Best 4 cycle small engine oil for any price.
- Thread starter greenaccord02
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Originally Posted By: Pete591
Any synthetics to avoid in small engines?...
No, synthetics are perfectly fine to use in small engines. It's just overkill, so most small engine manufacturers don't mention anything in their literature about using synthetics.
Any synthetics to avoid in small engines?...
No, synthetics are perfectly fine to use in small engines. It's just overkill, so most small engine manufacturers don't mention anything in their literature about using synthetics.
Briggs and Stratton makes it's own brand of synthetic and recommends 5w30 synthetic in some of it's larger engines.
check it out:
http://www.genspringpower.com/id16.html
check it out:
http://www.genspringpower.com/id16.html
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
Briggs and Stratton makes it's own brand of synthetic and recommends 5w30 synthetic in some of it's larger engines.
check it out:
http://www.genspringpower.com/id16.html
Bradd Penn makes all the 30wt for B&S; it's loaded with ZDDP. The oil is green.
In the newer B&S V-Twins they spec. for 10w30 conventional.
Briggs and Stratton makes it's own brand of synthetic and recommends 5w30 synthetic in some of it's larger engines.
check it out:
http://www.genspringpower.com/id16.html
Bradd Penn makes all the 30wt for B&S; it's loaded with ZDDP. The oil is green.
In the newer B&S V-Twins they spec. for 10w30 conventional.
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I seem to be the only one to be doing used oil analysis on my 16 HP V-Twin motot. WHile the wear numbers are almost non-existant; these motors do shear the oil a full grade by 25 hrs.
So I use Mobil 1 15w50 Goldcap and change every 25hr for that reason.
So I use Mobil 1 15w50 Goldcap and change every 25hr for that reason.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: Pete591
..these motors do shear the oil a full grade by 25 hrs.
That would specifically depend on the oil being used and how/where the engine is being used.
Joel
..these motors do shear the oil a full grade by 25 hrs.
That would specifically depend on the oil being used and how/where the engine is being used.
Joel
Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: Pete591
..these motors do shear the oil a full grade by 25 hrs.
That would specifically depend on the oil being used and how/where the engine is being used.
Joel
Agreed.
16 HP V-Twin on a tractor; 38" deck and used 2x/week for an hour each time; 6 mos of the year.
That's not real heavy duty I would think.
I have seen 30wt Briggs/ Redline/RP and M-1 Multi-Vis all shrink a grade in 25 hrs.
V-Twins for some reason will do this told.
Originally Posted By: Pete591
..these motors do shear the oil a full grade by 25 hrs.
That would specifically depend on the oil being used and how/where the engine is being used.
Joel
Agreed.
16 HP V-Twin on a tractor; 38" deck and used 2x/week for an hour each time; 6 mos of the year.
That's not real heavy duty I would think.
I have seen 30wt Briggs/ Redline/RP and M-1 Multi-Vis all shrink a grade in 25 hrs.
V-Twins for some reason will do this told.
Originally Posted By: Pete591
Any synthetics to avoid in small engines?
I have not heard much about Royal Purple in small engines.
My late model honda push mower DID NOT do well with Mobil 1 10w30.
1st OC (early). metal filings. "ok... left from manufacturing"
2nd OC. (when book called for 1st OC) "hmm...more metal filings"
started to smoke on startup. [censored]. No longer held on to idle.
3rd and all other OC went to rotella T 5-40. ever since, the filings (or glistening in the draining oil) have gone away and the smoking has gone away gradually. It's even started to idle on its own again.
I'm not making this up... it hated that oil. It's a pretty big deck (21 or 22?) for that little engine that has a double blade and loads up very badly if the grass is more than 1" above cut height. That engine works very, very hard in our application.
Based on this, I stopped using M1 in our cars.
M
Any synthetics to avoid in small engines?
I have not heard much about Royal Purple in small engines.
My late model honda push mower DID NOT do well with Mobil 1 10w30.
1st OC (early). metal filings. "ok... left from manufacturing"
2nd OC. (when book called for 1st OC) "hmm...more metal filings"
started to smoke on startup. [censored]. No longer held on to idle.
3rd and all other OC went to rotella T 5-40. ever since, the filings (or glistening in the draining oil) have gone away and the smoking has gone away gradually. It's even started to idle on its own again.
I'm not making this up... it hated that oil. It's a pretty big deck (21 or 22?) for that little engine that has a double blade and loads up very badly if the grass is more than 1" above cut height. That engine works very, very hard in our application.
Based on this, I stopped using M1 in our cars.
M
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Originally Posted By: meep
Originally Posted By: Pete591
Any synthetics to avoid in small engines?
I have not heard much about Royal Purple in small engines.
My late model honda push mower DID NOT do well with Mobil 1 10w30.
1st OC (early). metal filings. "ok... left from manufacturing"
2nd OC. (when book called for 1st OC) "hmm...more metal filings"
started to smoke on startup. [censored]. No longer held on to idle.
3rd and all other OC went to rotella T 5-40. ever since, the filings (or glistening in the draining oil) have gone away and the smoking has gone away gradually. It's even started to idle on its own again.
I'm not making this up... it hated that oil. It's a pretty big deck (21 or 22?) for that little engine that has a double blade and loads up very badly if the grass is more than 1" above cut height. That engine works very, very hard in our application.
Based on this, I stopped using Mobil 1 in our cars.
M
You had a very strange, unusual experience with your Honda. I have a mower with the Honda 160 GCV OHC engine on it, purchased in 2000. Presently it has around 475 hours on it. Since the first oil change at about 5 hours, as recommended, it has had a yearly oil change using Mobil 1 5W30. It has never used any oil in this one year, average 60 hour OCI. One year I had an extra quart of Mobil 1 0W30, and I used that; still no oil usage that year.
From the time Mobil 1 came out, back in the 70's, I believe, I used in in my cars and trucks, changing yearly, until I retired back in 2001. Never had a problem and the OCI's were at 18,000 to 20,000 miles. Retired now, and I only drive 5 or 6 thousand miles a year, so I am back to using any dino on sale, with a 6 month OCI.
Your Honda mower is probably a 21 inch. Most walk-behind mowers are. This is normally an easy load for any Honda engine, whether it is the consumer grade 160 OHC or the commercial grade engine. Something just doesn't sound right about the way you describe yours as running. Mine cuts through very thick, heavily fertilized and watered Bermuda grass without much strain.
Originally Posted By: Pete591
Any synthetics to avoid in small engines?
I have not heard much about Royal Purple in small engines.
My late model honda push mower DID NOT do well with Mobil 1 10w30.
1st OC (early). metal filings. "ok... left from manufacturing"
2nd OC. (when book called for 1st OC) "hmm...more metal filings"
started to smoke on startup. [censored]. No longer held on to idle.
3rd and all other OC went to rotella T 5-40. ever since, the filings (or glistening in the draining oil) have gone away and the smoking has gone away gradually. It's even started to idle on its own again.
I'm not making this up... it hated that oil. It's a pretty big deck (21 or 22?) for that little engine that has a double blade and loads up very badly if the grass is more than 1" above cut height. That engine works very, very hard in our application.
Based on this, I stopped using Mobil 1 in our cars.
M
You had a very strange, unusual experience with your Honda. I have a mower with the Honda 160 GCV OHC engine on it, purchased in 2000. Presently it has around 475 hours on it. Since the first oil change at about 5 hours, as recommended, it has had a yearly oil change using Mobil 1 5W30. It has never used any oil in this one year, average 60 hour OCI. One year I had an extra quart of Mobil 1 0W30, and I used that; still no oil usage that year.
From the time Mobil 1 came out, back in the 70's, I believe, I used in in my cars and trucks, changing yearly, until I retired back in 2001. Never had a problem and the OCI's were at 18,000 to 20,000 miles. Retired now, and I only drive 5 or 6 thousand miles a year, so I am back to using any dino on sale, with a 6 month OCI.
Your Honda mower is probably a 21 inch. Most walk-behind mowers are. This is normally an easy load for any Honda engine, whether it is the consumer grade 160 OHC or the commercial grade engine. Something just doesn't sound right about the way you describe yours as running. Mine cuts through very thick, heavily fertilized and watered Bermuda grass without much strain.
Originally Posted By: 1999nick
You had a very strange, unusual experience with your Honda. I have a mower with the Honda 160 GCV OHC engine on it, purchased in 2000. Presently it has around 475 hours on it. Since the first oil change at about 5 hours, as recommended, it has had a yearly oil change using Mobil 1 5W30.
Mine cuts through very thick, heavily fertilized and watered Bermuda grass without much strain.
Agree, almost identical experience using Mobil 1 in a 160 GCV. (just not quite those hours yet )
You had a very strange, unusual experience with your Honda. I have a mower with the Honda 160 GCV OHC engine on it, purchased in 2000. Presently it has around 475 hours on it. Since the first oil change at about 5 hours, as recommended, it has had a yearly oil change using Mobil 1 5W30.
Mine cuts through very thick, heavily fertilized and watered Bermuda grass without much strain.
Agree, almost identical experience using Mobil 1 in a 160 GCV. (just not quite those hours yet )
Originally Posted By: meep
Originally Posted By: Pete591
Any synthetics to avoid in small engines?
I have not heard much about Royal Purple in small engines.
My late model honda push mower DID NOT do well with Mobil 1 10w30.
1st OC (early). metal filings. "ok... left from manufacturing"
2nd OC. (when book called for 1st OC) "hmm...more metal filings"
started to smoke on startup. [censored]. No longer held on to idle.
3rd and all other OC went to rotella T 5-40. ever since, the filings (or glistening in the draining oil) have gone away and the smoking has gone away gradually. It's even started to idle on its own again.
I'm not making this up... it hated that oil. It's a pretty big deck (21 or 22?) for that little engine that has a double blade and loads up very badly if the grass is more than 1" above cut height. That engine works very, very hard in our application.
Based on this, I stopped using M1 in our cars.
M
Could it be that due to the load on the engine a thicker oil was needed? The Rotella T is much thicker than the M1 and higher additive levels "It is a great oil for the $$$IMO and based on results".
Originally Posted By: Pete591
Any synthetics to avoid in small engines?
I have not heard much about Royal Purple in small engines.
My late model honda push mower DID NOT do well with Mobil 1 10w30.
1st OC (early). metal filings. "ok... left from manufacturing"
2nd OC. (when book called for 1st OC) "hmm...more metal filings"
started to smoke on startup. [censored]. No longer held on to idle.
3rd and all other OC went to rotella T 5-40. ever since, the filings (or glistening in the draining oil) have gone away and the smoking has gone away gradually. It's even started to idle on its own again.
I'm not making this up... it hated that oil. It's a pretty big deck (21 or 22?) for that little engine that has a double blade and loads up very badly if the grass is more than 1" above cut height. That engine works very, very hard in our application.
Based on this, I stopped using M1 in our cars.
M
Could it be that due to the load on the engine a thicker oil was needed? The Rotella T is much thicker than the M1 and higher additive levels "It is a great oil for the $$$IMO and based on results".
So it's the M1 goldcap only for the v-twin and something else for your other small engines?
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
So it's the M1 goldcap only for the v-twin and something else for your other small engines?
-The V-Twin likes Mobil 1 Goldcap best with a Mobil 1 102 oil filter. every 25 hrs.
"smaller engines" like a 9 HP honda; 3.5 Tec; have done best with Amsoil 5w30 ASE or Amsoil 10w30 depending if it's winter or summer..
I use Amsoil Hydrostatic Drive 5w30 oil in my Tuff Torque. Runs the best it ever has.
2-cycle small motors seem to like Amsoil Sabre synthetic. I mix at manufacturers rate and do not go down to 1:100 as Amsoil suggests.
Glad I am done finalizing choices. I know there are other choises but these are the ones I am going with.
So it's the M1 goldcap only for the v-twin and something else for your other small engines?
-The V-Twin likes Mobil 1 Goldcap best with a Mobil 1 102 oil filter. every 25 hrs.
"smaller engines" like a 9 HP honda; 3.5 Tec; have done best with Amsoil 5w30 ASE or Amsoil 10w30 depending if it's winter or summer..
I use Amsoil Hydrostatic Drive 5w30 oil in my Tuff Torque. Runs the best it ever has.
2-cycle small motors seem to like Amsoil Sabre synthetic. I mix at manufacturers rate and do not go down to 1:100 as Amsoil suggests.
Glad I am done finalizing choices. I know there are other choises but these are the ones I am going with.
I vote for Amsoil 0W40 ATV oil
Originally Posted By: Pete591
I am underimpressed with Mobil 1 5w30 and 10w30 in small engines.
That's why I am using Amsoil ASE; Motul or Redline.
Excellent used oil analysis.
A statement like this, putting down Mobil 1 oil, really deserves some sort of explanation. What bad experience did you have with these two weights of M1 that led to this comment? How were your results better with these other oils you mention?
I am underimpressed with Mobil 1 5w30 and 10w30 in small engines.
That's why I am using Amsoil ASE; Motul or Redline.
Excellent used oil analysis.
A statement like this, putting down Mobil 1 oil, really deserves some sort of explanation. What bad experience did you have with these two weights of M1 that led to this comment? How were your results better with these other oils you mention?
Could be the high iron m1 is prone to produce if he has used oil analysis to back the claim.
I'm going to be revising the chart to include all the oils mentioned since the last one went up, as well as a couple that weren't mentioned... So if there's anything you all want to see that hasn't been mentioned or you're just curious about post it up here in the next day or so.
I'm going to be revising the chart to include all the oils mentioned since the last one went up, as well as a couple that weren't mentioned... So if there's anything you all want to see that hasn't been mentioned or you're just curious about post it up here in the next day or so.
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
Could be the high iron m1 is prone to produce if he has used oil analysis to back the claim.
I'm going to be revising the chart to include all the oils mentioned since the last one went up, as well as a couple that weren't mentioned... So if there's anything you all want to see that hasn't been mentioned or you're just curious about post it up here in the next day or so.
A revised chart would be great. Here are my rankings:
If you decide to go with conventional oil:
-Optmol 30wt A Parafinnic based oil. Commercial guys use it a lot. ZDDP unknown.
-B&S 30wt which is Bradd penn 30WT with a load (1,400 ppm ZDDP).
Synthetic:
-Amsoil Syn ASE 10w30 for all engines say 4-10 HP. 1200 ppm ZDDP
-Redline 5w30 or 10w30 both with 1400 ppm of ZDDP
-Mobil 1 SilverCap 15W-50 1400 ppm ZDDP
V-Twin engines for summer use Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 with 1800 ppm ZDDP.
That is the correct way to go for overkill I think.
Then use Mobil 1 oil filters every 25 hrs with oil change.
2x/season change the foam air filter.
Paper air element seasonal or as needed.
Gas filter yearly.
Grease the zerks with Mobil 1 Synthetic grease 2-3x season..
Blade sharpen every 25 hrs.
Lube the deck with CRC (PTFE) Dry Lube.
Tuff Torque Trans every other year with Amsoil 5w30 Hydrostatic Syn Oil
2-Cycle engines with Amsoil Sabre' mixed to manufacturer's specs.
This comes form a lot of testing over near 20yrs.
There are other great choices..these are mine.
I like a grp IV/V synthetic best with high zddp. These engines I feel benefit much from boundy lubrication that ZDDP provides.
Could be the high iron m1 is prone to produce if he has used oil analysis to back the claim.
I'm going to be revising the chart to include all the oils mentioned since the last one went up, as well as a couple that weren't mentioned... So if there's anything you all want to see that hasn't been mentioned or you're just curious about post it up here in the next day or so.
A revised chart would be great. Here are my rankings:
If you decide to go with conventional oil:
-Optmol 30wt A Parafinnic based oil. Commercial guys use it a lot. ZDDP unknown.
-B&S 30wt which is Bradd penn 30WT with a load (1,400 ppm ZDDP).
Synthetic:
-Amsoil Syn ASE 10w30 for all engines say 4-10 HP. 1200 ppm ZDDP
-Redline 5w30 or 10w30 both with 1400 ppm of ZDDP
-Mobil 1 SilverCap 15W-50 1400 ppm ZDDP
V-Twin engines for summer use Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 with 1800 ppm ZDDP.
That is the correct way to go for overkill I think.
Then use Mobil 1 oil filters every 25 hrs with oil change.
2x/season change the foam air filter.
Paper air element seasonal or as needed.
Gas filter yearly.
Grease the zerks with Mobil 1 Synthetic grease 2-3x season..
Blade sharpen every 25 hrs.
Lube the deck with CRC (PTFE) Dry Lube.
Tuff Torque Trans every other year with Amsoil 5w30 Hydrostatic Syn Oil
2-Cycle engines with Amsoil Sabre' mixed to manufacturer's specs.
This comes form a lot of testing over near 20yrs.
There are other great choices..these are mine.
I like a grp IV/V synthetic best with high zddp. These engines I feel benefit much from boundy lubrication that ZDDP provides.
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