Oil for predator powered pressure washer?

[John9721]

Hey guys, picking up a new Predator gas pressure washer from HF today, 223cc. Recommended is 10w30, anything specific I should reach for oil wise? How often are we changing? I’m oddly not at all versed in small engines.

 

[ripcord]

Clean and full is the most important thing. Outdoor power equipment in general is pretty forgiving and not picky about the oil you use. A lot of folks will change the oil early to first time to get the break in metal out. The first change or two might be kind of glittery, but that's normal.

 

[JavierH19]

Whatever you have on hand which looks like 5w-40 judging by your sig would be great for it.

 

[walterjay]

Most any 30 will do. I usually change the oil on new engines like that after 3 hours. Lots of glitter and then about 5 hours later again before establishing an oc routine.

 

[cptbarkey]

3-5 hours, dump the oil, it will look awful.
after that, every 50 hours. Amazon has cheap hour meters you can screw to the engine cover.
5w30-15w40 of your choice, SJ or higher.

 

[Lubener]

Hey guys, picking up a new Predator gas pressure washer from HF today, 223cc. Recommended is 10w30, anything specific I should reach for oil wise? How often are we changing? I’m oddly not at all versed in small engines.

Stick with what is recommended. Brand is your decision. It's a pressure washer not a Ferrari.

 

[oil pan 4]

Those predators come with forbidden glitter in them.
The most excessive break-in procedure I've heard of is run the 1hr and 23minute break-in. Where you put oil in it, run it for 3 minutes, turn it off and change the oil. Run it again for about 20 minutes, change oil. Then run it for an hour or run a full tank of gas through it and change it. Then run it like normal.

 

[Lawnman23]

Pressure washer engines run at full speed and full load from the pump. They get hot.

As mentioned, a 40 weight would be great.

 

[oil pan 4]

Pressure washer engines run at full speed and full load from the pump. They get hot.

As mentioned, a 40 weight would be great.

I put 50wt in mine but I know my pressure washer oil hits at least 280f.

 

[TomYoung]

Stick with what is recommended. Brand is your decision. It's a pressure washer not a Ferrari.

It’s a Harbor Freight pressure washer! Still, we are all about overkilling oil decisions. Definitely do the early drain, and I’d use one of the cheaper synthetics like Kirkland, QS, even Castrol GTX. 0w30. Also, if those brands and weights are not around, use whatever is.

 

[nascarnation]

Historically the HF Predators are great engines for the money. I've run them on go karts without problems using pretty much any gas engine oil I had on the shelf including 0W20 and 15W50 syns and 5W30 conventional.

 

[Albin]

I just bought the same PW from HF. It appears to have a sealed pressure pump. Anyone know how to change the oil on the pump itself?

This is what HF has to say on the matter in their Owner's Manual:


"Pump Maintenance

The Pressure Washer Pump is maintenance free. If any sign of oil leakage is present on or around the Pump, DO NOT operate the Pressure Washer. Have the unit serviced by a qualified technician."

 

[MurkyAsparagus]

I service two pressure washers. One gets 0w40 SuperTech euro formula from Walmart, the other gets 15w40 SuperTech fully synthetic HDEO. Both work great and are cheap. Change it early and often with whatever 30 or 40 weight you desire. I would always run a full synthetic in these engines, makes no sense not to, especially with the cost of oil nowadays.

 

[Cujet]

I use Rotella T6 5W-40 or M1 TDT 5W-40 in many of my OPE engines. In the generator, I use 15W-50M1. That thing runs at full throttle and gets HOT!

Learned my lesson here in S. Florida. Hard running engines, in ultra hot and humid, stagnant conditions, need quality oil with sufficient viscosity.