Use 0w20 if you want. As long as you always keep the oil full it will be fine.
Oil weight question
- Thread starter wallyuwl
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Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Originally Posted By: Dave9
Clearly during normal mowing season, 5W-30 is inappropriate.
Inappropriate? Rolls eyes. SYNTHETIC 5W30 acts completely different than conventional 5W30 (in air cooled small engines). Its a very robust product. its 10000% acceptable, AND APPROPRIATE, for the OP, considering his use and climate. I personally prefer a conventional oil break in, but with that out of the equation, a 5W30 synthetic will be every bit as robust, and a better performer, than a 10W30 conventional oil.
And this is coming from a south Florida small engine guy that practically recommends 15W40 and SAE40 in almost every small engine (for my climate).
This is correct. OPE engineers tend to stick to outdated information for there recommendations. Slowly, but surely there coming around. My thumbs up to B&S for there recognition of the benefits of synthetic oils. But unfortunately, not the use of 40 weight oils. Since they now have a 50 weight recommendation, I don't understand why they don't put some 40 weights in there recommendation as well. Kohler is still way on behind. While they do ok the use of synthetic oil, they do not recognize the benefits or what they can do. Kawasaki has recommendations ranging from the 30-50 weight oils and about the best chart out there, but even then, none of your typical synthetic viscosities are on there. Using a 5w30 synthetic in place of 10w30(except if its a synthetic or HDEO), a 5w40 synthetic in place of a 10w40, or a 15w50 synthetic in place of a 20w50 would be better, I don't know if they would recognize it.
Considering all the OPE's recommendation. I think the 5w40 synthetic HDEO or not or 0w40 synthetic are the best all around oils for OPEs.
Originally Posted By: Dave9
Clearly during normal mowing season, 5W-30 is inappropriate.
Inappropriate? Rolls eyes. SYNTHETIC 5W30 acts completely different than conventional 5W30 (in air cooled small engines). Its a very robust product. its 10000% acceptable, AND APPROPRIATE, for the OP, considering his use and climate. I personally prefer a conventional oil break in, but with that out of the equation, a 5W30 synthetic will be every bit as robust, and a better performer, than a 10W30 conventional oil.
And this is coming from a south Florida small engine guy that practically recommends 15W40 and SAE40 in almost every small engine (for my climate).
This is correct. OPE engineers tend to stick to outdated information for there recommendations. Slowly, but surely there coming around. My thumbs up to B&S for there recognition of the benefits of synthetic oils. But unfortunately, not the use of 40 weight oils. Since they now have a 50 weight recommendation, I don't understand why they don't put some 40 weights in there recommendation as well. Kohler is still way on behind. While they do ok the use of synthetic oil, they do not recognize the benefits or what they can do. Kawasaki has recommendations ranging from the 30-50 weight oils and about the best chart out there, but even then, none of your typical synthetic viscosities are on there. Using a 5w30 synthetic in place of 10w30(except if its a synthetic or HDEO), a 5w40 synthetic in place of a 10w40, or a 15w50 synthetic in place of a 20w50 would be better, I don't know if they would recognize it.
Considering all the OPE's recommendation. I think the 5w40 synthetic HDEO or not or 0w40 synthetic are the best all around oils for OPEs.
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I will change the factory fill at 25 hours as told by the dealer, and think that is in the manual too. That might get me the whole year or at least close to it. The grass is just starting to turn green. Then i will use the 5w30 synthetic. I emailed kohler and they say to use small engine oil not motor oil because of "more moly and zinc and stuff." Yes, in quotes is what he said. They make no distinction for synthetic or not for their temp chart.
Go with the manual. Ed
Originally Posted By: jhellwig
Use 0w20 if you want. As long as you always keep the oil full it will be fine.
LOL... I can see sparks shooting out of ears from here in reaction to that statement.
Use 0w20 if you want. As long as you always keep the oil full it will be fine.
LOL... I can see sparks shooting out of ears from here in reaction to that statement.
Originally Posted By: jhellwig
Use 0w20 if you want. As long as you always keep the oil full it will be fine.
This is the key right here. If you keep oil in a small engine it will run fine. All of the small engine failures I have seen have been from either over-revving or low/no oil.
My neighbor has been running 5w20 in his snowblower for years. He also checks the oil every single time he uses it and it is always full when I service it for him.
Use 0w20 if you want. As long as you always keep the oil full it will be fine.
This is the key right here. If you keep oil in a small engine it will run fine. All of the small engine failures I have seen have been from either over-revving or low/no oil.
My neighbor has been running 5w20 in his snowblower for years. He also checks the oil every single time he uses it and it is always full when I service it for him.
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