synthetic oil

[VictorW]

I typed wrong. It should have been T6 not T5 for full synthetic. The 5W-40 T6 works fine and sure is nice for those 0"F days. I find mine at Walmart where other places seem to carry the 15W-40.

Vince, you have another toy now. Happy mowing.

 

[DK35vince]

Vince, you have another toy now. Happy mowing.

Yea, I sold my old John Deere tractor and a smaller zero turn to upsize the Hustler Super Z zero turn.
It is amazing how fast that thing can mow.

 

[buickanddeere]

Depends if it's series III synthetic or real Series IV synthetic . If it isn't series IV, just run ordinary everyday mineral oil.

 

[K man]

I found this article to be educational on the oils. Hope this helps some of us who do not know what the numbers and letters mean.

Most oils on the shelves today are Multigrades, which simply means that the oil falls into 2 viscosity grades (i.e. 10w-40 etc)

Multigrades were first developed some 50 years ago to avoid the old routine of using a thinner oil in winter and a thicker oil in summer.

In a 10w-40 for example the 10w bit (W = winter, not weight or watt or anything else for that matter) simply means that the oil must have a certain maximum viscosity/flow at low temperature. The lower the 展 number the better the oils cold temperature/cold start performance.

The 40 in a 10w-40 simply means that the oil must fall within certain viscosity limits at 100 degC. This is a fixed limit and all oils that end in 40 must achieve these limits. Once again the lower the number the thinner the oil, a 30 oil is thinner than a 40 oil at 100 degC etc. Your handbook will specify whether a 30, 40 or 50 etc is required.

 

[murphy1244]

Try this link for oil rating Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms

 

[tman1020]

Thanks for that.

 

[K man]

Thanks murphy that is a better write up then the one I posted. Very educational and basically answered just about any question that any of us would ask. :thumbsup:
Thanks
Gilles

 

[Bluest]

I'm pretty new tractors, but for many years I've messed about with sports cars. At one time I became obsessed with oil and did a lot of research. In my view, a quality synthetic (they aren't all equal) is worth every penny in an engine you intend to keep.

There are a lot of interesting articles here from the people I buy my oil from Motor oil technical info

 

[K man]

Thanks Bluest,
Between you and murphy I have read and learned a lot about oils.:thumbsup:

Gilles

 

[Coyote machine]

To the OP: don't worry about the 10-30 or 10-40 book recommendation. Any synthetic, blended or full is going to be a better oil than a straight dino oil, and if you live in the cold zone running either a 15W-40 or 5W-40 is going to be best. I've run Amsoil Diesel oil, Mobil 1 diesel, and now T-6 Rotella, in my 2 Kiotis over the last 1000+ hrs of operation with zero issues.
I disagree that one can't extend the oil change intervals with the use of synthetics. That's a large part of what benefit they provide over dino oils. The manufacturers know a diesel specked oil is going to be used in a, wait for it...diesel.:confused2: