Kohler Command SP 27

Ws6

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I have a new to me Toro, with a 27hp Kohler Command. Says 5 or 10w 30. What is ideal for this mower? Stick with Kohler brand oil in this weight, or is there a generally recognized better option like the old Ls1 engines and 0-30 German Castrol? I mowed about 5 acres today and didnt burn a drop of whatever was in it (looked clean and was full).
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I use 15w-40 in my vtwin kohler and briggs and other ope engines. You could use whatever 30 grade you have on hand, doesn't seem to mind it. I took the pulley covers off on the deck, helps to keep it clean and reduce rust.
 
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I use 15w-40 in my vtwin kohler and briggs and other ope engines. You could use whatever 30 grade you have on hand, doesn't seem to mind it. I took the pulley covers off on the deck, helps to keep it clean and reduce rust.
I may well do the same. I didn't run them on my other mower either.
 
I'm running supertech synthetic 15w-40 in my Kohler command v-twin.

A lot of people say nothing heavier than a 30 grade due to it having hydraulic lifters.
 
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I've run anything from Rotella T5 10w30, Valvoline Synthetic VR1 10w30, to Rotella 15w40 in my Kohler twin. Didn't even seem to care either way. They do get pretty hot so use a good oil.
 
A lot of people say nothing heavier than a 30 grade due to it having hydraulic lifters.

Not quite. What some people say is that straight 30 weight causes lifter clatter on cold starts due to lifter bleed down. The 30 being too thick and causing the lifters to clatter awhile until they are pumped back up. A multi viscosity oil negates this by being thin enough to pump up immediately.

There is no upper viscosity limit for the lifters, they pressurize and work as intended with any weight oil. It’s just the cold start bleed down clatter that can come into play with heavy straight weights.

I run 15w-40 HDEO in my Kohler Command 16 with no issues.
 
I’ve used anything from a 5w30 to a 15w40 in my 20 HP Briggs on my Toro ZTR. It burned a bit on a 30wt. So, I moved up to a 15w40. I use Supertech 15w40 Full Synthetic HDEO and a WIX 51348 or alternative.

It’s the cheapest oil I’ve run, it doesn’t burn anymore, and I don’t see the point in running the more expensive Rotella T6 like I have in the past. I now reserve that oil for my jetski.

I also like the high zinc and moderate moly levels in the VOA that @fantastic posted last year.


 
I have a new to me Toro, with a 27hp Kohler Command. Says 5 or 10w 30. What is ideal for this mower? Stick with Kohler brand oil in this weight, or is there a generally recognized better option like the old Ls1 engines and 0-30 German Castrol? I mowed about 5 acres today and didnt burn a drop of whatever was in it (looked clean and was full).
View attachment 288341

View attachment 288342
The Kohler 10-30 oil isn't expensive. There are some VOA on here of it and it is stout stuff.
 
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I have a recoil start Kohler command in a commercial walk behind mower with about a million hours in it. It's had a steady diet of mostly conventional 10w-30 over the years. Heavier oil makes it harder to pull the rope.
 
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