MOTOR OIL

[RDS 2]

Is SAE 30W SC motor oil still available. If not what is its replacement? The manual for my B80 with a Kohler K181S specs SAE 30W SC.

[ebinmaine 67,484]

There's a bunch of different information about which oil to use. 

You'll find SJ grade, I believe, has the zinc phosphate content you're looking for. 

 

Several Redsquare members use diesel oils to attain that. 

 

I personally use Kinetix brand. 

 

[953 nut 55,224]

In my opinion ANY motor oil on the shelf today is comparable to or better than what was out there a half century ago.  I use the house brand Tractor Supply 30 diesel motor oil. Diesel motor oil has more Zink anti-wear additives. 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,557]

I use this:

 

[Achto 27,571]

39 minutes ago, RDS said:

The manual for my B80 with a Kohler K181S specs SAE 30W SC.

 

At the time an API rating of SC was the newest/highest quality. As oil has improved over the years, the API rating has progressed to show the improvements. SF, SG, SH, SJ, etc. With this given info, even though the lubricating and suspension quality has improved one thing that has decrease is the level of zinc used (EPA mandates). Diesel oils retain more zinc content. You can also add a zinc additive to your oil, if you wish.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Rislone-4405-Supplement-Concentrate-Treatment/dp/B0075559UY/ref=asc_df_B0075559UY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312198323731&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13449251567463005992&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019452&hvtargid=pla-567498281214&psc=1 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Achto

[briankd 817]

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

I use this:

 

 

this oil seems to be scarce in my area my local malwart  used to carry it shelf been bare now over 2 weeks . found it in quarts at  Menards in their outdoor power section they don't carry it in 5 quart jugs . got me 8 quarts and found the rislone zinc additive at local O REILIES auto part's 8 bucks a can enough to do 3 tractors and one push mower 

[8ntruck 7,002]

I prefer the Shell Rotella.

 

Our old engines will be happier with an oil with higher zinc content.  The zinc improves the extreme pressure properties of the oil, winch is what is needed with the old bearing and lifter/camshaft technology.

[peter lena 8,625]

@8ntruck  @briankd  definitely agree with you on that  oil , also been adding , rislone zinc , zddp  supplement to my oils , you can really sense and feel the operational ease that the engine run at . best price on amazon , instructions on bottle for small engines , those hot oil changes are a real flush out , pete

[AHS 1,440]

On 4/4/2022 at 10:50 PM, 8ntruck said:

I prefer the Shell Rotella.

 

Our old engines will be happier with an oil with higher zinc content.  The zinc improves the extreme pressure properties of the oil, winch is what is needed with the old bearing and lifter/camshaft technology.

Not to ruin this post, I live in Maine and in the winter (it’s between 32 and -5 degrees) . I wonder if I should use Shell Rotella sae 30?  In my 414-8 with a snowblower, I use 5w-30.

[953 nut 55,224]

           If you keep the tractor in the garage it is probably warmer than outdoors and straight 30 would work well. 

[ebinmaine 67,484]

35 minutes ago, AHS said:

Not to ruin this post, I live in Maine and in the winter (it’s between 32 and -5 degrees) . I wonder if I should use Shell Rotella sae 30?  In my 414-8 with a snowblower, I use 5w-30.

 

27 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

           If you keep the tractor in the garage it is probably warmer than outdoors and straight 30 would work well. 

 

Our Horses are normally in cold storage. 

 

I find my Kohler 16 singles like the 10-30 in cold climate and straight 30HD above freezing. 

They start a LOT easier with the 10-30. 

 

Trina's Kohler 8 HP on the other hand, doesn't matter.  

We run 30HD year round.  

 

[peter lena 8,625]

@AHS on the oil issue , been using an incandescent old type bulb in a reflector under my engines over winter , just fits under the  center tech a matic , area , that heat is enough to warm up that engine . agree with the 5-30 or 10-30 , oils for easier warm up / running . usually have my battery tenders hooked up , start up are good , just wake them up easy . like rotella oils , btw , you can get rotella 5-30 oil for pick up trucks  at  wallmart . pete

[8ntruck 7,002]

8 hours ago, AHS said:

Not to ruin this post, I live in Maine and in the winter (it’s between 32 and -5 degrees) . I wonder if I should use Shell Rotella sae 30?  In my 414-8 with a snowblower, I use 5w-30.

Rotella is available in various weights.  Use the appropriate weight for your expected operating conditions.

 

The desire able feature in Rotella for our small, old engines is the improved extreme pressure formulation of the oil, which is shared across all of the available weights.

[Achto 27,571]

As long as we're on the oil subject. Has anyone ever ran the Briggs & Stratton 30wt? This oil is formulated for air cooled small engines similar to Kohlers. I would think that it would be suitable. Thoughts??

[ebinmaine 67,484]

23 minutes ago, Achto said:

As long as we're on the oil subject. Has anyone ever ran the Briggs & Stratton 30wt? This oil is formulated for air cooled small engines similar to Kohlers. I would think that it would be suitable.

 

Thoughts??

 

How's the zinc phosphate content?

 

[killroy 35]

Was at my local mower parts place and found this 

[lynnmor 7,305]

1 hour ago, killroy said:

Was at my local mower parts place and found this

 

It should be fine for Wheel Horse tractors.  Note that the classification only goes to SJ which is a good thing, higher classifications are the reduced zinc oils for engines with catalytic converters.  @ebinmaine uses it.  Kohler also sells a similar oil.  Those oils that are SN and higher will allow more wear, I would avoid them.

[killroy 35]

That oil has added zinc 

[seven 202]

You should run 30 wt non detergent

[ebinmaine 67,484]

1 minute ago, seven said:

You should run 30 wt non detergent

I think the Kohler manual shows oil WITH detergent. 

 

[kpinnc 12,024]

On 4/9/2022 at 8:12 PM, Achto said:

As long as we're on the oil subject. Has anyone ever ran the Briggs & Stratton 30wt?

 

I haven't yet, but I do run the Vanguard synthetic 15W-50 in my zero turn. It has a brand new Vanguard 26 in it, and that is recommended in the manual. 

 

So far I have only 135 hours on the engine, but it's been great so far. I change it every 50 hours.

 

[Anthony Wendover 124]

I run Valvoline racing oil 30wt 

[Fordiesel69 263]

Any oil changed often.  

 

Also worth mentioning is that you should remove the engine leaving the oil pan bolted to the tractor and clean it out with some solvent and a brush.  All the sludge and metal that is accumulated will start to be picked up by modern detergent oils.  Cleaning the crankcase avoids this.  Also install a magnetic drain plug.  

 

The iron that that shreds off the rotating engine parts is what causes most of the wear, not the oil type.  

 

Also worth mentioning is that the manual is incorrect, you need to keep the oil AT the full mark on the dipstick, not allowing it to go into the crosshatch area.    

[johnnymag3 2,520]

On ‎4‎/‎4‎/‎2022 at 7:20 PM, SylvanLakeWH said:

I use this:

 

I use this also....Amazon drops it right off at my house 1 day after I call.        16.99   1 Gallon

[76c12091520h 3,618]