New Rider - Conflicting Oil Information

[kballowe]

I posted a couple months ago that I purchased a Husqvarna LGT24K54 riding lawnmower with 54" deck and a 24hp Kawasaki motor.

The riding mower manual says 10W-30 but I now see where it contradicts itself in a couple places. Also, the viscosity chart shows 5W-30 to 32 degrees and SAE30 from 32 degrees to 100+ degrees.

The Kawasaki engine owner's manual recommends SAE30 but shows 5W-20, 10W-30, 10W-40, and SAE40. Showing the 30 and 40 multiviscosity oils to roughly 90 degrees operating temperature and SAE 40 above that.

Mower owner's manual says 50 hour OCI and oil filter every 100 hours

Engine owner's manual says 100 hour OCI and oil filter every 200 hours

I have a gallon of Rotella 10W-30 and am doing the 1st change now @ 6 hours.

This mower is treated light to easy. What's a reasonable oil change/filter interval?

SAE30, 15W-40, 10W-30 ???

Hey - at least I actually read the owner's manuals. In years past always used SAE30 or Rotella 15W-40. Would never have given it a second thought except that this new car of the daughter's calls for 0W-20. WTH maybe the lawnmowers are also spec'ing thinner oils. Eh?

 

[Eddie]

The engine is probably used in different applications and mower use is considdered more severe due to dust & dirt. Use the 50 & 100 hour recomdation. The mowe & engine manuals say 10w30 so use that.

 

[bullwinkle]

Personally I like straight 30 HDEO up to 90F and straight 40 above that, considering grass doesn't need cut in winter. But if you used it for plowing in winter, 10W30 would be a better choice.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Frustrating, isn't it?

The short answer is that any of the oil weights that you mentioned would be probably fine. I like to keep my life as simple as possible so I use Mobil 1 15w-50 in all of my motorcycles and OPE engines.

I change the oil and filter annually and in over 30 years I have never had an oil related issue on any OPE engine.

YMMV and good luck with your new Husky.

 

[kballowe]

Originally Posted By: bigdreama
Frustrating, isn't it?

The short answer is that any of the oil weights that you mentioned would be probably fine. I like to keep my life as simple as possible so I use Mobil 1 15w-50 in all of my motorcycles and OPE engines.

I change the oil and filter annually and in over 30 years I have never had an oil related issue on any OPE engine.

YMMV and good luck with your new Husky.


I use a lot of Rotella 15W-40 or Delvac 15W-40 - whichever is on sale. Works well in water-cooled motorcycles, tractors, and 1998 Dodge 1-ton diesel trucks.

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So I'm leaning toward the 15W-40.

Most everything else I own takes a multi-viscosity 20 weight.

 

[dparm]

I'd use whichever 10w30 is on sale.

 

[Gene K]

Rotella or Delvac will work fine.

 

[deeter16317]

I run 5w40 Schaeffers in my 19HP Kawi-powered Gator...I have converted almost everything I own to 5w40.

 

[jstutz]

Anymore, i use 5w40 and 15w40 for all OPE, ATVs and my motorcycles. I dont have a 20 year standing with it but have not had any issues yet. I have seen many great UOAs on small engines, ATVs and, Motorcycles with nothing more than 15w40 and in some cases ST brand 15w40. It does not seem necessary to spend tons of money on expensive synthetics to get good performance. My buddies ride ATVs in Canada where it is -20F sometimes and they all run 5w40 HDEO and one uses M1 0w40 in his Polaris. I usually buy 4 to 5 gallons of 15w40 at a clip when i find it on sale. I will say one winter at -5F my battery did not like the 15w40 in my grizzly. It started but slowly and took a few mins to warm up. Since then i switch it to 5w40 and seems great.

 

[JeremyInMT]

My 24Hp B&S cuts 46" wide and recommends 5w30 or 30 depending on ambient temps...I am currently using M1 AFE 0w30 and it seems to be running just fine, fwiw.