Oil for Lawn Tractor

[mwood]

I realize that this is a bit off topic as it deals with my lawn tractor, but having read some of the posts in this forum, I got wondering.

I have a 20 year old JD216 Garden. It has an original (never rebuilt) Cast Iron Kohler 16 HP engine. (K341 engine to be exact). It smokes a little at startup and uses some oil. I've never really measured, but perhaps 1 cup of oil for every 4 hours of use or so would be my guess.

At any rate, I've been using cheap SAE30 weight oil in it like they recommend in the user's manual and changing it out every 50 or so hours. However, I'm not really sure I'm doing this trusty old engine any favors with the cheap oil.

I do plan on completely rebuilding the engine when I have a chance (probably spring) but in the meantime, is it worth me switching to a better oil?

I am completely ignorant as far as oil goes. My dad always bought whatever was on sale and sadly, I've followed in his shoes. What brands should I look at? My neighbor is an Amsoil dealer so I could go that route, but what alternatives do I have?

I don't want a brand war but just need some general advise!

Thanks so much!

Mark

 

[1962]

i would just stick with good old 30 weight. i personally use pennzoil HD 30 in my gasoline engines. if its using as much oil as you say, then go with the cheapest you can get. after the engine rebuild, you could try a name brand 30 weight oil, just let the engine break in properly, and change the oil a few times for the initial first few hours. then if you wanted you could even try your friends 30 weight amsoil synthetic oil for small engines. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[RalphVa]

I had a Gravely with a Kohler engine. Switched it to Mobil 1 after a few changes using dino oil. It always used some until the 2nd change on Mobil 1. When I sold it, the oil was staying clear, and it was using almost no oil. Used 15w50 Mobil 1 in it.

Am using Mobil 1 in every engine I own now. Most are using 5w30.

Ralph

 

[Highbeam]

All of my air cooled four stroke engines get the mobile 1 in 15-50. Tecumseh 11 HP generator, Honda 6.5 HP mower, and the Honda off road motorcycle. They also all get premium fuel with stabil in every tank. Really, this oil is not that expensive when you look at the small quantities needed. If you are burning that much oil then I would say just use whatever you have, maybe use up the half empty bottles in the garage.

 

[Sully2]

At this point with that oil comsumption...ANY straight 30W that you can buy from about anywhere...WalMArt included.. Valvolene; Castrol; Pennzoil...etc..etc. The smoking MIGHT come from switching brands all the time if you do. Get one brand and stick to it...and buy in QTY when you find it on sale.

 

[cp1969]

I would use, as others said, Mobil 1 15w-50 or any good 15w-40 diesel-rated oil (even though it's a gas engine).

You might want to consider a pre-emptive rebuild, however. Don't let it get too far gone. Those old Kohlers, when they let go, they let go in a big way. It probably only needs rings to cure the oil consumption, but the rod should probably be replaced, too, as the bearing surfaces are built into it. That's what happened to our old Kohler-tried to get one more season out of it and put a rod through the block.

 

[mwood]

cp1969: Thanks for the tip about the engine. These old Cast Iron Kohlers are really built tuff! Probably the best single cylinder engine I've ever owned! I would really like to re-build this fall, but I do use the engine for all my driveway clearing at this time and the snow is a'coming. We'll have to see.

Also, thanks to all who responded! I'll probably use regular oil till the re-build and then switch to Mobile 1 or Amsoil.

Since the manual states to use straight 30 weight oil, is it okay to switch to a multiweight synthetic? If so, what would one recommend for my area (Upstate NY - Summer between 70 - 90 deg F and Winter -10 - 35 deg F)? I know that since it's aircooled I have to be a little careful (at least from what I've read).

Thanks again all! Another informative answer from TBN!

 

[_RaT_]

Your Kohler or any other small engine for that matter is more likely going to wear out prematurely because of dirty air "dusting" the cylinder then from a standard quality oil wearing out the bearings or rings. Keeping the air clean is primary to engine longevity.

 

[timb]

Another choice - Kendall makes a 'racing' oil in straight 30 that holds up under a pretty extreme temperature rating for a non-synthetic. Air-cooled engines are tough on oil because of the heat, but the Kendall is considerably cheaper than Mobile 1 until you get around to the rebuild.

I'm an admirer of those old K-series Kohlers as well, have a K161 in an old Troy-Bilt tiller. Just started it up last week to change oil for the season. It had been sitting since mid-spring but still started on one pull, putting along nice and slow.

 

[frank_f15]

I would use the 30wgt oil, and if you feel it necessay after the re build then switch, but it appears that the chep oil did ok for as long as you had the LT. BTW anywhere near Norwich?