Oil For B&S Small Engines/ Fuel stabilizer ??

[crazyoildude]

i have 2 briggs and stratton lawn mowers and one very old briggs and stratton snow blower...The snow blower was made in 1966 and starts pretty easy..
the lawn mowers all need starter fluid or gummout to start any ideas what is causing this?
Also i always used pennzoil 30 weight in all my small engines should i use small engine oil would it be better?
Should i ue fuel stabalizer or drain gas when not in use (i never do either) I use mmo in the gas on everything every 3 fill ups

 

[cmf]

SAE 30 for temperatures above 40 F or 5w30 synthetic for any temperature are the best options for lawnmowers. Pennzoil 30 weight should be good; I don't think small engine 30 weight oil would be any different.

I personally use Seafoam as a fuel stabilizer in my lawnmower. I haven't opened it up but it runs great and I'm assuming the Seafoam is keeping it clean because I used to use Sta-bil and it didn't run quite as "free".

No idea what is causing them to not start normally. My lawnmower isn't that old but starts second pull every time (B&S 675 engine).

 

[greenaccord02]

Make sure you're priming or choking the engine correctly and make sure you have a good, clean plug that's properly gapped. If an engine has a weak spark or if it's not properly primed it can cause hard starting so these are the first things I'd check. Also make sure that your air filters are clean of dirt.

See what all that does.

Your oil choice is fine. Get fresh gas and use stabilizer. I get fresh gas every season, because as soon as the year's yard work is done, the gas tanks get emptied into my truck. MMO is fine stuff, but you don't need it. Just regular gas with a little sta-bil.

 

[Quest]

I use Chevron Delo 15W40 in all my B&S (got a tiller and a mower, while the pressure washer is a Honda). Gas additive: I use B&S fuel stabiliser for ethanol blend all these years and been living up to my expectations so far.

 

[Trav]

In my house if it has a small 4 cycle engine it gets GC.
Snowblower, lawn mower, generator, winter and summer it doesn't matter the stuff performs great. Keeps the oil stash to a minimum too.

 

[crazyoildude]

there is no way to prime that engine in the lawn mowers

 

[Oldwolf]

I use Stabil year round and do not drain the fuel tank for winter. Also I use synthetic (Mobil 1) oil and change it every few years. My mower starts right up at the beginning of mowing season year after year.

 

[greenaccord02]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
there is no way to prime that engine in the lawn mowers
Then choke it. It should be done by either pulling out the lever marked choke on the carb and pulling the starter 2 or three times or placing the throttle in the position marked 'choke' and doing the same 2 or three pulls. The engine should pop, at which point you move the throttle to the wide open position and pull once or twice more to start.

 

[crazyoildude]

there is nothing to move or adjust it has what they call an automatic choke and of course it dont work

 

[greenaccord02]

It's possible that your carburetor linkages are bad or not hooked up properly. Are you sure everything is OK with them? Did you check the plug and try that?

 

[Scoot_4_20]

If you can get non ethanol gas, get it and run it. It will improve starting. I did, and it seemed to help my mower start better.

Ethanol gas increases the need for fuel stabilizer because the alcohol evaporates in vented fuel systems which quickly lowers the octane. I plan to use SeaFoam for stabilizer in the Winter months.

 

[Dick in Falls Church]

You might try to locate some AMSOIL Quick Shot. It is designed to combat the problems associated with ethanol, like separation, gumming, deposits, etc.
Friend of mine got a call from a contractor some hours from him, looking for Quick Shot. He had some Honda small engines, and was having trouble. Said he attended a heavy equipment show in Las Vegas, and found the Honda booth. the rep there assured him that he had a fuel problem, not an engine problem, and recommended the AMSOIL Quick Shot.
Everyone I know of that has tried it has be happy.

 

[greenaccord02]

There's nothing to indicate that this problem is being caused by ethanol, though, or any other "fuel problem" for that matter...

 

[crazyoildude]

yes actually i own and operate a large automotive engine shop but am not too familiar with small engines...but i see no choke at all i looked for a prime button and that is not there either..Any ideas?

 

[greenaccord02]

I'm going to go out to the garage and take a look at some of my carbs to see if I can get any ideas. I think I know which one your mowers have, but if you could take a picture of one of them with the air filter removed (from the top, looking down) it might help.

 

[greenaccord02]

http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/repairs/briggs_vacu-jet_vert_auto_all-temp.asp

Take a look there. Does that look familiar? If so, you likely need one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/BRIGGS-STRATTON-Carb...=item43a782acb0

 

[greenaccord02]

Before you buy anything, get the Model, Type and Code numbers off your shroud and post them so that we can be sure you're getting the right part.

 

[Scoot_4_20]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
There's nothing to indicate that this problem is being caused by ethanol, though, or any other "fuel problem" for that matter...


Maybe not, but was just saying what happened to me.

 

[crazyoildude]

i will get the model number Monday

 

[Cujet]

Mobil 1, 15W-50 provides the best results overall, on my air cooled engines, here in South Florida.

Obviously, that applies to some really hard working engines, that get quite hot.

I use Mobil 1, 5W-40 Turbo Diesel Truck in my other air cooled engines with great results. It's an oil with all the additives necessary for flat tappet engines (like a Briggs). And the ability to withstand plenty of heat, while performing quite well cold.