Small Engine MFR Recommendations

[AirgunSavant]

No drama but just a source of debate and conversation.
I wont mention the specific product as no ill will is in my agenda.
I wonder if some issues with equipment isn't the end makers fault.

I assume most mower engines are shipped almost dry- just a small amount of oil from assembly.
The maker suggest Dino oil from their temp chart- usually give you three or four weight choices.
They also warn you not to use anything other than Dino for the first 50 hours of use.

However in my case that was true but the mower company that builds the mower takes that engine and they told me on the line they all get the OEM oil filter and T6 5w40 fs. oil.

Question is it goes against the engine makers suggestion and you wonder if the mower company even read the manual or did
they get the engine builders approval or did none of this occur to them. I'm sure this happens all the time too.

 

[bioburner]

My new generator suggested synthetic after a 5 hour break in using their supplied oil. So maybe they are getting smarter.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
However in my case that was true but the mower company that builds the mower takes that engine and they told me on the line they all get the OEM oil filter and T6 5w40 fs oil.


They don't trust their engine supplier.

They can't afford an engine failure to tarnish THEIR reputation,

so that's their idea of trying to protect the engine a little better than "some cheap, worthless dino oil"

 

[AirgunSavant]

Why would you take a chance on using a suspect engine manufacturer in the first place if you were that worried?
Engine failures? Okay why go against the engineers that developed the engine? ( of course I'm not one who assumes that the design engineers are God)
When did dino oil become worthless?

Originally Posted By: Linctex
Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
However in my case that was true but the mower company that builds the mower takes that engine and they told me on the line they all get the OEM oil filter and T6 5w40 fs oil.


They don't trust their engine supplier.

They can't afford an engine failure to tarnish THEIR reputation,

so that's their idea of trying to protect the engine a little better than "some cheap, worthless dino oil"

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant


...if the mower company even read the manual or did
they get the engine builders approval or did none of this occur to them.


Likely none of it occurred to them, or each one just prefers their own standard.


Unless something is machined wrong, the engine will likely last past the warranty as long as it has "oil" in it, and that is all the manufacturers really care about.

Most small engine manuals I've seen seem to allow any oil between a 5w30-20w50 for certain temperatures, and a certain grade will be "recommended". Pretty wide range.

 

[Dave Sherman]

I was surprised that my secondhand Snapper snow blower called for 32:1 2-stroke mix in the owner's manual and on the gas cap, but the engine maker called out a different ratio. When I had to take the guards off to get to the carburetor to clean out the gunk and congealed oil from sitting for so long, the Tecumseh label on the engine called for 50:1 mix. Maybe Snapper thought it would last longer on 32:1?

 

[bubbatime]

John Deere calls for 10W30 Deere oil in just about anything, even though that Briggs would prefer a SAE30 in hot climate or a 15W40 in a hot climate in a Kawasaki.

 

[gman2304]

'even though that Briggs would prefer a SAE30 in hot climate or a 15W40 in a hot climate in a Kawasaki'.

^^^ Bubba nails it again.... ^^^

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
Why would you take a chance on using a suspect engine manufacturer in the first place if you were that worried?


Cost.
Lowest bidder usually wins, or they would all have Honda engines instead.

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
Engine failures? Okay why go against the engineers that developed the engine?


Ask their advertising department, it was probably their stupid idea in the first place.

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
When did dino oil become worthless?

Again - - that's their idea of trying to protect the engine a little better than "some cheap, worthless dino oil"... and you can probably blame that on their advertising department as well.