Ariens oil

[Bettez88]

Does anyone know for sure if ariens branded oil has a high zinc content?

 

[Dennywires]

Most proprietary small engine oils not recommended for automobiles usually do have higher zinc levels

 

[blufeb95]

I'm not sure, they claim their non-ILSAC oil to be ILSAC oil, so I'd probably choose something else.

 

[jeepman3071]

Since it is SN/GF-5 I doubt it has higher levels of Zinc. Most small engine oils I've seen (Briggs, Kohler, etc) really aren't anything special compared to other available oils.

With that said, high levels of Zinc really aren't needed in small engines. Yes, they have flat tappet cams, but the valve spring pressures are very low. So low that you can push the valves open on an OHV engine with your hand most of the time. If it is a snowblower engine, run any good 5w30. Synthetic, conventional, etc, it will all work. 10w30 will be fine too. Any other small engine that sees summer use I like to run a HDEO 5w40 or 15w40 just because they seem to hold up better to burn off.

 

[blufeb95]

If you want more ZDDP, I think most Rotella varieties have ~1100ppm of phos, Mobil 1 15W-50 is similar, Mobil Delvac Extreme 15W40 has around 1200ppm, Supertech 20W-50 V-twin oil has 1100ppm of phos, Valvoline VR1 conventional should have like 1300ppm of phos and available in 10-30,20-50, SAE30 to SAE60 in monograde, and if you can find it anymore, I believe Delo 400 monograde has like 1400ppm but it's getting hard to find and I can't recommend paying $30+/gal for it.

 

[ironman_gq]

I usually use Rotella T-6 5w-40 in my snowblowers and 15w40 in my warm weather stuff. My snowblower is going on 30yrs of Minnesota winters and it runs as good as when it was new.

 

[wpod]

OPE engines are very low power density , low operating pressures and why the need for high zinc? you can push the valve s open with out much effort. The operating temps of the oil is a consideration .