Small Engine Oil Opinions

rustyacres sd · Jul 27, 2016

What is your guy's opinions for best oil for small engines such as mowers and ATV/UTV's. I have usually used manufacturer stated oil, but wonder if you guys thing a particular brand is better than what the MFG suggests

Billy NY · Jul 27, 2016

I go by specifications of the MFR, if the brand meets the criteria, that's what I use.

Ron-MO · Jul 27, 2016

As long as it meets or exceeds requirements listed in the manual I pretty much use one oil on everything I own unless a warranty specifies otherwise. I purchase 5 gallon containers of the TSC Traveller oil and use that in my daily driver, my Gravely zero turn, tractors etc. I am well satisfied with that oil, and is a good quality oil as far as I can tell, and much less expensive than the name brand stuff. I have been using a "Dexos" certified oil while my pickup is under warranty, but honestly I doubt I could have proven which oil I had been running since I do my own oil changes on it, and I buy oil well ahead of the need storing it until I use it. Once warranty is out, I may also run the Traveller oil in it too. The other exception is my wife's pickup has a lifetime powertrain warranty as long as all recommended service intervals are done and recorded. So, that one might continue getting oil changes from the dealership.

w1ebb · Jul 27, 2016

Rotella T in the tractor, Castrol in everything else. Full synthetic in the 07 Sierra, synthetic blend in the Yukon, GTX in the push mower.

Quicksilver 2 stroke oil in the Mercury outboard.

Scott

Geo-TH,In · Jul 27, 2016

Use what the manufacture recommends. My Goldwing had a wet clutch. The engine oil was in contact with the clutch. They recommended it use a special oil that wouldn't make the clutch slip.

My Kawasaki mule recommends an anti slip oil for differential, it too has some type of clutch in differential. I use 10w40 motor cycle oil in my mule per recommendation in manual. Not sure if there is anything special in MC oil, I just follow directions, use a brand name oil and change as recommended if not sooner.

Paul from MI · Jul 27, 2016

Kendall GT1, whatever viscosity the manufacturer wants. Had really good results with it.

D beatty · Jul 27, 2016

I use Castrol in my 06 Impala, synthetic in snow blower and generator, Opti-2 in all 2cycle engines and every thing else run on Rotella T 15-40.

mj · Jul 27, 2016

Back in the day, Harley and Cushman both recommended a non-paraffin based oil for air-cooled engines - Harley had PreLuxe and Cushman recommended Royal Purple. Something about higher operating temperatures was the reason given. 8)

Russ from MN · Jul 27, 2016

They used to recommend straight wt. 30 for lawn mowers and such, but we just bought a new JD with a Briggs and they recommend 10-30. I bought enough JD oil to get us through the warranty but then I will probably switch it to Mobil 1 10-30, as they run pretty hot. When I worked in the paper mill it was real obvious that synthetic would stand up much better in extreme heat. I only use synthetic motorcycle oil in our bikes as they have wet clutches. 15-40 Delvac in the tractors and old lawnmowers.

Paul from MI · Jul 27, 2016

Kendall GT1, whatever viscosity the manufacturer wants. Had really good results with it.

Jon Hagen · Jul 27, 2016

I use only multi weight synthetic oil in all my air cooled engines, it takes the heat of those hot running little engines better than mineral oil. Briggs says the same thing, the only oil they recommend for all loads at any temperature is a 5W-30 synthetic. With synthetic oil, no valve sticking, easier starting and consumption is near 0.
Briggs oil specs

MarkB_MI · Jul 28, 2016

For all my new engines, I use Mobil 1 15W-40. You can't hardly find straight-weight oil anymore, and the difference in cost between conventional and synthetic oil is peanuts for the small quantity these engines use.

Small Engine Oil Opinions

rustyacres sd

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Billy NY

Well-known Member

Ron-MO

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w1ebb

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Geo-TH,In

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Paul from MI

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D beatty

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mj

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Russ from MN

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Paul from MI

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Jon Hagen

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MarkB_MI

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