I have looked through the used oil analysis section on this forum and have yet to find some oil that was tested from a mower, snowblower, powerwasher etc. I was wondering in general are small motors hard on oil? Harder on oil then your auto?
Small motors hard on oil?
- Thread starter Camprunner
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In general, yes. For one, most small motors are air-cooled and therefore run hotter than most automobile engines. Small engines are also usually ran at a higher continuous RPM where they make the most efficient power. Lastly, small engines are usually prone to greater amounts of fuel dilution in the oil because of the less-precise fuel delivery system used (carbs). Ironically enough, small OPE engines tend to be nearly bulletproof and will and DO run many years, reliably, with little or no maintenance, low oil, etc.
Not to mention most small engines made today are made with an aluminum bore instead of a cast iron bore like a car. They wear pretty fast compared to a cast iron cylinder liner.
My old kx500 2 stroke used to chew up 20w50 in 3 a day weekend of hard riding in the desert. I used havoline 20w50 and my engine ran like a champ forever.
Small engines have interesting oil requirements. Due to fuel dilution and higher running temps, they can be hard on oil, especially when worked hard. With that said, they also don't really have strict oil requirements either. I've seen them run well on anything from what looked like black dirty water to 20w50 without issue.
Being a splash lubricated system, the oil LEVEL is more important than the viscosity in my experience. I've torn down engines that are 20 years old and have never had the oil changed, only added when it was low, and they still ran perfectly fine with decent compression.
Being a splash lubricated system, the oil LEVEL is more important than the viscosity in my experience. I've torn down engines that are 20 years old and have never had the oil changed, only added when it was low, and they still ran perfectly fine with decent compression.
I own 15 5.5hp Honda 160gx powered air compressors. The air pumps vary from inline twins to v-twins and I've built a couple triple cylinder pumps too.
I've now also got 8 generators from 3000 watts to 6500 watts.
These machines run daily whether it's -35c outside or 35c. In the winter I use the cheapest 5w30 I can find however during that last really cold spell I used synthetic 5w-20 because of the extreme cold.
Anyways,except for extreme weather conditions I run cheap 5w30,usually the 5 gallon pails from Walmart.
We change the oil every 2 weeks or hundred hours. I use mos2 in the oil every second change and it's helped the machines start easier because the pull start spins easier.
I use a frankenbrew tc-w3 mix in the fuel and I've got no carb issues,ever.
Summertime is rotella 15w40,again in the 5 gallon pail from Walmart and again 2 week/100 hour change intervals.
I've got compressors with over 10000 hours on them and not a single one consumes nor burns oil.
These compressors run all day,only shut off to fuel them. The generators are run in the same fashion.
With the fuel dilution issues my engines experience coupled with a dirty dusty workplace I've found that my 2 week intervals are perfect.
I haven't replaced an engine in a decade,every single one runs as good as new. My 10000+ hour examples are in fact the easiest compressors to start. They've fired and are spinning on their own within half a pull of the rip cord.
I don't usually use synthetic because I'm not after extended intervals nor am I trying to get max return on investment with high priced syns.
I use cheap,decent named oils and change it often.
My service routine seems to be working just fine considering I've had minimal issues with any of my equipment.
Those Honda engines really are something else.
I've now also got 8 generators from 3000 watts to 6500 watts.
These machines run daily whether it's -35c outside or 35c. In the winter I use the cheapest 5w30 I can find however during that last really cold spell I used synthetic 5w-20 because of the extreme cold.
Anyways,except for extreme weather conditions I run cheap 5w30,usually the 5 gallon pails from Walmart.
We change the oil every 2 weeks or hundred hours. I use mos2 in the oil every second change and it's helped the machines start easier because the pull start spins easier.
I use a frankenbrew tc-w3 mix in the fuel and I've got no carb issues,ever.
Summertime is rotella 15w40,again in the 5 gallon pail from Walmart and again 2 week/100 hour change intervals.
I've got compressors with over 10000 hours on them and not a single one consumes nor burns oil.
These compressors run all day,only shut off to fuel them. The generators are run in the same fashion.
With the fuel dilution issues my engines experience coupled with a dirty dusty workplace I've found that my 2 week intervals are perfect.
I haven't replaced an engine in a decade,every single one runs as good as new. My 10000+ hour examples are in fact the easiest compressors to start. They've fired and are spinning on their own within half a pull of the rip cord.
I don't usually use synthetic because I'm not after extended intervals nor am I trying to get max return on investment with high priced syns.
I use cheap,decent named oils and change it often.
My service routine seems to be working just fine considering I've had minimal issues with any of my equipment.
Those Honda engines really are something else.
And they will still last longer then that new $25,000 car you just bought. My rider is a'77 model and every car I've bought since '77 except for the one I have now ,is long gone. As long as you keep oil in a small motor, it will run for decades.,,
"calendar" longer, that is. Most cars will run at least 150k and at avg 25mph, that's at least 6000 hrs.
The 10000 hr compressor are really something, but many small engines run maybe 25 or 50 hrs a year. Then 40 years of service is "only" 1000-2000 hrs.
I do agree the small ones are amazing though, and some older or heavy duty engines will run "forever" in certain conditions.
The 10000 hr compressor are really something, but many small engines run maybe 25 or 50 hrs a year. Then 40 years of service is "only" 1000-2000 hrs.
I do agree the small ones are amazing though, and some older or heavy duty engines will run "forever" in certain conditions.
In his Charger? Hmmmm....
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