What happens if I put 10w30 in a Briggs engine?

[Popinski]

My snowblower calls for 5w30 for engines running under 32 F. I accidentally bought 10w30 and I can't return it since I opened it. What happens if I run 10w30 in the winter time?

 

[Camu Mahubah]

 

[Kuato]

If you keep it warm in your garage, nothing. But the 10w will be harder to pump than the 5w at lower temps.

 

[Popinski]

Originally Posted By: fredjacksonsan
If you keep it warm in your garage, nothing. But the 10w will be harder to pump than the 5w at lower temps.


It's just a mechanical pump and mechanical pumps are tough. Should I still be worried?

 

[mechjames]

No don't be worried. Most people just run straight 30. Makes it a bit harder to pull, and you might have to give it another pull or two due to that, but the engine will run fine. Just give it a couple min to warm up and go to work!

 

[oilboy123]

Yep warm it up till the next time you change the oil to a better weight.

 

[steveh]

My Briggs snowblower manual says 10w30 dino or 5w30 synthetic.

 

[oliveoil]

Don't worry. It will be fine! Just change it next year to 5-30.

 

[crazyoildude]

I have an allis charmers snow blower it was bought new in 1966 before i was born and it has a 4 hp briggs engine and runs great to this day and it has always been used for a large piece of property...This machine runs circles around my neighbors 10 hp briggs and the only oil we have ever used is strait 30 pennzoil once a year..My father was in construction and had all allis charmers and cat equipment..

 

[JTK]

Pop, your conditions probably are not cold enough that you would notice the difference in pull-starting between a SAE30, 5w30 or 10w30 w/ this type of equipment. Once up to temp, they're all the 'same' oil and are going to offer the same protection for that engine.

Today, I personally don't see the point in a passenger car 10w30 oil. I know it's worked perfectly for folks for 50yrs, but if I wanted a multi-weight 30, it would be 5w30 or 0w30.

I also haven't bothered with SAE30 in years. If heat or a hot running air cooled engine is a concern, I go with HDEO's like 15w40 or 5w40. 5w40 will allow you to pull start easier in extreme cold better than most 5w30's would.

Joel

 

[boraticus]

I live in cold country. We occasionally see forty below F. Not often thankfully. I used 10W30 for years in my 10 h.p. Tecumseh engines. If it's around -20F, they can be a bit stiff to turn over with the pull start. The electric start had no problem cranking the engine with 10W40 at any temps that I used it at.

 

[fdcg27]

OMG!
What might happem on 10W-30?

The engine will run great, and will suffer no negative consequences.
These little guys are not at all picky about oil, as long as you have some in there.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: Popinski


It's just a mechanical pump and mechanical pumps are tough. Should I still be worried?


I wouldn't be; just warm it up some before you put a load on it.

 

[kcfx4]

NOTHING will happen! I run only valvoline sae30 yr round in all my small engines, and have done this forever