Top off the bar oil tank. Don't empty it.

Top off the bar oil tank for winter storage, don’t empty it. That’s the move.

Emptying it just leaves moist air inside, which can condense and rust the tank. A full tank of bar oil displaces that air. And unlike gas, bar oil doesn’t go bad or varnish over a few months. It just sits there and does its job.

Keeping it full also keeps the oil pump and lines primed, so the saw is ready to go in spring without messing with it. One thing to watch: store the saw upright so oil doesn’t creep out of the bar or cap. And it’s worth running the saw for a few seconds before you put it away to work oil into the chain and bar so they don’t rust either.

Future you in April will be grateful.