Hello.
Without starting a religious war about this pre-discussed topic, I will try to specify my questions. I know all about the viscosity ratings in theory, so please do not focus on this.
I have just bought a machine with an almost unused Briggs & Stratton XR950. I can read from the manual that quite a few different oils can be used. I do not own motor oil at any kind at the moment, and the costs for any of the different oils from the manual is about the same for me. I will only use the machine in temperatures from 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) to 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit). The oil will be changed annually.
1. Are motor oil for cars suitable for air-cooled garden machines?
1.1. Are the higher temperatures in the air-cooled motor a problem?
1.2. Can the additives in car engine oil be unsuitable for garden machines?
1.3. Are motorcycle oils in general preferred over car oils?
2. Can a fully synthetic oil be harmful for the motor?
2.1. In relation to this question, I can simply not understand why B&S differ in their recommended temperature ranges between 5w30 synthetic and non-synthetic. Viscosity-wise they should be identical.
3. Why the heck does not B&S recommend 10w40 oils instead of 15w50? It is a pretty long jump from SAE 30 oils.
In the end, I wonder if I should go with SAE 30 mineral lawnmower oil or 5w30 fully synthetic car oil (or maybe 10w40 fully synthetic car oil to be badass and go against B&S' recommendations). It is not that much a question of viscosity but more a question of oil quality. I might be too conservative thinking that the single grade oils are old-school and underdeveloped compared to modern multigrade car oils. The price is almost the same, and I will go with the best oil for this purpose.
Without starting a religious war about this pre-discussed topic, I will try to specify my questions. I know all about the viscosity ratings in theory, so please do not focus on this.
I have just bought a machine with an almost unused Briggs & Stratton XR950. I can read from the manual that quite a few different oils can be used. I do not own motor oil at any kind at the moment, and the costs for any of the different oils from the manual is about the same for me. I will only use the machine in temperatures from 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) to 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit). The oil will be changed annually.
1. Are motor oil for cars suitable for air-cooled garden machines?
1.1. Are the higher temperatures in the air-cooled motor a problem?
1.2. Can the additives in car engine oil be unsuitable for garden machines?
1.3. Are motorcycle oils in general preferred over car oils?
2. Can a fully synthetic oil be harmful for the motor?
2.1. In relation to this question, I can simply not understand why B&S differ in their recommended temperature ranges between 5w30 synthetic and non-synthetic. Viscosity-wise they should be identical.
3. Why the heck does not B&S recommend 10w40 oils instead of 15w50? It is a pretty long jump from SAE 30 oils.
In the end, I wonder if I should go with SAE 30 mineral lawnmower oil or 5w30 fully synthetic car oil (or maybe 10w40 fully synthetic car oil to be badass and go against B&S' recommendations). It is not that much a question of viscosity but more a question of oil quality. I might be too conservative thinking that the single grade oils are old-school and underdeveloped compared to modern multigrade car oils. The price is almost the same, and I will go with the best oil for this purpose.