ATV oil for mowers?

[JHZR2]

Is there any benefit to this type of oil for splash or even pressure lubed mowers?

Maybe at least if you have a YOLO splurge inkling?

I scratched my head a while as to why straight CF/SL Rotella 30wt is over $17…

Which is why the thought came to mind. After all, Rotella 15w-40 is $15/gal. No reason to pay $17 for straight 30, but then again the atv and straight oil have an SL rating while the 15w-40s no longer have a gas engine rating, FWIW.

Uses include Kawasaki engine in a 25yo JD push mower, B&S flatheads in nearly 40YO snapper mowers, and 1kW inverter generators.

Used to run Amsoil ACD which was a straight 30 but also a 10w-30 however that worked out. Also have run the Delo 15w-30.

But what to use these days??

 

[fantastic]

I would think it's worth it if the price was good. Should be good for high RPM engines like a mower.

 

[Elkins45]

One of my mowers has the last of my stash of Harvest King 30 grade and the other has Delo 1300 15w-40. At the next change both will be running Delo because I bought a bucket of it.

 

[JavierH19]

Not sure if there's a benefit but it can't hurt. And yeah that t1 is overpriced. the walmart cf-2 is cheaper but still costs the same as 15w-40.

 

[BigCahuna]

Super tech's API rating, and JASO ratings are what alot of street motorcycles require. As long as that's the correct weight, no reason it wouldn't work in a mower. I had a Kawasaki 1700 cc motorcycle, and those are the ratings it required. But in the 10w40 flavor. I also use it in my lawn mowers. The diesel oil specs don't really seem to be what the mfgr recommends, but might be fine. I would use something closer to what the mfgr specs tho.,,

 

[Slick3914]

No, just run whatever is on hand.

 

[cptbarkey]

I have a few hard hours on a Coleman go kart with a Honda clone engine with Lucas 10w30. It runs fine. Picked it up on sale at AAP awhile back, wouldnt buy it otherwise.

 

[johnD2]

At that price I'd just buy a name brand. Valvoline VR1 is cheaper at walmart.

 

[nwjones18]

Only if you have a clutch that is in the oil... That is what that JASO MA2 spec is about. If that isn't the case there is zero benefit for something like a lawn mower.

I run this in my old 3-wheeler that has a wet clutch:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline-4-Stroke-ATV-UTV-SAE-10W-40-Motor-Oil-1-QT/19514362

I've run whatever is handy for years, lately I've had 15w-40 delvac around and all my mowers/atv's are liking it just fine.

 

[JHZR2]

Super tech's API rating, and JASO ratings are what alot of street motorcycles require. As long as that's the correct weight, no reason it wouldn't work in a mower. I had a Kawasaki 1700 cc motorcycle, and those are the ratings it required. But in the 10w40 flavor. I also use it in my lawn mowers. The diesel oil specs don't really seem to be what the mfgr recommends, but might be fine. I would use something closer to what the mfgr specs tho.,,

The Rotella 30wt is API SL. Probably has more zddp than the SP “HD30” supertech oil.

Intent of a motorcycle/ATV oil isn’t for the clutch side of things. It’s to get a modern-ish oil that’s designed for hot running air-cooled applications. That’s not what an HDEO or pcmo is, per se.

 

[JHZR2]

At that price I'd just buy a name brand. Valvoline VR1 is cheaper at walmart.

I don’t care the brand. They didn’t have valvoline, they had M1 motorcycle oils in the shelf next to the supertech. I just used the supertech because of the shiny, fancy metallic label.

 

[repairman54]

I would think it's worth it if the price was good. Should be good for high RPM engines like a mower.

Most OPE only run at 3600 rpm max. Not exactly high rpm like MC and SxS engines. But it would be just fine in OPE.

 

[Nessism1]

As long as you change the lawn equipment oil at yearly intervals, I doubt it matters what kind of oil you use (within reason). Personally, I bought a jug of 10W-30 Delvac Extreme for my lawn equipment. It was cheap enough, and good quality, so why not?

 

[johnD2]

I've been running Napa conventional or synthetic, usually one of two is on sale. Napa Synthetic 15w50, $5.39 a quart, is on sale now.

 

[thastinger]

Is there any benefit to this type of oil for splash or even pressure lubed mowers?

View attachment 296523

Maybe at least if you have a YOLO splurge inkling?

I scratched my head a while as to why straight CF/SL Rotella 30wt is over $17…

View attachment 296525View attachment 296526

Which is why the thought came to mind. After all, Rotella 15w-40 is $15/gal. No reason to pay $17 for straight 30, but then again the atv and straight oil have an SL rating while the 15w-40s no longer have a gas engine rating, FWIW.

Uses include Kawasaki engine in a 25yo JD push mower, B&S flatheads in nearly 40YO snapper mowers, and 1kW inverter generators.

Used to run Amsoil ACD which was a straight 30 but also a 10w-30 however that worked out. Also have run the Delo 15w-30.

But what to use these days??

I would think you would want an oil with an HTHS>3.5 for an air cooled mower. So long as it has that you're likely GTG.

 

[nomas]

When I was a kid nobody abused a lawnmower more than my Dad . Never sharpened the blade . Never cleaned the air filter . Checked the oil whenever he thought about it and added whatever was handy . Mostly Quaker State 30w or 10w-30 . Usually the deck rotted out before the engine quit ..

 

[IndyIan]

The Rotella 30wt is API SL. Probably has more esp than the SP “HD30” supertech oil.

Intent of a motorcycle/ATV oil isn’t for the clutch side of things. It’s to get a modern-ish oil that’s designed for hot running air-cooled applications. That’s not what an HDEO or pcmo is, per se.

Usually the HDEO's have a high HTHS and a high flashpoint. It's been mentioned here that they don't have great anti foaming ratings, which seems like an issue with splash lubrication, but I guess these engines are similar to those designed in the 1960's for non-detergent 30W...
I'm sure redline 10W40 synthetic motor cycle oil is better than HDEO in a 250cc motocross bike with its neck wrung to 13k rpm all day. In a splash lube lawn mower, probably either will do just fine.

My riding mower and roto-tiller, don't get tons of hours, but they are up near 35 and 50 years old, and I've had them for 18 years now, and they just get oil, anything will do for a top up, and for a full change, I've mostly put in whatever pail of HDEO I have around. Or some PYB 5W30

Also, lots of OPE isn't running super hot or under big loads all the time. I think only my little 3.5 B&S rototiller, and walk behind snowblower really get loaded up over half throttle for minutes at a time. Lawn mowers get the odd thick spot, but at least at my place, I can rarely run them working very hard while still getting a decent cut?