Best oil - KAW 19hp?

[Scooby]

I've searched, and haven't come up with much.

I have a 19hp Kawasaki (FH601V) on a 2005 HUSTLER 52" MINI-Z zero turn. I use it commercially in my part time lawncare business.

I changed at 8 hours to Pennzoil 10W-40. The recommended oil weight is 10w30/10W-40. I now have nearly 60 hours on the machine. I am leaning to changing to MOBIL 1 10w30. I would like to change now and change every 100-150 hours. I know this is overkill with the interval recommendation being 200 hours no matter what kind of oil (dino/syn).

This is being used in GA climate (hot) and of course very dusty. Some days the mowers runs for 3-4 hours without being throttled down, and others it is run for 30-60 minutes at a time.

What do you guys recommend?

 

[80caprice]

I'd use mobil 1 5w30 or 10w30...... but thats just me.

 

[Slick 55]

100-150 hours is a long time. I would change the Mobil 1 at 50 hours and the filter every 100. Amsoil also has a new 4 stroke small engine oil that should work well.

 

[Gilitar]

I'd run Rotella or Delo 15w40 and change it at the interval that you mentioned.

 

[Quest]

Any HDEO shall do fine.

 

[Bror Jace]

"I'd run Rotella or Delo 15w40 and change it at the interval that you mentioned."

I'd use Delo400 in 15w40. This matches up well with the recommended 10W-40 and being in Georgia, the slight edge in cold-start ability of the 10W-40 is not really an issue for you.

Moreover, most 10W-40s also shear down pretty quickly.

Of course the 15w40 HDEO is going to have an exceptional additive package ... both detergents/dispersants as well as anti-wear barrier agents.

What about the oil filter for that beastie? You should get the Kaw part number and cross-reference a cheaper filter ... the regular Purolator is a great mass-market filter, especially for the cost.

Lastly, in dusty conditions, you need to service the air cleaner often. I assume this has a foam element ... or at least a foam pre-cleaner?

--- Bror Jace

 

[Scooby]

It has the LARGE Davidson canister filter with filter minder. Check it weekly, or daily if in very dusty conditions.

 

[TooSlick]

The Mobil 1, 10w30/EP should work well....

Best Amsoil product is probably their 10w30/30wt, HD diesel oil, due to shear stability issues with this type of application.

TS

 

[Scooby]

Every 50 hours? That's every 3 to 6 weeks. Sounds really soon compared to the recommended 200 hours. If I were to go with 50 hours, I think I'll just run a 10w40 conventional like Pennzoil or Havoline. If I were to use M1 it would cost me nearly $20 a month including oil and filter.

 

[Cujet]

I have a JD tractor with the 18HP version of that eng. I found that JD oil is too thin here in Florida, as the oil light comes on at idle.

A switch to Mobil 1 10w30 fixed the problem. I change every 50 hours. However the oil is still clean after 50. Maybe I will find a huge oil filter and use the extended life oil and up the change time to 100 hours.

Chris