switching to 15w40 in all my ope?
- Thread starter The motor guy
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Many, many people here (I among them) have used 15w40 in lawn mowers and log-splitters for years with no ill effects. IMO, the HDEO is a perfect compliment for an air cooled engine. If a diesel can't destroy this oil, it will keep an air-cooled low HP engine running with no problem.
I'm in full agreement with this comment.
I've used Rotella 15W40 and 10W30 separately and blended for many years in all kinds of equipment from OPE, motorcycles, ATVs and a Kubota diesel generator. In forty years or so, I've bought maybe 5 liters of synthetic oil only because it was brand name oil for the same price or less than Rotella. Otherwise, it's been HDEO all the way.
Originally Posted By: 2cool
Many, many people here (I among them) have used 15w40 in lawn mowers and log-splitters for years with no ill effects. IMO, the HDEO is a perfect compliment for an air cooled engine. If a diesel can't destroy this oil, it will keep an air-cooled low HP engine running with no problem.
I've used Rotella 15W40 and 10W30 separately and blended for many years in all kinds of equipment from OPE, motorcycles, ATVs and a Kubota diesel generator. In forty years or so, I've bought maybe 5 liters of synthetic oil only because it was brand name oil for the same price or less than Rotella. Otherwise, it's been HDEO all the way.
Originally Posted By: 2cool
Many, many people here (I among them) have used 15w40 in lawn mowers and log-splitters for years with no ill effects. IMO, the HDEO is a perfect compliment for an air cooled engine. If a diesel can't destroy this oil, it will keep an air-cooled low HP engine running with no problem.
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Originally Posted By: Shannow
OK they were guesses.
And they were wrong...
So what point was proved exactly ?
Proving that the oil thins with increasing temp and not starting thin and thickening.
OK they were guesses.
And they were wrong...
So what point was proved exactly ?
Proving that the oil thins with increasing temp and not starting thin and thickening.
While one ideal oil weight for all sorts of OPE probably doesn't exist ... 15w40 comes the closest ... especially in Houston, Texas. Use it and relax ... you're doing better than 90% of OPE owners out there.
Now, if you were in some place like Upstate New York or Wiscaaansin, I'd lean towards 10W-30 ... HDEO, of course.
This far up north, most of the thinning comes from fuel dilution. For a frequently run engine in Texas, that might not be the case. In any case, 15w40 offers extra a lil' protection.
Now, if you were in some place like Upstate New York or Wiscaaansin, I'd lean towards 10W-30 ... HDEO, of course.
This far up north, most of the thinning comes from fuel dilution. For a frequently run engine in Texas, that might not be the case. In any case, 15w40 offers extra a lil' protection.
You care coming to the revelation that, we here, are jusssssst a tad on the OCD side when it comes down to oil selection and there comes a time when you realize that there are a lot of choices that will work, and protect just fine. I won't buy an oil I can't go to the store and buy. I'm sorry, but buying oil through a dealer is not for me, even if it is the best there is. I said in an earlier post that we are getting Waaaaay more protection that we actually need. If an oil protects as well as need be, then the extra protection you pay for is wasted money. Now, I guess we all can feel good about putting $12 a quart oil in our push mower, but the truth is, that there is no proof that using a decent $3 a quart 30wt oil is any less protection. The long and short of it is, that maybe 15w40 is a good middle ground, some feel good protection, some savings over the extreme. Heck, I use VPB 15w40 for $11 a gallon and get the best of both worlds!
Originally Posted By: bchannell
You care coming to the revelation that, we here, are jusssssst a tad on the OCD side when it comes down to oil selection and there comes a time when you realize that there are a lot of choices that will work, and protect just fine. I won't buy an oil I can't go to the store and buy. I'm sorry, but buying oil through a dealer is not for me, even if it is the best there is. I said in an earlier post that we are getting Waaaaay more protection that we actually need. If an oil protects as well as need be, then the extra protection you pay for is wasted money. Now, I guess we all can feel good about putting $12 a quart oil in our push mower, but the truth is, that there is no proof that using a decent $3 a quart 30wt oil is any less protection. The long and short of it is, that maybe 15w40 is a good middle ground, some feel good protection, some savings over the extreme. Heck, I use VPB 15w40 for $11 a gallon and get the best of both worlds!
Amen… for 99% of owners out there any oil of "proper" weight will do fine, more importantly keeping the oil level full and changing it every so often. I think with most OPE, the engine always lasts the longest… typically the "rest of it" will break-down or rust-out. But I can see the benefit of synthetics in certain cases. For me, it's "cheap" HDEO that I can get at WallyWorld.
You care coming to the revelation that, we here, are jusssssst a tad on the OCD side when it comes down to oil selection and there comes a time when you realize that there are a lot of choices that will work, and protect just fine. I won't buy an oil I can't go to the store and buy. I'm sorry, but buying oil through a dealer is not for me, even if it is the best there is. I said in an earlier post that we are getting Waaaaay more protection that we actually need. If an oil protects as well as need be, then the extra protection you pay for is wasted money. Now, I guess we all can feel good about putting $12 a quart oil in our push mower, but the truth is, that there is no proof that using a decent $3 a quart 30wt oil is any less protection. The long and short of it is, that maybe 15w40 is a good middle ground, some feel good protection, some savings over the extreme. Heck, I use VPB 15w40 for $11 a gallon and get the best of both worlds!
Amen… for 99% of owners out there any oil of "proper" weight will do fine, more importantly keeping the oil level full and changing it every so often. I think with most OPE, the engine always lasts the longest… typically the "rest of it" will break-down or rust-out. But I can see the benefit of synthetics in certain cases. For me, it's "cheap" HDEO that I can get at WallyWorld.
Originally Posted By: Bror Jace
Now, if you were in some place like Upstate New York or Wiscaaansin, I'd lean towards 10W-30 ... HDEO, of course.
So how do you feel about 5w40 for OPE up north? Leaving cost out of the equation, can you think of some pluses and minuses of Rotela T5 15w40 vs. Rotela T6 5w40?
Now, if you were in some place like Upstate New York or Wiscaaansin, I'd lean towards 10W-30 ... HDEO, of course.
So how do you feel about 5w40 for OPE up north? Leaving cost out of the equation, can you think of some pluses and minuses of Rotela T5 15w40 vs. Rotela T6 5w40?
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