20W-50 motorcycle oil in mower?

[Elkins45]

Somehow I ended up with a few quarts of 20W-50 NAPA motorcycle oil even though I don't own a motorcycle? Is there any reason I shouldn't use it in my Briggs & Stratton two cylinder mowers? My instincts tell me it would be fine.

 

[oldhp]

I've done it many times. Ran fine. Mower did want a chrome air cleaner and a straight pipe.

 

[Lubener]

It will work fine.

 

[slomo]

What does your Briggs engine manual say on oil?

 

[Elkins45]

What does your Briggs engine manual say on oil?

It says this, but I’ve used 15w40 in one of them for several years and it seems to do fine. When I replaced the crankcase gasket the internals all looked brand new.

 

[kschachn]

Somehow I ended up with a few quarts of 20W-50 NAPA motorcycle oil even though I don't own a motorcycle? Is there any reason I shouldn't use it in my Briggs & Stratton two cylinder mowers? My instincts tell me it would be fine.

That would be a good oil for your lawnmower.

 

[slomo]

View attachment 279382

It says this, but I’ve used 15w40 in one of them for several years and it seems to do fine. When I replaced the crankcase gasket the internals all looked brand new.

Send you personal info to the engineers that built the engine. Tell this it's brand new all over again.

 

[kschachn]

Send you personal info to the engineers that built the engine. Tell this it's brand new all over again.

Sure, why not?

 

[Elkins45]

Send you personal info to the engineers that built the engine. Tell this it's brand new all over again.

I’ve read your comments in the other thread so I’m just gonna go ahead and ignore anything you have to say about motor oil.

 

[ripcord]

The main difference between motorcycle and automotive oil is that motorcycle oil doesn't have friction modifiers due to the wet clutches used in many bikes. It probably has extra anti wear additives, too. Use it in your OPE with confidence.

My rider doesn't seem to mind the Havoline 20w-50 that's in it currently.

 

[Freischneider]

Kawasaki mower oils you get are API SL and JASO MA rated.

 

[wings&wheels]

Somehow I ended up with a few quarts of 20W-50 NAPA motorcycle oil even though I don't own a motorcycle? Is there any reason I shouldn't use it in my Briggs & Stratton two cylinder mowers? My instincts tell me it would be fine.

You will be more than fine and that oil will certainly take the heat of an air cooler. I have two antique garden tractors and both see Mobil 1 20w50 M/C oil.

 

[Kira]

A jump-in question. if I may? I may be expunging a life-long misconception.

All the mower/lawn tractor oils which come up here are detergent oils, yes?
I've been using non-detergent 30W in my mower for a long time.
Have I been wrong this whole time? I have always changed it out in a timely manner.

 

[DemoFly]

A jump-in question. if I may? I may be expunging a life-long misconception.

All the mower/lawn tractor oils which come up here are detergent oils, yes?
I've been using non-detergent 30W in my mower for a long time.
Have I been wrong this whole time? I have always changed it out in a timely manner.

ND oils lack pretty much everything an internal combustion engine needs. Some ancient splash lube engines called for non-detergent but that was back when ND oils were made with anti-wear, anti-rust, etc. Modern splash lube engines work just fine with modern detergent oils. Keep in mind, I've ran old splash lube mowers on cooking oil for YEARS as an experiment.

ND in a pressure lube engine is pure insanity.

 

[ripcord]

I wouldn't run ND oil in any internal combustion engine these days. Few if any contain any anti wear additives. The only thing I would use them in are things like pressure washer pumps when called for or air compressors.

 

[Kira]

Right.
"You want the rings to load up for good compression...", was the way I heard it.
Got it, pressure washer pumps and air compressors are just driven tools which just need lube.

Newly acquired lawn tractor w 23hp Kawasaki gets recommended 15w40 oil....obviously detergent.
I didn't back think it to the 40 year old Sensation. An hour mow and I'll change it to......15W-40?

 

[ripcord]

Sure, anything from 5w30 to 20w-50 is great. They're not picky. Full and clean is the main thing.

 

[Ride_Red]

Use the 20W-50.

The pull start will be a little harder to pull than 5w30 or 10w30, but it should run fine.

 

[nbpt100]

Use the 20W-50.

The pull start will be a little harder to pull than 5w30 or 10w30, but it should run fine.

Yes, Temperature dependent. On a warm day no problem. You may notice it on a cold day.

 

[Elkins45]

Yes, Temperature dependent. On a warm day no problem. You may notice it on a cold day.

It’s an electric start, and on a cold day I won’t be mowing.