Oil & Fuel What engine oil?

[Homebrew]

I'm coming up on my 1st 10 hours on my 425 and need to decide what oil to use. The specs page of the manual says 20W, 30W, or 10W30. The chart also shows other weights. Is there any reason not to use 10W40? Since there will be times when I'll likely use the PT during weather as hot as 95F, wouldn't 10W40 be better than 10W30?

Also, anyone want to recommend a brand, or does it really matter?

 

[Red Zebra]

I use 10w-30 synthetic (Wal-mart brand). It's $3.29 quart and I've had great success with it since they intoduced it years ago (i/e no enginge failures )

 

[woodlandfarms]

You are a brave man to ask oil questions here. This entire site has tons of opinions. From what I can generically glean, name brand is better than no name brand. Synthetic appears to allow the engine to operate at cooler temps (not huge but every degree helps). Weight is judged by when, where and how you operate. 5 weight is good for tough (cold) starting states. 50 weight is good for warm climates. If you plan to run 100 hours before the summer is out then I would go for a 20/50. If you are like me and 100 hours is your years use then I am going for a 5/30 at the moment.

I have been using Mobile 1 for a long time (cars) and will stick with it. I have no clue if it helps my engine, but I am now changing oil only at 10K miles....

 

[MossRoad]

I would follow the manufacturer's recomendation with dyno oil for break in, then switch to a synthetic, like Mobil1, after that.

 

[PTOuser]

MossRoad what is "dyno" oil and how long is the Robin 25 hp's break in period?? Used "detergent" multi-grade oil in my Gravely drag-u-behind (=2 wheel convertible). Anyone use detergent oil in the PT425?

 

[woodlandfarms]

dyno = dino... a tipo that should have not been a typo... Regular motor oil

I believe all oils have a detergent. I personally feel that a heavy detergent oil is not important to a new engine...

Do not know about break in....

 

[MossRoad]

dyno = dino... a tipo that should have not been a typo... Regular motor oil

I believe all oils have a detergent. I personally feel that a heavy detergent oil is not important to a new engine...

Do not know about break in....

Whoops. That's what I meant. Dinosaur oil ...keeps your dinosaur from squeekin'!

 

[MossRoad]

MossRoad what is "dyno" oil and how long is the Robin 25 hp's break in period?? Used "detergent" multi-grade oil in my Gravely drag-u-behind (=2 wheel convertible). Anyone use detergent oil in the PT425?

You need to go online somewhere and get yourself some manuals for your Robin engine. That's one of the first things I did with my Kohler engine. You will need those manuals for maintenance and troubleshooting in the future.

 

[Homebrew]

I received a manual for the Robin when I bought the PT. Terry told me to change the break-in oil at 10 hrs and said I didn't need to change the oil filter. The engine manual says to do the initial change of oil and filter at 20 hours.

 

[PTOuser]

I got the same info from Terry but "breakin" wasn't discussed Homebrew. Did he tell you that the end of break in period is 10 hours?? Also my 425 has a right angle adapter on it where the oil plug that doesn't show up on the Robin info. Their literature just shows a straight in plug. I'm guessing that's some sort of PT add on. If you've changed yours at 10 -12 hrs, does that have a easy open turn via your fingers rather than a wrench kind of a fitting. If not, what the heck's the right angle for?