Oil for 4 strokes

[Mobbster]

:i dunno:
I have read in a Caravan mag that using 4 stroke company oil is not so good
the story said they are using - Turbo Diesel Oil - 20w 50 - in all 4 stroke motors
I thought why not, so started using it in a 375 briggs & stratton which was rattely - it nows runs great
i had a talk to my Mechanic and he told me it would be more Beneficial than using mower company oil
I have put in my ride on ( MTD Yard Man 12 HP B&S)

Has anyone tried or using this
Terry

[the paddle pop lion]

I Have Always Used Gtx2 In My Mowers,both 19inch Push,briggs Oil Is Designed To Blow Up Your Equipment And Burn Your Valves To A Cinder And Offers The Protection Of Water,to Me Using A Good Quality 20w 50 Oil From Any Well Known Company And Changing Every 2 Weeks Does It For Me And I Have Never Had A Problem,to Me It Is More "industrial" And Motor Does Not Tick At All Unlike The Noise It Made When I Brought It With Crud In It.

[NWGL]

It's been a few months since this was posted.

Just curious if anyone else tried it ?

If so, how did it go ?

[Shepparton Lawn Care]

I run Honda oil in my honda(20 litre Drum). I dump oil every week, in spring and summer,-change blade carrier at the same time,(I believe sharp blades are the key) clean filter etc. 600 mm oil is cheap insurance to keep mower running well. I run a hru216 self propelled and have just picked up a second hand hru 196 from a guy leaving state!-Bargain, hasn't done a lot of work! . A great mower for winter conditions with the plastic catcher. Cutting a lot of cape weed here at the minute which has reared its ugly head after the recent rains.,as well as a scag zcat zero turn mower. :wave-hi:

[Ian1]

I Have Always Used Gtx2 In My Mowers,both 19inch Push,briggs Oil Is Designed To Blow Up Your Equipment And Burn Your Valves To A Cinder And Offers The Protection Of Water,to Me Using A Good Quality 20w 50 Oil From Any Well Known Company And Changing Every 2 Weeks Does It For Me And I Have Never Had A Problem,to Me It Is More "industrial" And Motor Does Not Tick At All Unlike The Noise It Made When I Brought It With Crud In It.


Briggs oil designed to blow up engines ??????
Can`t beat a good conspiracy theory

[chaplain]

Hows that should of sold Briggs oil to the Germans in 1940

[PeteG]

Hi i think most people like to change there own oil...For varying reasons....
The honda manual recomends 10W30 their own product.........Is it safe to use 20W50
deisil oil in all 4 strokes.....can anyone please elaberate........Cheers everone Peter

[Ian1]

Hi i think most people like to change there own oil...For varying reasons....
The honda manual recomends 10W30 their own product.........Is it safe to use 20W50
deisil oil in all 4 strokes.....can anyone please elaberate........Cheers everone Peter

PeteG,
I would recommend you use whatever the engine manufacturer recommends. i.e. Honda say use 10W30, than use 10W30. You could get away with GTX2, mobil1, etc, BUT I don`t see the point. If you are a domestic user, buy a 1L bottle at a time. If you are a contractor, than buy a 20L drum at a time as SimonSLC does.
As someone who works on these engines day in,day out, I always use the recommended oil and never see problems. People who say otherwise have yet to convince me with a technical reason (I hate old wives tales)
In normal operating conditions, change oil every 25 hours. In dusty conditions, every 15-20 hours
IF the engine has done years of work, and is banging away, sure put whatever you like in it, as it is on its last legs anyway .A 20W50 oil in that situation would make sense.By the way 20W50 means the oil has the viscosity of 20W oil cold, and 50W oil hot, so 10W30 and straight 30W oil are the same when the engine is HOT

[Shepparton Lawn Care]

Great to have you on board Ian1!-Having a technical angle on this forum will be invaluable.Be careful- we may have to set up an " Ask Dr Ian-the small engine specialist"!!! :laughing: :wave-hi:

[kakegc]

PeteG,
I would recommend you use whatever the engine manufacturer recommends. i.e. Honda say use 10W30, than use 10W30. You could get away with GTX2, mobil1, etc, BUT I don`t see the point. If you are a domestic user, buy a 1L bottle at a time. If you are a contractor, than buy a 20L drum at a time as SimonSLC does.
As someone who works on these engines day in,day out, I always use the recommended oil and never see problems. People who say otherwise have yet to convince me with a technical reason (I hate old wives tales)
In normal operating conditions, change oil every 25 hours. In dusty conditions, every 15-20 hours
IF the engine has done years of work, and is banging away, sure put whatever you like in it, as it is on its last legs anyway .A 20W50 oil in that situation would make sense.By the way 20W50 means the oil has the viscosity of 20W oil cold, and 50W oil hot, so 10W30 and straight 30W oil are the same when the engine is HOT

Hi Ian1, I bought an old 3rd hand HRU195 5 years ago that is now 6.5 years old & has done about the equivalent 6,000 years of domestic work. Coz it was old & I got very cheap, I just threw the cheap 20W50 oil from K-Mart into it every 2 weeks or so. It still starts first pull & doesn't blow smoke like my newer one does. The newer one has always had the genuine Honda oil in it, nothing else. Maybe it's because of the difference in motors??? I've heard various people say the 195's had a better engine than the 216's have??? Either way, I can't see the 216 lasting like the old 195! It already makes some horrible noises & its still nearly new by Honda standards; only 2.5 years old! Still, if it were a Rover, I'd be on my third one by now lol! :wave-hi: :wave-hi:

[Ian1]

Hi Ian1, I bought an old 3rd hand HRU195 5 years ago that is now 6.5 years old & has done about the equivalent 6,000 years of domestic work. Coz it was old & I got very cheap, I just threw the cheap 20W50 oil from K-Mart into it every 2 weeks or so. It still starts first pull & doesn't blow smoke like my newer one does. The newer one has always had the genuine Honda oil in it, nothing else. Maybe it's because of the difference in motors??? I've heard various people say the 195's had a better engine than the 216's have??? Either way, I can't see the 216 lasting like the old 195! It already makes some horrible noises & its still nearly new by Honda standards; only 2.5 years old! Still, if it were a Rover, I'd be on my third one by now lol! :wave-hi: :wave-hi:

kakegc,
You are pretty well spot on, the 195 was a terrific mower/engine, but the 216 will always be up against it because of the weight. i.e. the engine has to work harder ! The current engine (an upgraded 194/214) still is a good engine though, but you have to pay close attention to air filtration system as some of them aren`t as good as fit as they should be !

[heggie]

i have a old 18 push rover mower as a back up , its 12 years old , not that much use in that time. i have used slick 50 in cars and bikes in the past which Protects against friction and heat , so i used some in my rover and i have to say it runs really smooth . when i change the oil, i put a little in and it doesnt work out to costly.
cheers Heg

[chaplain]

Spot On EXcellent

Details are good

[nigelr]

Found that after a few hours use, 10-30w sent my honda powered rover 20" sp into fits, nearly blew up!
Changed to straight 30w and hasn't gone wrong since, dumfounded but delighted! Pretty warm here at start up, even in winter 16C+.
Only ever use straight 30w now, ride-ons as well. (Kohler Command, Briggs I/C).
20l drums the way to go, 2 stroke oil as well. Save heaps!
Cheers!

[worzel]

I agree,
20l drums is the only way to go
I've used 30w in my Rover s/d (*2) for 10 years+
I change oil regularly and nothing(major) seems to go wrong (Briggs I/C ) until the rings get tired.I can't be bothered recon my engines.I either buy a new engine or a new mower.
What I am finding is the new engines don't last as long.
Quality prices have to keep up with quantity prices (chinese ) and the end result is short cuts.
How do you find the Hondas in the long wet stuff?
cheers Worzel

[Bgs]

Could someone please tell me the best way to change the oil in a lawn mower.

I have heard three ways of doing it hoist up and locate sump plug, use a boat pump to remove oil, remove spark plug cover fuel tank and carby and tip up side down??

How do you guys do it.

Thanks :wave-hi:

[Lancat]

Just tip it on its side if it’s a push mower and if your not happy with that method Refer to your users/service manual

[NWGL]

I do the same - keeps it nice & simple

[Shepparton Lawn Care]

Hi bgs, like lancat i tip my mower on its side for oil to drain out, BUT first i remove filters(honda 216, honda 196) and while I am cleaning them the oil drains out, put the mower back on its "feet", tip in the new oil, filters back on away you go

[dan1312]

hi all :wave-hi:
anybody add an stablizer to their oil (lucas or similar). one of the contractors in town swears by it, one part stablizer four parts gtx 3 or similar. he reckons his mowers run like a dream and have for years :russ:also said he only has to change oil every 2 weeks instead of weekly :i dunno: unsure about that one. gunna give it a go next change but will be changing after a week to check the condition of the oil ill let you all know how it goes.

[dan1312]

just a correction. on the last post the oil should have been gtx 2. sorry about the mistake ,cheers

[JJR]

Anybody using the ALKO oil change kit? :i dunno: The complimentary free gift on joining Independant Lawnmowing Contractors of Australia.
As for the oil, use what the manufacturer recomends as far as grade is concerned, any reputable brand will do, personal choice. :wave-hi: