Delo 400 10w-30 or 5w-40?

[ProfPS]

I am looking to change to one oil weight to stock for my generator, lawn mower, and snow thrower. They all run B&S motors ranging from 6.5hp-10.5hp. I have made the decision to go with a diesel grade oil and find Delo 400 specs favorable. I may go with Rotella T if I cannot get Delo 400. Which weight should I go with for the year-round uses: 10w-30 or 5w-40? Delo 400 10w-30 is not listed as synthetic but specs are close; Delo 400 5w-40 is synthetic.

Thanks.

 

[marco246]

I don't have any direct experience with Delo in those weights, but I've used the Shell Rotella T equivalents. I think the 10W-30 would be well-suited to those applications and that the 5W-40 would also be fine, just more expensive.

 

[ProfPS]

Thanks. I know it is not an easy question to answer. The operating conditions for two out of the three makes it difficult: heat of the lawn mower use in the summer and stress of the snow thrower digging into deep snow in the winter. The generator runs at a constant but the owners manual states that using 30w could damage the engine from starting in cold weather. That's the reason why I didn't add 30w to the list of choices.

 

[Gilitar]

Go with Rotella synthetic 5w40 for all of them. It will give you the cold flow characteristics and also the protection you need in the heat.

 

[JTK]

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Go with Rotella synthetic 5w40 for all of them. It will give you the cold flow characteristics and also the protection you need in the heat.

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Very true. Check the specs. R-T 5w-40 flows cold better than most 5w-30's and should protect your small aircooled engines better than a 30wt once hot. It's the best of both worlds for this application IMO. The only 'problem' I have with Rotella-T 5w-40 is the only place I can get it in my area is Wal-Mart. None of my car parts places stock it for some reason. They stock lots of 15w-40 HDEO's but never the 5w-40. Then again, 0w-X can't be found and 5w-20 is just starting to be easy to source.

Joel

 

[Lonnie]

Why not Delo 30W?

 

[ProfPS]

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Why not Delo 30W?

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I did initially consider straight 30w but after seeing the statement in the generator owners manual regarding damage at low temps, I started looking at alternatives that brought me to either 10w-30 or 5w-40. The last time I had a snow thrower and following the manufacturer SL rated 5w-30, when working in deep snow and putting a heavy load on the engine, I didn't think 5w-30 was providing enough protection - light blue smoking under load and when in deep snow almost stalling out.

Looking at the operating temp range and loads/demands placed on those air-cooled engines, I decided to go with a diesel rated oil. The generator manual recommends a gasoline rated 10w-30 in cooler temps, but a diesel rated 10w-30 should provide better protection across the temp range in the northeast. After reading many 5w-40 recommendations, I am interested how they compare for my three uses.

 

[Bror Jace]

ProfPS, I agree on skipping the straight 30. So much more wear for engines at start-up than steady running ... and 30 is really bad in this regard (I too live in the Northeast).

I think Rotella T in 5W-40 would be a great, all-purpose OPE oil for you. I prefer the add packs I've seen in Delo400 ... but those change so often, it's hard to be sure of any advantage in a given bottle.

 

[richter1]

I use Rotella T 5w40 in all my small engines:
2 snowblowers, a garden tractor, 2 push mowers, a pressure washer and 2 generators. This oil performs well in all of them.

 

[Best F100]

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I am looking to change to one oil weight to stock for my generator, lawn mower, and snow thrower. They all run B&S motors ranging from 6.5hp-10.5hp. I have made the decision to go with a diesel grade oil and find Delo 400 specs favorable. I may go with Rotella T if I cannot get Delo 400. Which weight should I go with for the year-round uses: 10w-30 or 5w-40? Delo 400 10w-30 is not listed as synthetic but specs are close; Delo 400 5w-40 is synthetic.

Thanks.

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I don't know if you are located anywhere near the Canadian border, but if so - I would cross over and bring back some Esso XD3- OW30. I did so from here in Michigan.

It is diesel grade, PAO, and a near 40 wt. in viscosity. It worked well in my Toro mower and 15kw standby home generators, both air cooled Briggs engines. My generator has run for 24 -36 continuous hours in both 10F and 90F weather during power outages. I also used it in a 2 wheeled Gravely snowblower with a Kohler engine. As they say, things were "piece of cake".

There is a Esso XD-3 0W40 version as well. If you can't get Esso XD-3, Rotella 5W40 would be my second choice.