lawnmower oil

[Soundguy]

I just changed the oil in my lawnmower ( murray ) and used the 'brigs' lawnmower oil in the yellow bottle ( my mower's have brigs eng's ).

Anyone have a clue what this is? 30wt Non det? 30wt heavy duty / detergent?

Soundguy

 

[ericbx1500]

It’s defiantly not non-detergent oil. The only thing that I know of that uses non-detergent oil are usually pressure washer pumps. More then likely the oil is a multi grade, probably 10w30.

 

[Soundguy]

The manual to that mower mentions using a 30w oil, and says not to use 10w30.. though I understand that new versions of that manual have included multi-vis oils that are synthetic.

However.. this oil bottle doesn't show a weight or service rating... so really makes ya wonder.

Also.. this lawnmower does not have a oil filter.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[Mith]

As far as I know, Briggs oil is straight 30W.
Besides, if its Briggs oil, it must be OK in briggs engines.
I understand that straight 30W oil is the best to put in lawnmower engines, and 10W30 might harm them.

 

[Bird]

I'm looking at the manual for my 14hp Briggs in my little Toro ZTR. It recommends using a high quality detergent oil classified "For Service SF, SG, SH, SJ or higher such as Briggs & Stratton 30W, Part Number 100005 (20 oz.) or 100028 (40 oz.) Use no special additives."

It then says to "Choose a viscosity grade of oil from chart." The chart shows using 30W for 40 degrees and warmer, 5W-30, 10W-30, from zero to 40 degrees. And it shows "Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30" for all temperatures.

Of course, the manual also says "Air cooled engines run hotter than automotive engines. The use of non-synthetic multi-viscosity oils (5W-30, 10W-30, etc.) in temperatures above 40F (4C) will result in higher than normal oil consumption. When using a multi-viscosity oil, check oil level more frequently."

And in bold print "Use of a synthetic oil does not alter required oil change intervals."

Now this engine is only a couple of years old, but I know the manual for a smaller engine (on my DR trimmer/mower) several years ago said basically the same thing.

So now I'm using a straight 30W detergent oil (Pennzoil) in my Toro ZTR. But I used 10W-40 (Quaker State) in the DR trimmer/mower because I always had it on hand and oil consumption has been almost nil in both.

 

[ericbx1500]

Using a multi-grade oil would not harm your engine at all. Anyway here are oil recommendations straight from Briggs&Stratton web site.

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/display/router.asp?docid=64066

 

[slowrev]

I run 10W30 Castrol Syntek in my Briggs engines with no problems.
I use the supplied Briggs oil for the first several hours and then switch to Syntek. Just in case there are any break in issues.

Ben

 

[Sully2]

Ive used straight 30W...and 10W-30 oil in Briggs and Kohler engines for 40 years...Never had any sort of even a hint of trouble. Just change it on a regular bssis is all.

 

[Sully2]

And in bold print "Use of a synthetic oil does not alter required oil change intervals."

Yeah...but, but, but...I can save that 2 qts of $4 a qt syn oil if I stretch the intervals to 250,000 hours!!......LOL

 

[Soundguy]

I had a feeling it was a 30wt.. but wasn't sure about the classification. Thanks fro posting that info Bird.

Thanks to everyone else for the other ideas.

Soundguy

I'm looking at the manual for my 14hp Briggs in my little Toro ZTR. It recommends using a high quality detergent oil classified "For Service SF, SG, SH, SJ or higher such as Briggs & Stratton 30W, Part Number 100005 (20 oz.) or 100028 (40 oz.) Use no special additives."

It then says to "Choose a viscosity grade of oil from chart." The chart shows using 30W for 40 degrees and warmer, 5W-30, 10W-30, from zero to 40 degrees. And it shows "Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30" for all temperatures.

Of course, the manual also says "Air cooled engines run hotter than automotive engines. The use of non-synthetic multi-viscosity oils (5W-30, 10W-30, etc.) in temperatures above 40F (4C) will result in higher than normal oil consumption. When using a multi-viscosity oil, check oil level more frequently."

And in bold print "Use of a synthetic oil does not alter required oil change intervals."

Now this engine is only a couple of years old, but I know the manual for a smaller engine (on my DR trimmer/mower) several years ago said basically the same thing.

So now I'm using a straight 30W detergent oil (Pennzoil) in my Toro ZTR. But I used 10W-40 (Quaker State) in the DR trimmer/mower because I always had it on hand and oil consumption has been almost nil in both.