Oil for new 21 HP Kawasaki FR651V SCAG mower engine

[Motorboatin]

I would like to read some FACTS about the SHELF LIFE of motor oil?
Perhaps my mistake in this thread was not highlighting the word FACTUAL in my initial post.

Is this convincing enough?

Shelf life of unopened Mobil 1 quarts:
Does Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil (in an unopened quart) have any sort of shelf life, like conventional motor oil?

John Lantz, Littleton, Colorado

Answer:
ExxonMobil recommends a five-year maximum shelf life for engine oils, including Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil.

Mobil 1™ shelf life | Mobil™

 

[jaydee325]

I would like to read some FACTS about the SHELF LIFE of motor oil?
Perhaps my mistake in this thread was not highlighting the word FACTUAL in my initial post.

Here are some facts:

Phillips website states: LINK

Nowhere does Phillips specify that X/C engine oil meets any API specification mentioned in the Kawasaki Owners Manual It only states the oil is for opposed piston aircraft engines and radial engines. No mention of V-twin lawnmower engines.

With respect to the recommended API service specification, Kawasaki recommends API Service Classification : SF, SG, SH, SJ or SL. SL and SJ are the current standards. SF, the oldest allowed is from 1981, roughly 20 years ago. If you go back 30 years, API Service Classification was SD or SE. I know I would not use either of these oils in any current engines.

Do you know for a fact that your 30 year old Phillips X/C Aviation oil is the same formulation as todays? I could not find that info.

It's really not about shelf life, it is about how the oils have been formulated. Current oils have much better additive packages. This is why manufacturers specify the standards they do.

 

[fried1765]

Here are some facts:

Phillips website states: LINK

Nowhere does Phillips specify that X/C engine oil meets any API specification mentioned in the Kawasaki Owners Manual It only states the oil is for opposed piston aircraft engines and radial engines. No mention of V-twin lawnmower engines.

With respect to the recommended API service specification, Kawasaki recommends API Service Classification : SF, SG, SH, SJ or SL. SL and SJ are the current standards. SF, the oldest allowed is from 1981, roughly 20 years ago. If you go back 30 years, API Service Classification was SD or SE. I know I would not use either of these oils in any current engines.

Do you know for a fact that your 30 year old Phillips X/C Aviation oil is the same formulation as todays? I could not find that info.

It's really not about shelf life, it is about how the oils have been formulated. Current oils have much better additive packages. This is why manufacturers specify the standards they do.

Did all those 30 year old airplane engines just fall apart, since they lacked the advantages of current formulated oil?

 

[jaydee325]

No, they were designed for 30 year old oil formulations. That Kawasaki engine in your mower was designed for more current oils as recommended by Kawasaki.

 

[RickB]

Try this.

 

[fried1765]

No, they were designed for 30 year old oil formulations. That Kawasaki engine in your mower was designed for more current oils as recommended by Kawasaki.

Of course.....how come I did not think of that?
Soon, someone may even claim they know for certain that Kawasaki uses state of the art ceramic cylinders.

The 15HP Briggs powering the Sears rider my dad bought new in 1972, is still running. It probably has 2000 hours on it.
If only the highly rated "current oils" had been available all those years.

 

[Motorboatin]

Look what Phillips says about your specific oil

“ X/C 20W-50 Aviation Oil is recommended for use in opposed piston engines

“ According to Phillips tech support, there is set shelf life for this oil as long as it is stored properly. After 5 years, they recommend the oil be retested prior to use.

PHILLIPS 66 X/C AVIATION OIL 20W50 | Aircraft Spruce

 

[fried1765]

Look what Phillips says about your specific oil

“ X/C 20W-50 Aviation Oil is recommended for use in opposed piston engines

“ According to Phillips tech support, there is set shelf life for this oil as long as it is stored properly. After 5 years, they recommend the oil be retested prior to use.

PHILLIPS 66 X/C AVIATION OIL 20W50 | Aircraft Spruce

Now...THAT is useful information!
THANK YOU !!!

 

[Carl_NH]

That's what I read too - 5 years shelf life if kept in a stable climate condition. Then the aspect of retesting the oil is it $50-100? Do you test every quart, or one then its all OK?

Then to take the thread in a related, but different direction. Why the 2X life on filters? My Kubota and Kawasaki manuals say change oil every xx hours and oil filters 2xx hours.

I have my opinion, and that is the filter catches finer particles as it gets "clogged" as it ages.

I always change the filter with the oil as a habit and good practice.. what do you all do?

 

[ray66v]

The kind of engines that his aviation oil is used for is mostly technology from 1930AD. And it might as well be 1930BC as far as the difference in technology goes for automotive engines today.

Aircraft engines, and oils have not changed much because they can't without going through the certification process all over again.

Those engines are built with loose tolerances, and the oil is both blown out of them, and burned, at a fairly high rate. Most use a quart of oil every 5-10 hours, Since the oil gets replenished regularly, it doesn't have to last a long time.

Yeah it's oil, and so you could use it in a mower. And, if you had a beater, it may not be a bad idea.

But, it's no where near as good as circa 2020AD automotive oil is today. And, at $4 a quart for a modern, better oil, it's not really a good question.