Synthetic Oil for PT 425

SCOTCHERS · Jan 3, 2005

Hey all,

Just wanted to hear opinions on using Synthetics for your PT's . I have a PT 425 with 60 hours (I'm late by 10 hours) and need to change the oil filter as well as oil. I want to change to synthetic but would like to hear recommendations. I'd also like to buy an oil filter. ANY of you know or recommend a great one as well as size. I can't read mine with out taking off. Any help is appreciated. Thanks John

Clarke · Jan 3, 2005

You should have a box with a new filter in it that comes with the new machine also a bleed hose that comes with the machine that you will need to bleed the air out of the system when you change the filter..

sg

BobRip · Jan 3, 2005

I am running Mobil 1 10W30 in my PT422 with the Robin engine. JackRobin of Robin recommends a synthetic mostly (I believe) to help with cold starting. He also recommends a synthetic in the transmission for the same reason. I run Mobil 1 in just about everthing exept my junkers (cars with way over 100,000 miles) and my riding mower. I like it in air cooled engines that I use year around so I can change the oil based on hours and not on a season change. For example, my generator (Briggs and Straton engine) recommends 30 weight above 40 deg. F, and 10W30 below 40 deg. F. They have no overlap in their spec. Even with an overlap it is easy to go from 20 deg to 70 deg with in a few days in Virginia.
I don't know the filter for the 425. I call up Robin and order filters (about 4 at a time) from them.

Good luck with your 425, someday I hope to upgrade to one or maybe a PT429, but my stuff tends to last forever.

Bob Rip

stray · Jan 3, 2005

Bob the last time i replaced the oil filter for my 422 22 hp robin engine I used a 3/4 threaded kawasaki filter. it was just a little longer but worked just fine. Then i went to change the filter on my kawasaki 4 wheeler thinking i had a filter for it. I did have one only because i kept the one that was wrong for the PT that blew off. Sounds complicated but just be sure that any filter you use for the robin engine has the .75 threads. The one that blew off seemed ok when i put it on the pt but as i said it blew off but that NAPA filter was a perfict fit for the 4 wheeler. Did i repeat myself?

Clarke · Jan 4, 2005

Hi John

Should tell you in your engine manual the Robin filter #. Call auto parts store or local farm store and see if they can cross reference the Robin #.

sg

FOURTEEN · Jan 4, 2005

For the PT-425, and all air cooled engines, I most highly recommend Amsoil , Amsoil for the hydraulics, and Amsoil for grease!!!! It is far superior to Mobil One !!!! Allow 100 hours for Breakin before installing Amsoil.

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pairodime · Jan 4, 2005

I use Napa Gold 1394 on my Robin engine. It cross references to any number of other filters as well.

BobRip · Jan 4, 2005

How often do you change the Amsoil? That stuff is real expensive. I still use a 50 hour oil change interval with the Mobil 1. I have read many good things about Amsoil, but have not seriously considered it at this time.

Bob Rip

tracdoc · Jan 4, 2005

Pardon my inquiry if I missed something obvious to others, but I couldn't tell from your post whether you were talking about engine oil change or hydraulic oil change.

I looked pretty carefully, but I was surprised that the Robin "Users Manual" that came with my 425 does NOT provide the filter # nor filter specs for the engine oil /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. <font color="red"> Jack Robin, are you on the Forum to help out with a filter number?
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For the hydraulics, as Clarke noted, you should have received one filter and a bleeder line from PT. I recall in earlier threads that folks were having issues with cross-referencing the PT hydraulic filter to NAPA, etc.

FOURTEEN · Jan 4, 2005

"" How often do you change the Amsoil? ""

I use the PT-425/Kohler OEM recommendations of 100/oil and 200/oil filter.

Mobil One 0W-30 only costs about 1/2 as much as Amsoil 0W-30, /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but based upon this wear test chart:

the Mobil One may also allow 5 times as much wear!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

That's about $8 more per oil change!! 8 cents more per hour to allow the engine to last perhaps 5 times longer is cheap insurance, real cheap insurance!!!! (Compare that with what you pay per hour for gasoline!!) There are many good ways to save money, but buying low grade oil for your PT is a bad one!!!!

PS: I also use an Amsoil Oil Filter on the Kohler.