Kohler K series oil

[deeter16317]

Originally Posted By: kcfx4
sae 30 is recommended, i had a 129 cub for yrs, only ran sae30, as i do in all my kawasakis, if i put multi vis in a k series, id definately keep an eye on the oil level



I run 15w40 currently in both machines for an entire mowing season (I mow about 2.5 acres with each machine every other week)...there is no change in oil level, and neither one changes the oils color significantly either (I feel like I'm draining good oil at the end of each season).

 

[kcfx4]

im assuming your 15w40 is an hdeo, you can get away w that, but i wouldnt go trying some 5w30 Full Synthetic auto oil in it, and i was stating what the engine calls for and thats sae30

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: deeter16317
I figured I'd bring this back to the top...I mentioned about running 5w40 this winter (and maybe year round) in both my k-series...thoughts??


You'll have the cold temperature pumpability and the benefits a HDEO has. That's what I would run in a K for winter use. The last one I had was only used spring, summer, fall, so it only saw 15w40.

Joel

 

[kcfx4]

GUYS K series engines are good!! been around for years and still kickin! but why would you want to run a multi vis in a loose built engine? sae30 does not shear as much as a multi! to me, my opinion it makes as much sence to do so as it would make to hook a bluray player to a tv from the 70s

 

[deeter16317]

Because I've ran SAE30 in K-Series Kohlers and not seen a benefit to doing so over a 15w40 HDEO...been running, and abusing, K-Series Kohlers for well over 30 years myself.

Just for an example, I have a 1980s KT19S Series 1 in the family that has seen a LOT of abuse...its been rebuilt twice. It ran SAE30 the first two runs, and we switched to 15w40 Rotella the last go around...it has more hours on the recent rebuild than the the original build and first rebuild combined. That speaks volumes to me. I am seeing the similar results in this 10HP Kohler...I have more hours on it now, than the first rebuild, using 15w40; and it still is in excellent running condition.

It also gets me to handling a single oil...especially now that my supply of Rotella is dwindling...I have 5w40 Schaffers in everything but my Kohlers at this point.

 

[kcfx4]

Do what you want, im speaking as to what kohler reccomends, and the k series is one of the loudest, piston slapping small engiens i can recall,

 

[deeter16317]

And a SAE30 is going to protect piston slap better than a 40 weight (at operating temperature) how???

You should listen to my Kohlers...NONE of them have any signs of piston slap.

 

[JTK]

KC haven't we discussed this about 989x now? (kidding.. but it's close!) No doubt SAE30 is an great oil for this application and has worked for decades and been recommended for longer. I used it for 30+ yrs too. At one time it was everywhere oil was sold and it's a good 'blanket' oil that can safely cover most range of usage & not confuse owners into throwing whatever they had on hand into the engine. I can understand your resistance to change. Some OEMs that used K's on their equipment recommended "mulit-vis" oils right in the manual for heavy-duty usage to maximize engine life. Here's a good example out of my 1979 model year 10hp Kohler-K powered Case 220 manual:

I've brought this up before and been told "oh 20w40 is much different than 15w40..." Please.

Joel

 

[kcfx4]

joel, heres where the conusion begins and becomes confusing!! lol.....isnt that youre tractor manual and not the engine manual?

 

[kcfx4]

is your 40w a straight 40. or a multi 40?

 

[deeter16317]

Originally Posted By: kcfx4
is your 40w a straight 40. or a multi 40?



Ummm, a 15w40 is a 40w at OPERATING TEMPERATURE.

 

[kcfx4]

if it works for you/GREAT!! im simply stating what KOHLER reccomends!! and sae30 would shear less than a multi 40! Now k series is a dien breed, older than mathusula!

 

[deeter16317]

Originally Posted By: kcfx4
and sae30 would shear less than a multi 40!



And it would shear into a...wait for it...wait....wait...30wt!!!

 

[kcfx4]

it is my belief a straight weight shears LESS!! as do many on here! im glad your oil choice works! im just sticking to the facts jack, and kohler reccomends sae 30

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: kcfx4
....isnt that youre tractor manual and not the engine manual?


It is.. and I've been round n' round with that argument too. Why would I ignore the tractor manual? Why would Case recommend something that's detrimental to the whole machine? To the same effect, Cub recommends 15w40 for the Kohler V-twin in my new Z-Force:

 

[kcfx4]

i agree, but what youve gotta understand is, the tractor does not supply the engine! there for the engine book out weighs the tractor book when it comes to the engine! only one exception to that rule and its johndeer, they buy the engine warranty less as they stand behind the engine and machiene, thus jd gets a discount on the engine!! now as to youre machiene, it may have used a kohler or lets say a briggs for the same machiene, thus the tractor book is admissable, in other words, since the tractor DOES NOT supply the engine, the engine book is the ONLY one that should be refferenced, many many many ppl dont understand this!! Blatenly put, if you buy a modern day cub cadet (such as you joel) and you have an engine failure, the engine holds the warranty contract, not cub

 

[boraticus]

Splitting hairs?

Any decent oil within viscosity spec will provide adequate lubrication. I'll run whatever is priced best in any OPE engine. I normally run 15W40 Rotella in my riding mower engines (Kawasaki & Honda twins). Last year I picked up half a dozen quarts of Shell 10W40 for $1.79/qt. That's what they have in them now and no change in performance in any way.

We put waaaaaaaay too much effort into arguing/debating the significance of straight weight or multi weight oil grades.

From my 30+ years of experience, it really doesn't matter. What does matter, is changing the oil. Period.

Any decent quality brand oil within the viscosity range for the least amount of money is the BEST oil.

 

[kcfx4]

borticus, run what you will, but you know as well as i do that Briggs reccomends sae30 FIRST, as well as older kohlers and newer Kaws! and in Joels newer cub could have came w a kohler or briggs, thus the cub books oil reccomendation is useless, the Engine book however should be recieved as the BIBLE in reference to the the Engine, just as the machiene book should be regarded as the bible as to the machiene! If nothing else, look at it this way...i have a model A powered by a chevy, should i look at fords reccomendation or GM's? simple obvious answer is GM's as its their engine! im not arguemetative here, just promoting common sence

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: kcfx4
..and in Joels newer cub could have came w a kohler or briggs, thus the cub books oil reccomendation is useless..


Once again you insinuate I don't understand Kohler makes and supplies the engine? Unreal. Your above statement is also completely untrue. The manual for my Cub Z-Force is written specifically for the Kohler Courage V-twin the machine has. In fact, Kohler is the only engine you can get on a Z-Force, so it's helpful to know the facts before you type. Also in regards to your "the engine manual is the Bible" comment, the warranty for the Kohler engine itself is 1-2yrs (1 for commercial use, 2 for residential). Cub warranties the whole machine, engine included for 3yrs/180hrs regardless of usage. I don't think Cub is going to guess at what oil spec they would supply to their customers, given they do the majority of the coverage.

Same concept; Cub uses trans-axles from Hydrogear Corp for their lawn/garden equip. The transaxles are a higher dollar component on the vast majority of OPE than the engine is. I could replace the 20hp Courage V-twin on my Z-Force for around $500, where it's over $1200 for the trans. Given kcfx4 logic, I should ignore Cub's oil/filter specs for this unit and regard it as useless because it's not given by Hydrogear themselves? Total nonsense.

Joel

 

[kcfx4]

joel, CUBCADET does nOT NEVER HAS MADE an engine!!! and yes BRIGGS has supplied some engines to the ZFORCE!! REGARDLESS of that I REPEAT CUBCADET DOES NOT MAKE AN ENGINE/ NOR DOES CASE ETC!!! WHY WOULD YOU TAKE ENGINE ADVICE FROM A NON ENGINE MANUFACTURER??? COME ON_ KICK IN THE COMMONSENCE FACTOR!!!