For your typical B&S 4-cycle splash-oil system (i.e. no oil filter ; non - pressureized) lawn mower engine - what is your favorite oil to use ? I'll start by saying I have used Mobil 1 Synthetic 10w30 in newer engines but perhaps there are better oils - or shall I say more proper oils to use for such an engine ?
Favorite Oil For 4-Cycle Spash-Oil System Engine ?
- Thread starter ChrisD46
- Start date
- Status
Amsoil 4-Stroke oil.
My go-to is Shell Rotella T5 10w30.
I also use Shell Rotella T5 10w30 which is a synthetic blend.
My local Wal-Mart initially sold it in gallon bottles but now sells quarts, too.
My local Wal-Mart initially sold it in gallon bottles but now sells quarts, too.
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
My local Wal-Mart initially sold it in gallon bottles but now sells quarts, too.
I think ours does now, too. Something like $4.97/qt. Is your pricing similar?
My local Wal-Mart initially sold it in gallon bottles but now sells quarts, too.
I think ours does now, too. Something like $4.97/qt. Is your pricing similar?
I have some Castrol Syntech 5W40, pretty sure a diesel formulation; that should be fine, no? It was given to me by a coworker, who ran it in his TDi, and I won't run it in my diesel (not proper rating), so it's just sitting there in my basement. I'd have to look again, to see exactly what it is now.
Originally Posted By: ChrisD46
That Shell Rotella T5 10W - 30 would be on my short list to try ...Curious though why you would choose this over Mobil 1 10W - 30 for a splash - oil system 4-cycle : Add Pack ? ...Other ?
Mostly because it's cheaper, and I service enough small engines that I pay at least a small amount of attention to price.
I used to use Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30, because it was still rated SL. And there's certainly nothing wrong with it. I prefer to use quart bottles for these small engines (jugs tend to spill easier), and Mobil 1 seems to always be around $7/qt now, at the cheapest.
Rotella T5 is rated either SM or SN, but I know that it's still well more than adequate for the job, probably stands at least as good of a chance as Mobil 1 does to not shear down too far, and is less expensive to buy.
That Shell Rotella T5 10W - 30 would be on my short list to try ...Curious though why you would choose this over Mobil 1 10W - 30 for a splash - oil system 4-cycle : Add Pack ? ...Other ?
Mostly because it's cheaper, and I service enough small engines that I pay at least a small amount of attention to price.
I used to use Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30, because it was still rated SL. And there's certainly nothing wrong with it. I prefer to use quart bottles for these small engines (jugs tend to spill easier), and Mobil 1 seems to always be around $7/qt now, at the cheapest.
Rotella T5 is rated either SM or SN, but I know that it's still well more than adequate for the job, probably stands at least as good of a chance as Mobil 1 does to not shear down too far, and is less expensive to buy.
I may get slagged here, but I use franken oil. Whatever is left from my oil changes - 5W30 - 5W-20, conv. or synthetic is what I mix and match for my lawnmower and snowblower.
Snow blower still running strong - bought it in the 80's. Lawnmower just getting broken it at 10 years old.
Snow blower still running strong - bought it in the 80's. Lawnmower just getting broken it at 10 years old.
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
My go-to is Shell Rotella T5 10w30.
Yup.
And GC 0W30 in the snow blower.
My go-to is Shell Rotella T5 10w30.
Yup.
And GC 0W30 in the snow blower.
Been using Rotella T6 5w40.
The 4HP B&S on my pressure washer especally likes it. On a hot day it used to get so hot it would diesel upon shutdown on SAE30. Never does that on 5w40.
Have some quarts of Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w40 i got a clearance deal on at AAP I plan to use eventually as well.
The 4HP B&S on my pressure washer especally likes it. On a hot day it used to get so hot it would diesel upon shutdown on SAE30. Never does that on 5w40.
Have some quarts of Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w40 i got a clearance deal on at AAP I plan to use eventually as well.
Mobil 1 0w40 in all small lawn and snowblower engines.
Originally Posted By: Danno
I may get slagged here, but I use franken oil. Whatever is left from my oil changes - 5W30 - 5W-20, conv. or synthetic is what I mix and match for my lawnmower and snowblower.
Snow blower still running strong - bought it in the 80's. Lawnmower just getting broken it at 10 years old.
My mower is around 12 years old and gets whatever is left over from the 3 cars I maintain. So far it has seen maxlife, goil, Mobil 1, Quaker State Ultimate Durability, Pennzoil conventional, and I'm sure a couple of others. Still starts right up.
Funny story, my old neighbor came over one day and said he needed a quart of oil for his mower. I said sure and gave him a quart of Pennzoil Conventional 10w30. He said this isn't the right kind of oil. I decided to ask him what made him think that. He said it doesn't say briggs and stratton on it. I then asked why he needed a whole quart, because most B&S engines take around a half quart, he said I dunno it has been running really bad lately. His wife had put in a new spark plug so he was out of ideas on why it was running so bad. I pulled the dipstick and it was black but no smell of gas - I have seen worse. And the level was just a little low. Pulled the air filter cover...OMG...Pete, what is that black brick you have in place of an air filter? Response: Didn't know it had an air filter. Can I just scrape it off? Me: No, Home Depot is around the corner take $5.00 and your old filter. Half an hour later the mower was running just fine with the new filter. He asked me later how I knew so much about engines. lol
I may get slagged here, but I use franken oil. Whatever is left from my oil changes - 5W30 - 5W-20, conv. or synthetic is what I mix and match for my lawnmower and snowblower.
Snow blower still running strong - bought it in the 80's. Lawnmower just getting broken it at 10 years old.
My mower is around 12 years old and gets whatever is left over from the 3 cars I maintain. So far it has seen maxlife, goil, Mobil 1, Quaker State Ultimate Durability, Pennzoil conventional, and I'm sure a couple of others. Still starts right up.
Funny story, my old neighbor came over one day and said he needed a quart of oil for his mower. I said sure and gave him a quart of Pennzoil Conventional 10w30. He said this isn't the right kind of oil. I decided to ask him what made him think that. He said it doesn't say briggs and stratton on it. I then asked why he needed a whole quart, because most B&S engines take around a half quart, he said I dunno it has been running really bad lately. His wife had put in a new spark plug so he was out of ideas on why it was running so bad. I pulled the dipstick and it was black but no smell of gas - I have seen worse. And the level was just a little low. Pulled the air filter cover...OMG...Pete, what is that black brick you have in place of an air filter? Response: Didn't know it had an air filter. Can I just scrape it off? Me: No, Home Depot is around the corner take $5.00 and your old filter. Half an hour later the mower was running just fine with the new filter. He asked me later how I knew so much about engines. lol
My Honda mower, a cople of air cooled bikes and my Briggs L Head genset get T6.
I use a 5w-40 synthetic in my tractor. I'm not really picky about the brand. It's ususally Rotella, but last time Valvoline was on sale, so I used that.
The snowblower and big leaf blower get a 5w30 synthetic since they're used in colder weather. Again, not picky about brand. I regularly stock up on Napa synthetic when it's on sale, so they usually get that.
The push mower gets whatever oil I have hanging around the garage, usually one of the above oils.
The snowblower and big leaf blower get a 5w30 synthetic since they're used in colder weather. Again, not picky about brand. I regularly stock up on Napa synthetic when it's on sale, so they usually get that.
The push mower gets whatever oil I have hanging around the garage, usually one of the above oils.
3.5 HP Movers seems to run on PCMO leftovers - 20 year and going, but I run either straight T5 or mainly T5 with some PCMO leftovers for easier start and run in the cold winter in the 8hp snowking. I gets too clattery when hot with just pcmo 5w30. and I had heavy gasket weeping running straight syntetic PCMO like valvoline 10w30 racing syn or Mobil 1 10w3in past trials. My 6500watt Generac chonda pushrod engine does OK with the valvoline 10w30 racing syn - no weeps. I hear whispers that the newest engines, especially on light lawn tractors, are gasketed to run syns now?
Shell Rotella T5 10w30 in my lawn mower. When I run out of that, I might try QS Defy 10w30.
- Status