Synthetic vs Dino for lawn tractor

[SCDolphin]

I have a Sears Craftsman GT 6500 with a Kohler 25 or 26 hp twin cylinder motor. Any advise on using synthetic oil. Any brand recommendations. I have about 30 hours on it and changed the oil and filter oil at 5 hours.

[txrhino]

I use Mobil 1 in my vehicles, there is always a quart or two floating around. I change the mower once a year using synthetic. In my situation its just easier, makes sense.

[RobJ]

It's a lawn tractor, it doesn't deserve an expensive oil IMO!!

[QRTRHRS]

I use Mobile One in all of my small gas engine equipment. I think that it is especially good for the backup generator that sits more often than not.

[SteveInMD]

A major advantage of synthetic oil is tolerance of high engine temperatures. I believe it's especially important to use synthetic oil in any air cooled engine.

As for the brand I have no strong opinion.

[Oleozz]

I use TRC synthetic blend in my 21 hp Kawasaki mower and also in my Mule.

[frank_miller]

I use dino oil and LC20...beats most on UOA'S.........

[Copperhead]

Since I use Amsoil in all my bigger stuff, the smaller engines get it as well since I have it around anyway. I have no dog in this hunt, but that using a quality oil instead of the cheap convenience store type brands would be a good idea. Since I dropped $5K for my John Deere rider, I really don't want to play tightwad on oil I put in it.

Air cooled engines are pretty rough on oils in general. using a good quality dino or syn oil is a good idea. heck, the syn blends are a good halfway measure.

[RalphVa]

I switched to Mobil 1 first in all my air cooled engines. For about the last 4 years, it's in all the other engines: 2 diesels and 2 gasoline ones that are water cooled. Latest and best Mobil 1 is a 0w30. This is what I plan to switch to in everything next change.

My old Kohler engine in the Gravely actually quit using oil after the 2nd change of Mobil 1. Even the old 25 year old Benz with 210k miles is doing well on it, with little oil consumption now. Its first change resulted in a bit more oil consumption. Think both cars and pickup have increased fuel mileage about 1 mpg. They all get 28-31 mpg. Tractor fuel consumption is only 0.46 gallons/hr over a little more than 300 hours.

The new Mobil 1 0w30 is supposed to give even better mileage. Certainly will be better for startup lubrication.

Ralph

[orangebluegreen]

Originally Posted by SCDolphin

I have a Sears Craftsman GT 6500 with a Kohler 25 or 26 hp twin cylinder motor. Any advise on using synthetic oil. Any brand recommendations. I have about 30 hours on it and changed the oil and filter oil at 5 hours.

You probably have an oil cooler on yours? In any case I am now sold that synthetics do in fact work better. I have had continued rear oil seal destruction on my Kohler 18HP Craftsman. I wrote about it here....
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/705672-post24.html