It's a fair weather mower.
Post your latest small engine oil change
- Thread starter greenaccord02
- Start date
Do you normally mow a lot when it's cold?
I see you're from Iowa. I've lived up in your neck of the woods for a good while, so I get it.
I've been here.
for the last few years, I have mowed into late December. Grass slows down but the leaves pick up. My comment was more directed towards oil temp, but it is exacerbated by cold ambient temps.
I went down quite a few rabbit holes when researching what fluid to use in the Hydrostatic Drive. Most clatter depending on year was saying the factory fill was 10W-30 with Tuff Torq recommending their oil or a 5W-50 full synthetic. Most reference and recommended the Mobil 1 15W-50 and until your post, I never once heard anybody mention possible cold temp issues using it. I guess it is possible but my mowing season is done by late October, early November and the mower is put up with the battery pulled until late March and start again.
Yeah good point. Even if it's cold, many people will have their mower in a warmish garage, so that first start won't be that cold.
Wife’s grandads two zero turns.
-Craftsman Z5800 24hp 86 hours.
Out: 2 quarts of Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage 10W-30
Off: Kohler 1205001-S
In: Same
On: Same
It also got a new drive belt.
JD E325E 24hp 72 hours
Out/Off- same as the craftsman
In/On- same as craftsman
-Craftsman Z5800 24hp 86 hours.
Out: 2 quarts of Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage 10W-30
Off: Kohler 1205001-S
In: Same
On: Same
It also got a new drive belt.
JD E325E 24hp 72 hours
Out/Off- same as the craftsman
In/On- same as craftsman
You would be fine running a 15w50 synthetic or 20w50 in the hydros. A lot of the commercial mowers I service spec only a 20w50 and are used in cooler fall temps with lawn care companies. Many of these mowers have thousands of hours on them. For Tuff Torqs in lawn and garden tractors I usually use Mobil 1 15w50, and am running it in my dad's John Deere G110 with a Tuff Torque K66 that has over 1000 hours on it.
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- Apr 6, 2026
- Messages
- 4
on a 80's Komatu D21 dozer (40 hp diesel),
engine: Rotella T4 15w-40
transmission, bevel gear case, final drives, 10 rollers: Sinopec TO-4 SAE 30
2013 New Holland Boomer 30 tractor (28 hp diesel) with TRIAX Agra Plus ESP 15W-40 (because I got it free)
engine: Rotella T4 15w-40
transmission, bevel gear case, final drives, 10 rollers: Sinopec TO-4 SAE 30
2013 New Holland Boomer 30 tractor (28 hp diesel) with TRIAX Agra Plus ESP 15W-40 (because I got it free)
2026 Ferris 500S, 52 inch Zero Turn, 25hp Briggs & Stratton
Out: Factory fill, B&S filter# 696854 (break-in oil)
In: Amsoil Small Engine 10w30, Wix filter# 57035 (7.0hrs)
Out: Factory fill, B&S filter# 696854 (break-in oil)
In: Amsoil Small Engine 10w30, Wix filter# 57035 (7.0hrs)
Mom's Toro Timecutter 5000 Steeroturn with a Toro branded Loncin.Out I forget what and no marks anywhere Loncin or LCT oil filter. In 2.5 qts Napa full syn 10w-30 and PG made Napa Gold 1348. It is like a zero turn but has a steering wheel for the front tires and a Rube Goldberg cable setup to increase/decrease the hydros depending on which way you turn.
Changed oil on the 60" Toro 25 hp Kawasaki 2 Quarts 15w40 and a new oil filter. Time to grease up the bearings.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2026
Done the oil change and other maintenance work on our 2019 John Deere E100 series. I can’t remember the oil I used last time most likely Castrol GTX white bottle. I found these brand new bottles of Havoline in the basement and used them. And online it says the Fram PH4967 is supposed to work for these I didn’t have that but did have a Toyota filter that is the same as a 4967 so I threw that on there. It’s a bit smaller than the factory filter but it says online it will work. If it doesn’t I will get the factory one but so far it’s not leaking or anything so it’s probably fine.
How do you like the Yamaha? A friend has the same model that looks like it should be in a scrap heap….and works awesome each hunting season at the camp.
Did the annual oil change on both my Reds this past week. Amsoil out, Amsoil in. Maybe 40 hours on each this year due to power outages and exercise runs.
Before the oil change I did check/adjust the valves on Big Red for the first time. Maybe 150 hours on it and the exhaust was a little tight. Ran both with a moderate load for 30 minutes afterwards for their monthly run
Before the oil change I did check/adjust the valves on Big Red for the first time. Maybe 150 hours on it and the exhaust was a little tight. Ran both with a moderate load for 30 minutes afterwards for their monthly run
John Deere Z915E with 25hp Kohler at 933 hours
Out: no idea on oil and a yellow Kohler filter
In: 2qts Delvac Extreme 15w40 and a Microgard Select MSL51516
Waiting on wheel motor filters and I’ll do them and the hydraulic fluid. Also going to go through the deck as there’s some bearings starting to show their age.
Out: no idea on oil and a yellow Kohler filter
In: 2qts Delvac Extreme 15w40 and a Microgard Select MSL51516
Waiting on wheel motor filters and I’ll do them and the hydraulic fluid. Also going to go through the deck as there’s some bearings starting to show their age.
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