I'm looking for advice on which oil to use in a Briggs 16 hp twin. Engine is on a 821 caddigger. load is light due to the fact that it is about 5 hp more than recomended. RPms are high to get GPM oil flow. thanks
I have an 18 HP B&S twin on my DR chipper. I use Castrol SYNTEC 5W-50 Synthetic. The cautions in the owner's manual about higher than normal oil usage if you use non-synthethic multigrade above 40 deg F and the caution that use of dino 30 weight below 40 deg F will "result in hard starting and possible engine bore damage due to inadequate lubrication" bothered me as I use the chipper both way above and way below 40 deg. I have had the chipper for over two years and run it a few hundred hours in all temperatures, it has performed well and uses no oil between changes. I use the same oil in my 12 HP generator, as it has been used in temperatures from 20 below to 85 above and has started everytime, regardless of the temperature....it is about 8 years old and also has a few hundred hours. 100 hours more two weeks ago as a result of the Central NY ice storm. My reasoning is I use both devices in highly varying temperatures and they only take 1 1/2 quarts on an oil change, so the synthetic 5W-50 seems like a reasonable investment.
Bill
I've read the same note on my Briggs engine too, but never noticed any oil usage. However, I think at least one of my Honda air-cooled engines calls for 10w-30, unless there's a lot of running below 32 degrees. Then 5w-30. I use 10w-30 pretty much year round. I'd be concerned 5w is too thin for most applications and 50 to thick.
djradz,
You could be correct, however, so far so good. Both engines have started flawlessly, regardless of temperature, and I have not noticed any wear or oil usage in hundreds of hours of operation.
Bill
I too use the 5w-50 in my Onan 18hp which is worked very hard in the summer & winter. I've used it for 300hrs now. The 5w side of should speed lubrication through the filter & engine until it warms up, then you have the added protection of the 50w oil when it's running hard. I checked the compression on mine this spring and after 900hrs it still has 135psi in both cylinders.
I have a Kawisaki 540A 17 hp. engine in my John Deere F525. I have been using Pennziol 5W-30 Synthetic Blend for the past 25 hours and it is holding up well. Still clear on the dip stick and does not burn any. Book calls for 5W-30. Bought it at Wally World on sale. I would use what the manual calls for.
