Synthetic oil in small engines

[BobRip]

Bob,
Having the bearings last forever is a sure sign the oil is doing its job, especially in severe conditions like dirt track racing. You can have your used oil analyzed and it will show how synthetic is better.

!

Sorry to sound so negative. I suspect you are correct. However, did you also run the same model engine through similar test and see bearing wear? Also the question here is small engines.

 

[Hematite]

Yes, the question IS small engines. Vastly different in every way from an automotive engine. I have small engines that are over 25 years old and never have had anything but an annual oil change with dino oil. They still run like new so what would I have gained to use a synthetic oil? Nothing. Oh, I did gain one thing, my bank account has more money in it.

The OP got the correct info from the Briggs and Stratton engineer: the engine will last 2000 hours whether you use a synthetic or dino oil. Save your money or waste it, the choice is yours.

 

[Pops15]

Sorry to sound so negative. I suspect you are correct. However, did you also run the same model engine through similar test and see bearing wear? Also the question here is small engines.

Yes we ran conventional oil in some of our racing engines. I was impressed enough with the difference that I've run Mobil 1 in all my cars and trucks since then.

 

[Pops15]

Yes, the question IS small engines. Vastly different in every way from an automotive engine. I have small engines that are over 25 years old and never have had anything but an annual oil change with dino oil. They still run like new so what would I have gained to use a synthetic oil? Nothing. Oh, I did gain one thing, my bank account has more money in it.

The OP got the correct info from the Briggs and Stratton engineer: the engine will last 2000 hours whether you use a synthetic or dino oil. Save your money or waste it, the choice is yours.

Actually he is a Caterpiller engineer. His 2000 hour remark was a jab at what he feels is an inferior product from B & S.
BTW he runs synthetic in everything he owns.

Thanks to SJ and Andy for answering my question about break in time.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Actually he is a Caterpiller engineer. His 2000 hour remark was a jab at what he feels is an inferior product from B & S.
BTW he runs synthetic in everything he owns.

Thanks to SJ and Andy for answering my question about break in time.

I have my own thoughts about a CAT engineer dissing another company about engine quality.

But anyway, Mobile One goes into my small engines, some that were well broken in when I first used it and some at the first change. I like synthetic because it supposedly does not gather moisture while it sits like dino oil will. That and I may not change it but once a year say on my generator.

 

[BobRip]

Yes we ran conventional oil in some of our racing engines. I was impressed enough with the difference that I've run Mobil 1 in all my cars and trucks since then.

That's good to know. I will continue to use it in all my engines.

 

[Paystar]

What's your thoughts on this? I've read if you have an old high hour small engine that was always run on mineral oil, it gets deposits built up around all the seals and if you switch to synthetics it may eventually start to leak around all the seals, as the synthetics will actually clean the deposits that have built up around and caused wear to the seals?

 

[Tig]

Not sure how you would prove that. Even if it was true the lesson is the same. Switch to synth now and save money later.
I have switched +20 year old B&S engines over with no problems.

 

[Dargo]

This is certainly not any thorough test and may not prove anything, but I experimented between conventional motor oil and synthetic motor oil in a particular machine that seems to quickly dispatch it's engines. I'm talking about the little 4 cycle gas powered edger. I used to have a mowing business besides mowing a dozen or so acres around my house. Just around my house I edge about 2000 feet per week. When I did other jobs I edged quite a bit more. It didn't seem to matter what brand I'd buy, at best it seemed like I'd get a year out of an engine. After a year the 4 cycle engines would smoke so bad that they looked like you were running a 2 cycle with waaaay too much oil in the gas. Being that I toasted Toro, Stihl, Husqvarna and Troy Built pretty well equally, I ended up just buying the cheapest. Heck, I'm not even positive of the brand. I think it was the Troy Built from Lowes.

Anyway, a few years ago I dumped out the oil in the Troy Built when it started smoking and put in Royal Purple synthetic since I had a few ounces left in a quart bottle. Well, what do you know, it kept smoking some but never got any worse. I think it only takes something like 4 ounces of oil. I now change the oil in it a couple times a year with Royal Purple and I think this edger just finished it's 4th year. And, yes, I constantly clean and replace the air filter in them. After just one trimming at my property it seems like the air filter is practically clogged because it literally 'lives' in a cloud of dust that it kicks up when in use.

Like I said, this may not prove anything. All I know is that now an edger is lasting me for several years where I maybe got a year's use out of one. Again, I'm perfectly aware that the engine design may have been changed, maybe I just finally got a 'good one', maybe all the previous ones were defective, etc. Since I only go through about 8 ounces a year I don't really care that Royal Purple is expensive. As far as I can tell, Royal Purple stopped the gradual destruction of a small engine that I'd witnessed over and over again. Heck, I've even started using it in my 4 cycle weed eaters too. Maybe it's just in my mind, but they seem to have just a bit more power and seem to rev faster. The bottom line is that I'm convinced that, since the only thing I changed is the oil that I use and now my edger keeps on ticking, I'm actually saving money by using synthetic oil in my situation.

 

[HL649]

I run synthetic in everything. And I mean everything. There are 2 reasons for this,

1) I have lots of it so it is easier than going to the store and buying something different.

2) I live in a cold climate and the cold weather benefits of synthetic definitely are better than dino oil.