K321 Engine: Oil Viscosity Recommendations

[hotajax 223]

Engine manual from Kohler says don't use 10W-30, use straight 30 above 32 degrees Fahrenheit.   Reason given is multi vis oil increases combustion chamber deposits. Remember, this manual was written almost 50 years ago. 

 

With newer formulations of oil, is this still a risk?  I've been using Shell Rotella T-4 ( conventional motor oil, not synthetic ) for a few yrs and it doesn't seem to effect engine performance to use 10W-30.  At the most, 50 hours a year of run time. 

What say the experts?   Anyone rebuilt an engine using the multi-viscosity oil?  Thanks in advance.  Hot Ajax

Edited April 18, 2023 by hotajax
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[peter lena 8,632]

@hotajax  regularly use rotella #  30 over summer fall. no issues , prefer the 5-30 over winter , the cold temp change over with the  5-30 , is smoke free with no issues at all . have done a lot of oil / lubrication testing / trying , engines like the current set up , with zero usage , changing it at about 30 hrs , and color telling me its time , pete 

[hotajax 223]

Thanks.

[squonk 41,136]

Rotella 30W all year. Made a very dirty engine look like this.

 

[hotajax 223]

22 minutes ago, squonk said:

Rotella 30W all year. Made a very dirty engine look like this.

 

Pretty slick.  What is your run time hours between changes?

[squonk 41,136]

4 minutes ago, hotajax said:

Pretty slick.  What is your run time hours between changes?

About 20 hours. This engine had 995 hours on it when a piston cracked

Edited April 18, 2023 by squonk

[hotajax 223]

8 minutes ago, squonk said:

About 20 hours. This engine had 995 hours on it when a piston cracked

Ouch.  I got about 2000 hours before overhaul.  And nothing was broken, just worn out and giving me poor performance in thick stuff, and going up hill.  Cutting thick stuff and going uphill at the same time nearly gave my K321 cardiac arrest.  Lucky for me, I got an engine guy close by who did a rebuild and made it run like new.  Kid says he's going to bury me and the tractor together, cuz I'm not getting rid of it.  Me and that tractor had a lot of beers together. 

Edited April 18, 2023 by hotajax

[squonk 41,136]

I got my tractor with about 700 hours on it and it smoked like a chimney. Wasn't maintained at all. I noticed a noise in it at the 995 mark and swapped it out with another engine. I expected to find loose balance gears but when the pan came off the piston pieces were in it. I have no idea when the piston broke. Might have been broken when I got it! 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,594]

Rotella 30 w year round no issues...

 

[oldlineman 1,481]

I second that! 

[953 nut 55,280]

17 hours ago, hotajax said:

Remember, this manual was written almost 50 years ago.

And the parts the oil is protecting from wear were the same ones then as now.  Newer engines have components that were specifically engineered for multi viscosity oil and a pressurized lubrication system. The old reliable splash lubricated air cooled cast iron Kohler engines have been delivering outstanding service with straight 30 weight oil for over half a century. Don't mess with success!

[RED-Z06 2,221]

Im in Florida, ill see head temps over 265⁰F mowing mid summer and rarely see sub 20s temps.  I run 3 onans that get 10w30 Valvoline Vr1 full Syn oil, my Liquid Cooled Kawasaki gets the same VR1.  My K241 gets Valvoline VR1 Sae40, as does my M12S.  The Command Twins get VR1 10w30 semi synthetic...they dont really need the added zinc in the blue full Syn racing formula.

 

 

It does get to be alot, having multiple different oils on hand but not every engine is the same, theres different needs.

[moe1965 738]

I use strait 30 non detergent all year long but mine stay in a heated garage in the winter so starting is not a issue when they are called upon to do snow patrol.  I read somewhere that it was recommended to use straight 30 to help keep the head cool.  Up by the intake and exhaust valves being that it was a L shaped head.   Not sure if someone was making stuff up or not but I ran with it.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

1 hour ago, moe1965 said:

I use strait 30 non detergent all year long but mine stay in a heated garage in the winter so starting is not a issue when they are called upon to do snow patrol.  I read somewhere that it was recommended to use straight 30 to help keep the head cool.  Up by the intake and exhaust valves being that it was a L shaped head.   Not sure if someone was making stuff up or not but I ran with it.

You dont want to use non-detergent in anything but Compressor pumps and Power washer pumps.  Detergents keep solids suspended in the oil so when you drain it, the contaminants come out. Non-Detergent oils let the contaminants settle out into what becomes sludge in the sump.

[moe1965 738]

15 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

You dont want to use non-detergent in anything but Compressor pumps and Power washer pumps.  Detergents keep solids suspended in the oil so when you drain it, the contaminants come out. Non-Detergent oils let the contaminants settle out into what becomes sludge in the sump.

I was under the assumption that using non detergent was exactly for that reason and to use detergent when the engine had a oil filter to remove all the contaminants .   

[squonk 41,136]

Nope Kohler manual states, " Use Detergent Oil " 

[tunahead72 2,423]

On 4/18/2023 at 4:53 PM, hotajax said:

...  Lucky for me, I got an engine guy close by who did a rebuild and made it run like new...

 

Anybody you could recommend?

 

[hotajax 223]

I will ask him he can do it.  He's just outside of Doylestown, and has a truck to pick up.  Will he come to Phoenixville?  That's anybody's guess.  Is it a Kohler engine? Will let you know if he's available.  Guessing an enggine rebuild?

[hotajax 223]

Tuna:  I heard from him.  He said he is available, but won't do a pickup in Phoenixville.  You would have to make your own arrangements to Doylestown.  Is it a Kohler?  He did ask that.   His price will be reasonable, and his work is first rate.  Doesn't advertise, but I would take my stuff back to him in a heart beat if I had to.

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Edited April 21, 2023 by hotajax

[tunahead72 2,423]

47 minutes ago, hotajax said:

I will ask him he can do it.  He's just outside of Doylestown, and has a truck to pick up.  Will he come to Phoenixville?  That's anybody's guess.  Is it a Kohler engine? Will let you know if he's available.  Guessing an enggine rebuild?

 

40 minutes ago, hotajax said:

Tuna:  I heard from him.  He said he is available, but won't do a pickup in Phoenixville.  You would have to make your own arrangements to Doylestown.  Is it a Kohler?  He did ask that.   His price will be reasonable, and his work is first rate.  Doesn't advertise, but I would take my stuff back to him in a heart beat if I had to.

 

 

Yes, I actually have two Kohler K241 engines that I'm thinking about getting rebuilt, but I'm not ready to do anything real soon, just looking for options.  I could get them to him in Doylestown.  I'll get back to you if I decide to get it done, thank you!

 

[hotajax 223]

OK, at your pace.  Once he gets the engines in his shop, he doesn't fart around.  They will be done promptly. And you will have two "new" engines.