should i switch to amsoil, mobile1, redline, ect?

[Brett Miller]

I'm with Bill, that kind of increase is impossible.

 

[1999nick]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Kapaun:

quote:

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Originally posted by ZmOz:
Actually, running a good synthetic 10w30 over a dino 15w40 could probably get you almost 1 extra HP...that's a big difference when the engine is only ~5hp to begin with...

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The difference between HOT 30 & 40 weight oils is actually quite negligible.
There's no way you'd get 20% more HP.
Most these engines are splash lube anyway, so you don't have the "pumping losses" such as you would have in a car in the middle of winter.
If you got that much of a HP increase by using synthetic, the engine manufacturers would be specifying synthetic just for the "free" HP so they could spend less money making a smaller "equivalent HP" engine.
Why would anyone use a different viscosity oil between synthetic and dino anyway? You pick a viscosity because of temperature conditions!

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[SteveD2]

Ok...maybe not 1hp, but going from a 15w40 dino oil to a 10w30 synthetic WILL give you a significant HP increase...

 

[Lawn Ranger]

I have a commercial mower with a 25 hp engine and a hydraulic drive, called a ZTR (Zero Turn Radius) I installed temperature gauges on the engine crankcase and the hydraulic reservoir. Then I tried a bunch of different oils to see which gave me the lowest temps. and the best fuel efficiency. I went from filling up every four hours using Mobil 1 to over 5 hours running Synergyn oil and grease. When I switched to Synergyn I had to back off my unloaded rpm's inorder to get 3600 with the blades engaged. I use their LTs 3w 30 in the engine and their Super Torque in the hydraulic's and their grease on the spindles. All synthetic with special additives. Using their products saves me money no matter what it costs. The components are running much more efficeienly with much less friction and therefor lower operating temps. It's a dixies chopper mower and so I put their so-called wonder oil in the hydraulic system and it did no better than Mobil 1. They charge a fortune for their proprietary oil and it's nothing but a synthetic with an additive dumped in it. I had it tested. I tried to talk to DC but they don't want to hear anything about the difference.

 

[Bror Jace]

I am with ZmOz even if I can't quantify the difference in power when using a thinner synthetic instead of a thicker mineral.

At start-up, even on a warm day, I could feel the difference pulling over one of our push mowers after I dumped the mineral oil and filled up with Mobil 1 ... 5w30 or 10w30. The mower was significantly easier to pull over and start. And once started, it revved much more freely. Maybe a .5hp gain?

"It's a Dixie Chopper mower and so I put their so-called wonder oil in the hydraulic system and it did no better than Mobil 1. They charge a fortune for their proprietary oil and it's nothing but a synthetic with an additive dumped in it. I had it tested. I tried to talk to DC but they don't want to hear anything about the difference."

They never do. That's why I consider the manufacturer's recommendation a good "baseline" ... but that's it. It's definitely possible to improve upon that if you know what you're doing.

--- Bror Jace