Consolidating the Oils Used

[RaymondP]

Have a number of items that require regular oil maintenance. These include several lawn mowers and a 2013 Triumph Thruxton. Given these are all air cooled, was planning to use Mobil 1 15W50 in all. They are only operated at 55+ degrees F and stored during the 4-5 winter months. Seems this oil works well for hot running engines, and summer months here can reach into the 90s. Already carrying specific vehicle oil for two different German vehicles (Mobil 1 ESP and Mobil 1 FS 0W40) plus a boat with a Universal M25 engine that uses diesel (Rotella T6 15W40), so that's four different oils in total already.

Does anyone see a downside for the mowers? Note they are your run of the mill Briggs & Straton push/powered mowers, NOT ride on.

 

[kschachn]

A Euro 0W-40 is what I use in my OPE. Demonstrated oxidation resistance and sufficient HT/HS for my climate.

 

[JB250]

Have a number of items that require regular oil maintenance. These include several lawn mowers and a 2013 Triumph Thruxton. Given these are all air cooled, was planning to use Mobil 1 15W50 in all. They are only operated at 55+ degrees F and stored during the 4-5 winter months. Seems this oil works well for hot running engines, and summer months here can reach into the 90s. Already carrying specific vehicle oil for two different German vehicles (Mobil 1 ESP and Mobil 1 FS 0W40) plus a boat with a Universal M25 engine that uses diesel (Rotella T6 15W40), so that's four different oils in total already.

Does anyone see a downside for the mowers? Note they are your run of the mill Briggs & Straton push/powered mowers, NOT ride on.

I think your plan is very good. Mobil 1 15w50 will work well in these applications (motorcycle and lawn equipment) you have listed.

 

[Ride_Red]

Push mowers?

You can run any of the oils you listed. No reason to focus on a specific oil, just use whatever is left over.

I keep a bottle just for my mower and drain all the last drips out of every oil jug/bottle into it. That includes 0W-20 from my daughter's car, 5W-30 from my car, 10W-40 from my motorcycle, etc. When it comes time for an oil change in the mower, I pour in the drip oil and top it off with whatever open bottle of 30 or 40 grade oil I have in the garage. My mower has been running strong for 22 years.

 

[marc1]

Does anyone see a downside for the mowers?

You may find them harder to start if they are "pull" starters.

 

[martinq]

I'm doing something similar. Now that Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w30 is readily available in my area I'm switching all the vehicles over to it. My old stash of 0w30, 5w30, 10w30, 5w40 is getting used up in the powered equipment. Once that's used up they'll get Valvoline Restore and Protect as well unless something better comes along before then (should take a couple years).

 

[Ride_Red]

I'm doing something similar. Now that Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w30 is readily available in my area I'm switching all the vehicles over to it. My old stash of 0w30, 5w30, 10w30, 5w40 is getting used up in the powered equipment. Once that's used up they'll get Valvoline Restore and Protect as well unless something better comes along before then (should take a couple years).

Unless you have a lot of outdoor power equipment, it takes a long time to use up a jug of oil. I resorted to using it up in the car so I didn't have 5 year old oil sitting in my garage. My daughter's car had a couple of franken brew oil changes to get rid of it all.

 

[martinq]

Unless you have a lot of outdoor power equipment, it takes a long time to use up a jug of oil. I resorted to using it up in the car so I didn't have 5 year old oil sitting in my garage. My daughter's car had a couple of franken brew oil changes to get rid of it all.

True. I haven't done a complete inventory yet but if I'm generous with oil changes I think I can sort it all in less than two years.

 

[Bob5150]

I am a bit lucky in this regard.

The vehicles/machines that take oil are:

2008 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L
2008 Hummer H3 3.7L
2009 Chevy Cobalt 2.2L

2021 Craftsman snow blower
2024 Craftsman push lawn mower

Everything except the Ram calls for 5w30. The Ram takes 7 qts of 5w20. I buy a 5 qt jug of 5w20 and use 5w30 for the other 2 qts. The reason for the 5w20 is for the MDS cylinder deactivation system, which I really don't care about, as gas mileage is the last thing on my mind when using the truck. The same 5.7 in the 2500 without MDS calls for 5w30.

Since about 2018, I have been using Supertech full synthetic oil from Walmart in everything with no complaints. I keep a partially-full 5 qt jug around for top-off for family and friends (luckily none of mine really burn any oil), and I stock up when an oil change is needed.

The Cobalt gets changed every 5k miles.

Everything else gets changed once a year (the trucks don't get much mileage, and the 2 OPE get changed each spring).

In my 22 years of driving, I have never had an oil-related engine failure in any vehicle or machine. In my experience (all of my engines have been common/regular gas/regular performance type of engines), keeping the oil level full and changing it within or before specified intervals is more important than the brand you use.

This may not apply to everyone, as my engines are not exactly exotic or extremely high performance.