Oil Question

[MikePA]

I take it that the diesel oil certification satisfies the gas engine oil reqs but not the other way around?

There are 2 separate API ratings, one for diesel engines (Cx) and one for gasoline engines (Sx). Many oils list both classifications. If they don't, you can't infer a certain diesel rating meets a certain gasoline rating.

 

[DieselPower]

As MikePA said they are not the same and neither swings both way's. Commercial C category (diesel) engine oils tend to have a much more robust additive package than it's Service S category (gas) counterpart. However, some C category engine oils have a additive package that have additive levels that are to high to pass the S category. Some oils are single API rated while others are multi rated as both C and S category. For a simple description of the API certification category system it's probably best to view the API's website info. http://www.api.org/certifications/engineoil/categories/upload/EngineOilGuide2006.pdf

 

[KICK]

You should be fine with a multi-visosity like 5W or 10W/30. Many manufacturers of small engines are starting to spec multi-viscosity oils in their engines these day's. They just seem to be a few decades behind the auto industry.

face it, 90% of small equipment is only used in summer months and SAE30 probably gives marginally improved protection over 10w30 in those applications.

other than that, oil doesn't hardly matter in a Briggs, I've seen more than one of them running around without any slippery stuff inside the crankcase. LOL.