kohler command pro 10w30 or 10w50?

The reality is that these engines aren't appreciably different in design that the other small engines out there - that is to say overbuilt, low stressed engines. Their rod journals are plenty big for the amount of work that they need to do and the mains if not ball bearing, have massive amounts of bearing surface area to distribute the load. The cams and tappets IF properly designed and manufactured don't see enough spring load to really matter either (no oil with save them from poor metallurgy and/or heat treatment) - the valve train is relatively light and because it only turns a max of 3600 rpm, the springs are really pretty soft.. so soft that you can move them pretty easily by hand.


The bigger threat to small engines is maintenance. Low oil, plugged cooling fins, burnt valves from wear/seat recession and fuel system problems are the most pressing issues a small engine owner faces.

That said, some engines in some applications benefit from a heavier oil like 10w/15w- 40/50 either to stave off consumption or to help it cope with extend high loads in high heat.
 
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I kind of doubt a smaller cv224cc kohler would have both hydraulic lifters that also roll. Probably just a regular flat tappet
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but all small engines that I'm familiar with are flat tappet.

My command has hydraulic lifters, but others have "solid" flat tappets.

But to add a little more info - not only are the springs super weak, but their load is distributed over a big area.. the lifters in my command measure .842" which is the same size as the old small and big block Chevy v8s. In fact they look identical to a SBC lifter. The tappets in many others are similar sized or bigger (pretty sure flat head Briggs are about an inch) so they simply are not sensitive to zinc/phosphorus levels. Heck even passenger cars with stock valvetrains aren't THAT particular and they are sporting probably 5 times the spring pressure.

I had 700hours on my 17.5hp command running nothing but what PCMO I found on the shelf at the parts store. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I bought the Kohler sauce to appease my wife who took over using it
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but all small engines that I'm familiar with are flat tappet.

My command has hydraulic lifters, but others have "solid" flat tappets.

But to add a little more info - not only are the springs super weak, but their load is distributed over a big area.. the lifters in my command measure .842" which is the same size as the old small and big block Chevy v8s. In fact they look identical to a SBC lifter. The tappets in many others are similar sized or bigger (pretty sure flat head Briggs are about an inch) so they simply are not sensitive to zinc/phosphorus levels. Heck even passenger cars with stock valvetrains aren't THAT particular and they are sporting probably 5 times the spring pressure.

I had 700hours on my 17.5hp command running nothing but what PCMO I found on the shelf at the parts store. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I bought the Kohler sauce to appease my wife who took over using it
Flathead briggs are worn out after about 400hrs
 
No oil will save an engine from poor design and/or metallurgy and poor maintenance (like poor air filtration causing dusting), especially Briggs with their aluminum bores.
I know. The old flathead briggs or actually any aluminum bore engine only has a lifespan of about 500hrs or so. I just assumes the bore had too much wear becaise it's only aluminum.
 
I know. The old flathead briggs or actually any aluminum bore engine only has a lifespan of about 500hrs or so. I just assumes the bore had too much wear becaise it's only aluminum.
To be honest I'm really surprised that they last as long as they do! Say what you want about Briggs but they knew the realities of a big part of the market that they sold to and made an engine that would probably still be humming along when the mower got tossed.
 
I thought the hydraulic lifters were picky about 10w30 and thicker oil causes clatter

The issue with the hydraulic lifters was when running straight 30w oil, lifters would bleed down and clatter at startup for a longer period of time due to the heavy oil. Once they pumped back up, they are quiet again and run fine. That is the reason for the “gotta use 10w-30” thought, lifters pump up very quickly and rarely have any clatter.

I run T5 15w-40 in my Kohler Command 16hp and never have any lifter noise at startup. Any Xw-40 weight is a great choice for OPE.
 
The issue with the hydraulic lifters was when running straight 30w oil, lifters would bleed down and clatter at startup for a longer period of time due to the heavy oil. Once they pumped back up, they are quiet again and run fine. That is the reason for the “gotta use 10w-30” thought, lifters pump up very quickly and rarely have any clatter.

I run T5 15w-40 in my Kohler Command 16hp and never have any lifter noise at startup. Any Xw-40 weight is a great choice for OPE.
I notice you hardly hear any valve train noise on this engine. Guess the hydraulic lifters are why
 
I notice you hardly hear any valve train noise on this engine. Guess the hydraulic lifters are why
Your CV224 doesn't have hydraulic lifters, just regular solid tappets.

Just because its a Command doesn't equate to hydraulic lifters.
 
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I just changed the oil on my Simpson washer with the 149cc Command Pro. 1 1quart or so of M1 5w40. Used it today for a couple hours straight at 80F. Only stopping for hose rearranging and gas. Went through three tanks of gas. Oil at the end was 225F.
 
I just changed the oil on my Simpson washer with the 149cc Command Pro. 1 1quart or so of M1 5w40. Used it today for a couple hours straight at 80F. Only stopping for hose rearranging and gas. Went through three tanks of gas. Oil at the end was 225F.
Ran my kawasaki fx801v 25.5hp for about 1.5hrs cutting some thick bahia, let it idle for probably 5 minutes while I blew the grass off the deck. May have been 10 minutes by the time I came up with the idea to hit it with the temp guage. Showed like 235 if I remember right. I bet it was every bit of 250 degrees while mowing, because the temp was dropping while I was measuring it. That engine has an oil cooler too.
 
Ran my kawasaki fx801v 25.5hp for about 1.5hrs cutting some thick bahia, let it idle for probably 5 minutes while I blew the grass off the deck. May have been 10 minutes by the time I came up with the idea to hit it with the temp guage. Showed like 235 if I remember right. I bet it was every bit of 250 degrees while mowing, because the temp was dropping while I was measuring it. That engine has an oil cooler too.
Too fiddy with an oil cooler? That's cooking.
 
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