I just bought a turf tiger 2 a few weeks ago with Kawasaki liquid cooled 31 hp engine. I have been planning on using schaffer oil on this mower for a while but they don't have a full synthetic in 20w50 which is what is recommended in my climate. My question is I have two quarts of royal purple in the basement should I go with it or will the schaffer do just as well. Only negative I've read about schaffer is availability and my napa dealer carries it
Synthetic vs synthetic blend turf tiger
- Thread starter Jmartinps1
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Go with your FS 20w50
My 24.5 hp said it took 2 qts but it was more like 2.5 qts- and I did not overfill it.
So you best have handy 3 qts just in case...
My 24.5 hp said it took 2 qts but it was more like 2.5 qts- and I did not overfill it.
So you best have handy 3 qts just in case...
First of all, BITOG has a very poor search engine. We have had a few discussions here about this. To find old threads, its better to do a Google search like this:
kawasaki oil bob is the oil guy site:www.bobistheoilguy.com
kawasaki oil lawnsite site:www.lawnsite.com
Either of your choices will work fine. Your water cooled engine will put less stress on any oil compared to an air cooled engine. I would even think that the 10W30 would work fine, again because you have a water cooled engine.
Kawasaki's new oil recommendations has left everyone scratching their heads. Why did they not consider 15W40 or 5W40 as their higher viscosity oil for hotter climates? IF I were to follow their 20W50 recommendation due to warranty concerns, I would probably use a full synthetic with the hope that being synthetic gives it slightly better flow characteristics at start up.
Maybe we can generate some expert discussion on this topic.
For anyone interested, here's their new recommendations:
First 100 hours on the engine use conventional 10W40 or 20W50.
Then switch to synthetic if you want.
Being water-cooled, a 15W40 will be fine.
Then switch to synthetic if you want.
Being water-cooled, a 15W40 will be fine.
10w40 is recommended up to 104 degrees... I doubt you see temps higher than that in KY this year. Plus, being liquid cooled, your engine will run at pretty much the same temps whether it's 70 or 95 outside.
I'd stick to 10w40 synthetic. Schaffers would be good and so would Amsoil UTF 10w40 that I'm using in my bigger Kawi's with absolutely no oil use.
I'd stick to 10w40 synthetic. Schaffers would be good and so would Amsoil UTF 10w40 that I'm using in my bigger Kawi's with absolutely no oil use.
I doubt you will be mowing under 32F as well... lol
Thanks for all the replies. As far as the 20w50 goes another contributing factor is the hydro pump run on it and I like the idea of running both of them on same oil for convenience. I actually mowed several days already this year where it was 100° and heat index was 114°
I really like the schaffer oil as well haven't read a single negative about it
I was planning on switching to 10 w40 first of September and run it through first of may each season
Originally Posted By: lukejo
10w40 is recommended up to 104 degrees... I doubt you see temps higher than that in KY this year. Plus, being liquid cooled, your engine will run at pretty much the same temps whether it's 70 or 95 outside.
I'd stick to 10w40 synthetic. Schaffers would be good and so would Amsoil UTF 10w40 that I'm using in my bigger Kawi's with absolutely no oil use.
Edit: meant to say Amsoil's 10w40 UTV/ATV (not UTF)
10w40 is recommended up to 104 degrees... I doubt you see temps higher than that in KY this year. Plus, being liquid cooled, your engine will run at pretty much the same temps whether it's 70 or 95 outside.
I'd stick to 10w40 synthetic. Schaffers would be good and so would Amsoil UTF 10w40 that I'm using in my bigger Kawi's with absolutely no oil use.
Edit: meant to say Amsoil's 10w40 UTV/ATV (not UTF)
I have been using 10w30 synthetic in last three Kaw engines I have owned. The equipment ended up being low cost benefit maintenance problem long before any engine developed a problem. I use the same 10w30 in my year round stuff as I do my lawn equipment in the heat of summer upwards of 100F+. Never had a problem. And all of them are air cooled. Matter of fact, I am totally on 10w30 for everything from my Yamaha EF200i generator on up thru my commercial semi truck. Different types of 10w30 for sure, but 10w30 nonetheless.
what he engines are you running
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