Best Summer Weight Oil

[GTSRider]

What is the best summer weight oil for a Kohler 20hp V motor in my Cub Cadet.
I bought it used and it has 414 hrs. on it.
The factory recommended weight seems way to thin.... and the 100 hr interval is a joke ! This engine runs super hot.
I am changing every 15 hours for now.
Pete

 

[Transit]

The Kohler V20 is air cooled; running super hot is a relative term. However, to see what is going on with the air cooling you will need to disassemble the baffle and shrouds and look for clumps of grass in the cooling fins. At the very top of the engine there should be a grass screen that rotates with the drive shaft and below that is the fan that blows air to cool the engine. If the engine dose not burn oil at 400+ hours and the oil at 15 hours is clean, than you are doing good. The recommended oil is 10w30; you may switch to a 20w30 or a 10 w 30 part or full synthetic.

 

[JTKub]

Pete, like Transit says, you might wanna blow out the shrouding under the cylinder heads. You can *usually* get a decent look through the area where the sparkplugs poke through. That said, I run 15w40 heavy-duty engine oils in all my small air cooled OPE, and Buffalo summers don't stay hot for long (usually). I know Kohler specs 10w30 and they are no doubt smart fellers, but I honestly believe most spec that weight because it's a good blanket oil that covers most conditions, is easily recognized and easy to source. FWIW, Cub recommends 15w40 for my brand-new Kohler Courage Pro 20hp twin on my Z-Force.

Joel

 

[GTSRider]

Thanks Guys for your input.
I have cleaned this engine fins and all other areas of engine and tranny.
This thing is as new clean.
I am even thinking it may be a new replacement engine as internal casting
at oil fill shows shiny internals.
Pete

 

[Transit]

Thanks Guys for your input.
I have cleaned this engine fins and all other areas of engine and tranny.
This thing is as new clean.
I am even thinking it may be a new replacement engine as internal casting
at oil fill shows shiny internals.
Pete

and so why do you think it runs hot?

 

[SHUNKSTER]

What tractor model do you have?

 

[GTSRider]

2003 3000 series Cub Cadet

 

[GTSRider]

Why does it run so hot ?
Dunno.... guys on this forum say it is the nature of the beast.
Also 3 acres of half football field flat other half hilly...
so it is working hard.
I still can't believe Cub Cadet says 100 hrs. on oil !
I am changing at 15, but will extend to 20 with better oil.

 

[Storm56]

What are you using to gauge "running hot"? It is common to equate 50 hours on equipment to 2000 miles on a car, thus 100 hours would be like 4000 miles on a car. Hardly excessive and well within every manufacturer recommendation.

If your unit is indeed running hot it would be better to find the problem rather than changing oil every 15 hours.

 

[smstonypoint]

What are you using to gauge "running hot"? It is common to equate 50 hours on equipment to 2000 miles on a car, thus 100 hours would be like 4000 miles on a car. Hardly excessive and well within every manufacturer recommendation.

If your unit is indeed running hot it would be better to find the problem rather than changing oil every 15 hours.

I agree. Every 15 hours seems like a waste of time and money. I just bought a new ZTR with a Kawasaki FX850V. Kawasaki recommends changing the oil after the first 8 hours and then every 100 hours.

Steve