SF or SG - Kawasaki/Craftsman

[crinkles]

I went to the local farm store to buy an oil filter and oil for my Craftsman mower with Kawasaki FR651V motor. They were insistent that I get the SF off brand oil. I hesitated as I thought an SG is required.

I bought it anyway, and once home checked the Craftsman manual, which notes SG oil required. Online, Kawasaki's engine manual says SF, SG, etc is fine.

Are there any issues in using the SF? Don't really want to take it back, as I don't want to do business there anymore.

 

[The motor guy]

I think that api grade is a little too obsolete. Funny I was about to post a question about this. API SJ, SL or SN are the latest grades. Although not everyone agrees with running Low ASH SN oils in flat tappet cam engines, but the general consensus is since small engines aren't high compression it's ok to run the newest SN rated oil.

 

[CR94]

I'd bet much of "SF off brand oil" that's sold nowadays is inferior to SF oil that was sold under respectable brand names way back when SF was the latest and greatest. Are you confident that particular off brand actually meets SF specifications?

 

[crinkles]

No, I'm not confident at all. I will go buy a Valvoline 30 or 40 wt straight oil rated SG.

 

[NH73]

That is an obsolete oil spec, like motor oil madman. I would use a quality oil with the newest rating. I don't know what valvoline oil you would find with an obosolete rating. A judge would likely rule against craftsman for requiring a oil that is obosolete and also on the fact is that the newest ratings are backwards compatible to all the old ones.

 

[Garak]

As mentioned, note that SF and SG are obsolete. You can't even license an oil to those specifications any longer. There's a reason that the specs are backwards compatible. "Requiring" someone to buy an unlicensed oil is silly.