4-cycle mower/2-cycle trimmer... oil rec's?

[wagsg]

Spring is almost here and it's time to prep the yard equipment. Normally I would buy the cheapest SAE30 for the mower and cheapest little 1 gal. mix bottle of 2-cycle for the trimmer, but after being at BITOG for the past several months... it just won't do any longer! Any recommendations on oils for these two items and a fuel/oil ratio for the 2-cycle other than 40:1? I was thinking of using Mobil 1 or Pennzoil Platinum 5W30's (that I use in the cars) in the 4-cycle, but wondering if 10W30/40 would be better or stick with SAE30.

Mower = Yard Machines - Techumseh 4.5 hp motor
Trimmer = Sears Crafstman - beats the #e\\ out of me motor

I'm actually looking forward to working on the equipment now... someone please help me!!!

 

[wagsg]

Thanks for the info blue... I don't want to obsess over my outdoor equipment, but I thought that if M1 or PP is good enough for my cars, maybe it's good enough for my mower (maybe I should go on a hunt for some GC

.

The Pennzoil 4-cycle looks good, if I can find it. I'm also going to check HD for the Echo 2-cycle.

 

[Blue99]

Air-cooled 4 cycle engines run hot and need a motor oil with heat resistant properties, such as a SAE 30. Also, higher levels of ZDDP are a plus in lawn & garden equipment.

Pennzoil SAE 30HD with SL levels of zinc is a good choice. Also worth considering are the 20 oz bottles of 4 cycle small engine oil that are found in the mower dept's of many stores.

As far as 2 cycle oil, the Echo Power Blend, available at Home Depot, is a great low smoke, semi-synthetic pre-mix oil.

 

[adam123]

I just got done changing oil in my Lawn mower about 2 days ago. Used Mobil 1 Ow40 Seems to like it so far.

 

[Blue99]

Here's a link to the Pennzoil 4 Cycle Engine Oil webpage.

This is an example of the 20 oz. bottle small engine oils that contain higher levels of zinc than the current crop of GF-4/SM motor oils.

 

[leaves and lawns]

Listen to Blue99-he hit it right on the money.

 

[04SpecV]

synthetic xw30 in the 4cycles.
mobil1 racing 2t in the 2 stroke..

Of course I just got a lawn boy 2stroke!. Using the LB oil for now. Maybe something else next time

 

[leaves and lawns]

sorry about that i mean

04specv has the right answers

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I use Rotella Synthetic 5W-40 in both of my push lawmowers. Has 1311 in zinc (VOA forum). Have a small front & yard area... about 3500 sq. ft to cut. Change it every two years. I use Shell Premium gasoline. Purrs like two kittens!

 

[JAYCEE]

Supertech 5-30 Full synthetic is under $3 per qt at Walmart. I run this in all of my outdoor equipment. Air-cooled engines love this stuff and it is much cheaper than M1 or PP.

Since I dump the oil every year no matter how many hours are on it, I can't justify those other oils when ST is so cheap and effective.

 

[wagsg]

Update: I went ahead and changed the oil in the mower (Tecumseh engine) to 5-30 Pennzoil Plat. I thought I'd try it at start-up and idle it low for a little while to see how it responded. If it seemed to be adversely effecting the engine, I'd dump it and put in SAE30.

Well, it ran great so I upped the throttle and let it run for a few more minutes. It was running as smooth as it ever has. I decided to go ahead and mow and have since mowed again. It's running very smooth and very even. Before it wasn't near as smooth and seemed to be running harder (not in a good way) at the same throttle speed.

I am going to keep a close eye (and ear) on it as the temperatures increase over the summer. I may add some SAE30 to beef it up a little.

 

[TxGreaseMonkey]

I run Mobil 1 0W-40 in my mower and Amsoil Saber two-cycle oil (mixed 100:1) in my Weedeater trimer and Craftsman blower. They love the stuff. Texas has a looong growing season!

If you need to replace the fuel line on your two-cycle equipment, I recommend Tygon Fuel and Oil tubing (get it at your local hobby shop). It's yellow in color and doesn't get stiff and brittle, unlike clear, vinyl tubing.

 

[meep424]

I had BAD experiences with M1 in the honda mower. The engine gets way too hot and M1 doesn't have very good shear additives when the film breaks down as a backup. After switching to Mobil 1 10w30 I got a lot more metal shavings than I did when on the reccomended stuff. started smoking on start, lots of clatter. :-0 I felt like an idiot, small children cried and my wife was ashamed...

Flushed with and switched to Rotella synth... it's a 5w40 or 15w40...can't recall which. Runs great since then.

Meep

 

[oilboy123]

Wow I have run Amsoil 5w30 in a Honda Pressure washer and briggs mower and edger. Been doing it for 10 + years, works very well.
The engines run like brand new. Granted they don't get constant use.....

I would think the Mobil 1 would work as well as the Amsoil?