Does it make sense to run a really high quality oil in an air cooled engine? I would think in summer an air cooled engine gets hotter than the water cooled equivalent and would put more stress on the oil.
Does it make sense to run a really high quality oil in an air cooled engine? I would think in summer an air cooled engine gets hotter than the water cooled equivalent and would put more stress on the oil.
Exactly. Two things to keep in mind about air cooled engines:... The most important thing with a small engine (especially splash lubed with no filter) is to keep the oil level full, and change it at the correct interval to get out the contaminants. Those are the most important factors. One might even bet that if you run a cheap oil but change it sooner you would be better off than running an expensive oil.
And change the oil more than once a decade or never.it is more important to make sure the oil level is correct before you use the mower.
Hey leave me outta thisAnd change the oil more than once a decade or never.
Typically, air cooled engines will contaminate oil before they stress or shear it. With air cooled aircraft piston engines (Lycoming & Continental) the limiting factor for oil change interval is contamination, so the oil change interval is twice as long (from 25 hours to 50) when you use a filter. Of course they also run leaded gasoline which increases the contamination, but even with unleaded gas an air cooled engine still has rapid contamination due to (1) above.
Small engines (air cooled or not) are the most forgiving pieces on Earth. You could put the very best or the cheapest oil in and they keep going with no damage either way. THE KEY IS TO CHANGE THE OIL WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO.Does it make sense to run a really high quality oil in an air cooled engine? I would think in summer an air cooled engine gets hotter than the water cooled equivalent and would put more stress on the oil.
Guess I'll assume we're talking about mower/tiller etc. If that is the case, those engines don't run nearly as hot as people might think. Those things have a huge metal surface area to dissipate heat that gets forced air blown across it all the time. Most newer/high(ish) end motors like this also have an external oil cooler of various designs.Does it make sense to run a really high quality oil in an air cooled engine? I would think in summer an air cooled engine gets hotter than the water cooled equivalent and would put more stress on the oil.
On climb, aircraft piston engines run at full power with less cooling due to the slower airspeed and the pitch angle of the cowl. Cylinder head temps can get to 400* F or so. They may do this continuously for 20-30 minutes to reach cruise altitude, where they'll be operated typically around 70% of rated power.A couple of differences however. Air cooled aircraft engines all have oil coolers, and they operate for most of their running time, at altitude where
the air temperature is lower than ground level.
Many use synthetic oil in OPE/lawn equipment with good results. Also, some have checked oil temps after a hour or so of running and found
temps in the 230/245 range. That is the temps where conventional oil starts breaking down.
My 2¢
Which is why you transition from best angle to best rate of climb as soon as practical.On climb, aircraft piston engines run at full power with less cooling due to the slower airspeed and the pitch angle of the cowl. Cylinder head temps can get to 400* F or so. They may do this continuously for 20-30 minutes to reach cruise altitude, where they'll be operated typically around 70% of rated power.
True. And you can climb at an even slower rate / flatter pitch angle / higher airspeed for additional cooling, where terrain permits. The training says use a rich mixture to improve cooling during the climb, but lowering the nose / pitch angle is even more effective than that.Which is why you transition from best angle to best rate of climb as soon as practical.