.

RobertN · Oct 13, 2011

That's not unusual.

What does the manual say?

Baby Grand · Oct 13, 2011

CHDinCT said:
Been having this issue for a while and haven't found any similar posts doing a Google search. My 1990 Stihl 012 Avq goes through a tank of oil about as fast as the fuel mix. You can actually see it fling oil (I mean a lot of oil; I know some discharge is normal) on a fast rev up in RPM. Can't find out anything about an oil pump adjustment. Seems like 99% of the issues involve no or too little oil. I'm not a real chain saw geek so appreciate any suggestions on simple solutions before I have a dealer look at. It's my backup saw now, but it would be nice to have it working correctly if it's nothing too complicated/expensive to repair. Thanks

As MMagis says, a tank per tank of bar oil to fuel is about right. When you hold the bar tip over & pointed at a light colored object (stump) and run the saw at half throttle you're supposed to see oil fling off the chain & onto the stump. Sounds like you're saw is OK.

Do a search for "Sharp Advice for Chainsaw Owners" and download the pdf. Its a very good owner's operating guide by Stihl. Page 7 describes the bar lube check.

RobertN · Oct 13, 2011

STIHL Incorporated USA -- Information -- Manufacturing the World's Number One Selling Brand of Chain Saws

xyz123 · Oct 13, 2011

I like my saws to use almost a tank of bar oil to a tank of mix. Nothing wrong with that IMO and mine fling oil too.
It's the newer stingy ones that worry me.

dex3361 · Oct 13, 2011

I have an Stihl 012 and it is just as you say. One other thing to mention that I noticed is that it will pump bar oil out while idling. I always shut it off if not cutting. The other thing I do is put a little less than full tank of fuel so it always runs out of fuel before it runs out of bar oil.:thumbsup:

CHDinCT · Oct 19, 2011

OK guys, guess I'll not worry about it too much but it's my recollection that it didn't use this much oil until a year or so ago. It will leave an oily mess at the bottom of the saw case every time I take it out.

dex3361 said:
I have an Stihl 012 and it is just as you say. One other thing to mention that I noticed is that it will pump bar oil out while idling. I always shut it off if not cutting. The other thing I do is put a little less than full tank of fuel so it always runs out of fuel before it runs out of bar oil.:thumbsup:

dex, I like this idea and will proceed on that basis. I think I've been doing that subconsciously now by not topping off the mix without thinking about it. Thanks