Straight 30 getting hard to find

[ZeeOSix]

Found this SAE 3O STP Pro Formula at the local AutoZone for $4.99/qt. Probably be fine for my lawn mower and power washer. I think O'Reilly's has their own in house brand of SAE 30 for about the same price. I've been using Pennzoil SAE 30 yellow bottle in them, but can't find any Pennzoil 30 in the local stores.

 

[Red91]

From what I've read on here, STP oil is an Amalie product, so it's a decent and fully modern straight 30 oil. I picked up a couple of quarts of Castrol straight 30 the other day to have on hand for the mowers.

 

[BrocLuno]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
If SAE 30 HD were inferior, why would really expensive engines like aero and ships rely on it? And why would there be engines that will not tolerate anything else?

General aviation does not "rely" on straight-grade oils because they are better or have superior qualities. If there is a reason anyone in that sector relies on such oils it has nothing to do with it being better. Multi-grade oils have been available to GA for over 30 years.

I do agree with some of the reasons you state that straight-grade oils are better, but your often made reference to aviation is not one of them.


Well, yes and no. LOTS of GA piston engine builders state emphatically to use staright grade oils for break-in or low hour, low use situations. Ram Lubes There are plenty of other examples.

Same in the tractor world. If engines sit, they need straight grades to have the right residual film on cold start (and that's where most wear occures ...)

 

[Warstud]

I was just at Rural King and they had >>>>>

Shell T1 Sae 30

Valvoline Sae 30

Pennzoil Sae 30

Havoline Sae 30

 

[Silk]

Shell have pulled out of New Zealand...the fuel supply outlets were sold and rebranded Z (zed) some years ago. They are still importing and selling Shell oils, but a private company. The boss was up at the Z station the other day and saw the Shell oil off the shelf, they can't sell it anymore. Always in on a bargain he said ''I'll give you $100 for the lot.'' So now we have some Shell oil - some 5 litres of 20W-50 and 15W-40, brake fluid, 2T that is FA or something, marine 2T....and - 4T ! SAE 30. Not as good as the 30 I have already, but it does say motorcycle, and apart from the lawnmower, that is what it'll be going in.

 

[SR5]

Hey Silk, they sell exactly that stuff (Shell SAE 30) in KMart here. It's $11 per 1L bottle, but no 5L jugs there. I would use it but $55 for 5L is a bit rich for me. At Bunnings hardware they are selling Castrol GTX UltraClean 15W40 at $16 for 5L. It's hard to walk past that GTX.

But it sounds like you guys got a good deal on the lot. That is good to hear.

 

[Silk]

We only have the 15W-40 HX7 and 20W-50 HX3 in 5 litre, all the rest are 1 litre bottles. I was looking at the 4T, and he said I can have that, but I'm wanting more than a litre, so will have to shout the next box of Export 33's if I want more.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I can recall using straight 30W in my push lawnmowers in the 70s. Then I went to 15W40 in the 80s - then 5W40 synthetic in the 90s and never looked back.

I'm still pushing......

 

[Silk]

I've been all the way to the 21st Century, I'm on my way back to the '70's now.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: Silk
I've been all the way to the 21st Century, I'm on my way back to the '70's now.

Nice to see you're still with us Capt. Kirk! Spock always chose the new-age products and routes.

Beam all the lubricators up Scotty!

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted By: Silk
I've been all the way to the 21st Century, I'm on my way back to the '70's now.

Nice to see you're still with us Capt. Kirk! Spock always chose the new-age products and routes.

Beam all the lubricators up Scotty!

You all know that I've been enamoured with the 0W16 grade as the early indications are that it's essentially a monograde...none of that unicorn Viscosity index like TGMO that gets some people into a hot lather

And I've stated before that the sub 20 grades are to get the Japanese OEMs the HTHS that they want without filling the oils full of plastics, and hoping/waiting for it to shear (e.g. the deposit leniency for 0W20 and 0w20 grade only)

https://pubs.lubesngreases.com/lubereport-asia/4_16/specs/JAMA-Proposes-SAE-0W-8-Spec-11917-1.html

The way of the future is monogrades...