Lawn mower engines

[Goomer]

I could save $9 if I used ordinary oil.

A whole 9 bucks.............SMH.

Why anybody would use "ordinary oil" or god forbid, automotive oil in a tool so vital to their everyday existence, to save 9...or ten....or even 20 bucks for that matter, completely baffles me.

 

[BIG WOOD]

A whole 9 bucks.............SMH.

Why anybody would use "ordinary oil" or god forbid, automotive oil in a tool so vital to their everyday existence, to save 9...or ten....or even 20 bucks for that matter, completely baffles me.

The reason they're wanting to save 20bucks, is because they don't know the difference between mobil one synthetic, and Royal Purple...Like me BEFORE I read this thread.

Thanks for the input. If I still had an air cooled engine, I'd switch IMMEDIATELY on the oil used. In the past, I never had enough evidence to give me reason to spend that extra $20 on oil changes. Now I do.

Let's up the ante on oil filters. For any and all engines, what's the best oil filter to use? I have no understanding of which filter is better than the other, just like I had no understanding of the oil before I read this thread

 

[FFA]

3 qts 5w30 synthetic small engine oil. I order extra.I get the 5w30 syn because it works year round from -20 to 120°. Add another $10 - $15 for the filter. I use the reccomended filter for my briggs.

 

[Jack Zipper Zerkie]

I wonder who makes the oil for Briggs ? jz.

 

[dgardner]

This company is associated with Joe Gibbs racing, they produce various oils for racing, off road and high performance street use. Most of their oils are high-ZDDP content.

Here is a zinc-rich oil for air-cooled engines:

http://www.drivenracingoil.com/dro/dt50-synthetic-15w-147html/

If you peruse the site there's a huge amount of info, complimentary to bobistheoilguy.

One caution, if it hasn't already been said, is don't use high-zddp oils if your TM is one of the few that sports a catalytic converter. That's the reason for reduced zinc, it kills the cats.

 

[Nampa Carpet Cleaning]

I just use Mobile 1 full synthetic. I buy it at Costco when it goes on sale for 8 bucks off a case of 6 quarts. I did use Redline in my 18 Hp Blazer and it had 2200 hrs on it and was still running strong when I sold it.

 

[dealtimeman]

To be completely truthful most oils are good and will serve you just fine.

The problem comes at the interval at which you change said oil. If you are changing your oil frequently you won't have a " regular or normal problem"

That said you always have the chance of getting a motor with a slightly defective part that could have the smallest of defect that will show up with under 1000 hours!

That is why some guys like fords and some guys like Chevy. This guy got a good Chevy and the other got a bad one.

Truth is most motors that are well maintaned last a long time.

 

[dealtimeman]

Long time is better than 2000 hours.

 

[dgardner]

All true. I do think cooling can be a factor too. All else being equal I think the installation that sacrifices good cooling will reduce engine life.

 

[steve_64]

Dont forget to keep air filters clean also.
Keeps the dirt out of the motor and allows it to breathe properly helping keep things cooler.

 

[Kevin B]

Royal Purple = Your engine will leak oil after using

 

[Larry Cobb]

Since we go thru engine mfg. certification with both Kohler and Honda engineers,
it is interesting what all of their testing shows.

Both test protocols show that the component closest to their limits for warranty certification is engine oil temp.

We always have used an unshrouded engine configuration in our TMs (Jack's included) to reduce the oil temps.

This is why air-cooled engines need a racing oil like Valvoline, which has the higher zinc-phosphate package and less detergent to compete with the zinc/phosphate coating.