Oil for new 21 HP Kawasaki FR651V SCAG mower engine

[fried1765]

Risking a $1500-$2000 engine to save buying $200 of modern spec oil is a poor bet IMHO.
I do not care if it is aviation spec. The lubricant technology of 30 years ago makes this chain oil or drain oil.

It is a guaranteed iron clad sure bet that IF there is a problem Kawasaki warranty folks will deny any oil related claim because that oil does not meet their spec.

Even though today, Phillips Oil still sells the exact SAME spec X/C aviation oil (of 30 years ago), I should ASSUME that the oil I have has somehow deteriorated inside it's plastic bottles?
My neighbor runs three SCAG mowers in his landscape business.
I asked him what oil he uses in the engines and transmissions.
His response: "The cheapest Shxt I can buy"!

The assumption here seems to be that Phillips X/C does not meet the Kawasaki (published) specs.
My supposition is that the Phillips X/C aviation oil actually EXCEEDS the Kawasaki specs.
Everyone here certainly does have an opinion......but facts are sparse!

The bottom line here is:
Phillips X/C aviation oil is a currently marketed premium air cooled engine oil, and has been recognized as a premium oil for many years (It has never been sold at Walmart)!
Assume my Kawasaki lasted only 2000 hours, using X/C, but might have lasted 2500 hours, if instead using the cheapest Walmart (Warren oil) API rated oil.
Will it throw a rod, and will oil analysis be required? Highly unlikely!...... I don't buy "CarShield" insurance either!
At my 30 hours per year, 2000 hours usage would get me to 146 years old.
Do I need more?
I was looking for facts, but opinion apparently is all that is available.
I have sent an inquiry to Phillips.
I await their response, and will report that response here, when I receive it.

 

[RickB]

The Kawasaki manual "recommends" API: SF,SG,SH,SJ, or SL for engine oil.

Your mower, your oil, your decision.
Here is a fact. If the oil you use does not have one of the API specs that Kawasaki recommends, you are not following their recommendations.
If you have an oil related engine failure, that gives them an out.

 

[Citydude]

I agree with Rick. Your oil, your engine.

Not to be argumentative, I would contact Kawasaki. Phillips has no skin in this.

 

[rScotty]

The world of engine design has changed a lot since that twin Comanche was designed. Not just the alloys used, but the clearances - both cold and running. Other things include the seal & gasket chemistry, rod bearing alloys, ring plating, piston skirt design, compression chamber shape, valve design has changed a lot....and even the fuel has changed. Today's fuel has a whole different additive package for dealing with pre-ignition (no more tetra-ethyl Lead), and today's fuel contains a significant amount of alcohol.....which means that the ignition by-products being diluted into the oil are different.

I am sure that 30 year old oil is fine today in engines of its era - although as mentioned I would shake it well before using.

But I doubt if the oil manufacturers making that older oil were also able to foresee the changes in engine chemistry we have now. Even if they had, why would they have made their oil compatible with the future alloys and fuels?
rScotty

 

[TMGT]

Is this mower used in Florida or up north? The recommended oil is 10-30 or 10-40. On a new engine I would personally not use that 20-50, it may or may not be that sensitive to the higher viscosity, but I wouldn't want to find out the hard way. Its only about 2 quarts anyways.

I would use that oil in the hydro, even change the hydro oil more often if you wanted, trust me it won't hurt to do the hydro more often.

 

[AWSubie]

API SF is recommended and it is good for engines built prior to 1988. I am guessing that ur Phillips oil is good enough.

 

[fried1765]

Is this mower used in Florida or up north? The recommended oil is 10-30 or 10-40. On a new engine I would personally not use that 20-50, it may or may not be that sensitive to the higher viscosity, but I wouldn't want to find out the hard way. Its only about 2 quarts anyways.

"I would use that oil in the hydro, even change the hydro oil more often if you wanted, trust me it won't hurt to do the hydro more often."


My Kawasaki FR651V engine manual shows 20W-50 is recommended for the temperature range 0F - 104F
I don't ever expect to ever be mowing any grass below 32F.
I will definitely use the Phillips X/C in the transmission.

 

[TMGT]

Is this mower used in Florida or up north? The recommended oil is 10-30 or 10-40. On a new engine I would personally not use that 20-50, it may or may not be that sensitive to the higher viscosity, but I wouldn't want to find out the hard way. Its only about 2 quarts anyways.

"I would use that oil in the hydro, even change the hydro oil more often if you wanted, trust me it won't hurt to do the hydro more often."


My Kawasaki FR651V manual shows 20W-50 is recommended for the temperature range 0F - 104F
I don't ever expect to ever be mowing any grass below 32F

Hmm that's interesting, could you get a picture of that chart? All the manuals I have for that engine show 10-40 or 10-30 for the large temp range and 30 or 40 for the high temp only. There is a 5-20 but its only for below 0⁰.

 

[fried1765]

API SF is recommended and it is good for engines built prior to 1988. I am guessing that ur Phillips oil is good enough.

Thanks!
I am guessing that the Phillips X/C aviation oil is actually better than most other oils.
I started this thread to find out if anyone really knows.
Apparently not!
I too, am still only guessing.

 

[fried1765]

Hmm that's interesting, could you get a picture of that chart? All the manuals I have for that engine show 10-40 or 10-30 for the large temp range and 30 or 40 for the high temp only. There is a 5-20 but its only for below 0⁰.

The picture posting process on TBN is above my IQ level.
If you can trust me to read the chart correctly, the 2020 Kawasaki FR651V owner's manual (Pg 14) sitting in front of me, shows 20W-50 as recommended for 32F to 104F.
Perhaps you might be confusing Celsius and Fahrenheit chart recommendations.
I do not plan to ever mow anything when the temp. is even close to 32F.