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Per my title, I've retrofitted a Donaldson commercial air filter to my FR730V Kawasaki engine. The two obvious differences since the change are that the filter stays clean and my fuel consumption has reduced. Do I need to be concerned about potential overheating due to an apparently leaner burn...

Zinc content is the point of this entire thread. Its not standardized by those SAE "weights" for sure so you would have to cite a specific brand and product to have any hope of getting an answer. I provided both and the best answer is between 900 and 1200 ppm for Kawasaki 15w 50. Unless the...

Thanx, I will.

I had no idea you could cook with 20w 50. I'll just take your word that Canola is better. (y)

Thanx for that. I suspected there must be something different about the filters owing to their uncommonly high price. The Gravely kit I ordered does come with the Hydro-Gear branded filters. You mention "hydraulic filters". Are there brands of these which I can use to substitute Hydro-Gear...

Agree 100 % plus, truth be told, most "Brands" of consumer grade mowers are made by 1 outfit, namely MTD, ( Black & Decker ). An argument in favor of opting for equipment branded oils, particularly during the warranty period, might be the warranty itself. My understanding is that in the US a...

ZDDP, (Zinc), is good for engines and before the advent of catalytic converters was a common component of all packages contained in nearly every automotive oil,, full stop. ZDDP is unfortunately bad for catalytic converters. As a result, oil blenders formulate modern passenger vehicle oils with...

I've followed the Geek and like his vids. That said, he pretty much concentrates on automotive applications. Lawnmower and power sport equipment, (air cooled), runs hotter and mostly don't have CATs which don't like zinc. Its also worth noting, IMHO, that oil viscosity numbers are temperature...

In my HD Motorcycle I use Red Line V-Twin 20w 50. Specs: Zinc, avg PPM 2260 Phosphorus, avg PPM 2030 Molybdenum, avg PPM...

Anyone know the Zinc content in Kawasaki’s 15 w 50 mower oil ? Thanx

Maintenance questions with respect to "any" equipment touch upon what Economists refer to as the Law of Diminishing returns. Since the more you put into maintenance, the less, ( or later), you you can expect to incur repair or replacement costs, maintenance is generally a good idea. That said...

Agree 100 % Ethanol Fuel is to be avoided. If / when you can't buy 0E fuel you can make it, (remove the Ethanol). You need an appropriately sized container, (5 gal), with a drain spigot at the very bottom, water & food coloring. Pour, for example, 4 gal of Ethanol fuel into the 5 gal container...

Enjoyed this thread. I'm 75 and working too (y). The plan is to stay too busy to die :giggle:. I'm gonna pick up a pair of those hose separating pliers for sure and, when the time comes, may resort to "heat" in the form of boiling water as I have the necessary access to the lines on my Apex. I...

Paper oil filters are "nominally" rated, that is to say, not by a standardized method. Ignore the ratings, they all work. The larger filter will probably reduce the chances of your filter going to "bypass" if the filter starts getting clogged or during cold starts. Its all good.

1) Stick to recommended change intervals "even if synthetic oil is used". At minimum change annually just before fall storage. 2) Stay within recommended weights recommended by Kohler. If using multi-grade, "no higher than" lowest number and "equal to" the highest number. So, if say a 20 W 50...

"Motorcycles (or any engine) with integrated gear box or using the same oil in gearbox as crankcase should, in general , not use friction (zinc?) modified oils." This can be a complex issue as some modifiers reduce friction (Moly), and others increase it. In a seeming paradox, ZDDP both reduces...

Good catch on the "Gweilo" term. During my 25 years working in SEA I picked up on the term, and its implications. I'm obviously not insulted by it. On the contrary, it reminds me of the wonderful times and cherished friendships I enjoyed while working in the region, China in particular.

Excellent post !! 👍 May I add that automotive multi-grade oils are formulated to spec within a 40 deg C to 100 deg C temp range, ( yep, I'm Canadian). All oil viscosities change with changes in temp, as you know. That "Air cooled" engines often suffer operation temps both above and below...

"Zinc seems to be a relatively recent innovation",,,,, Actually, Zinc was a common package component in most motor oils back in the days of flat tappet car engines with no catalytic converters. Zinc is death on converters so has been all but eliminated from automotive oils but remains a common...

On the topic of synthetics, yes they are better. That said if you can only justify paying synthetics prices by extending change intervals then stick with regular oil and change it on schedule. So, buy a synthetic oil by all means, just don’t buy the “extended interval yarn” that comes with it...

Don’t under rate the zinc recommendation. My HD manual recommends their Motorcycle oil or if that isn’t available a suitable weight oil rated for diesel engines. What do MC oils and diesel oils have in common? Both are much higher in zinc than automotive oils. This may explain the mysterious...

Hi All Purchased an Apex 60 in October. I have yet to use it in anger. Its a LOT more machine than I need but was the only one in stock with serviceable trans axles and at least a 10 ga deck. I live right on the coast so sandy / salty mowing is going to be my problem. I've coated the underside...

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Unlikely, perhaps, but If trace amounts of something like this were aspirated when hot, I can't imagine it doing a carburetor much good once it cooled. Again, no expert I, but this would be just my luck if history were any indicator. :rolleyes:

No expert I. That said, I somewhat suspect that these engines suffer the same fate as firearms do in that more damage is done through clumsy cleaning / maintenance efforts than anything else. Never mind the goo. Blow the filter housing / area clean "before" removing the dirty filter and then...

I haven't done a homework assignment in decades. This is an "opinion" forum. If you want to fact check, google will work as well for you as it would for me. Fill yer boots.

Yep, just because the manufacturer says your engine "can take it", doesn't mean E10 is as good as E0. It isn't.

Lots of Opinion Forums and websites dump on SeaFoam as an outboard motor product but its worked for me in everything and as its "mainly" nothing but "pale oil", an upper cylinder lubricant, and isopropyl alcohol, you don't need to be a mad scientist to get the mix ratios correct. Anything...

This is my understanding too. The grain alcohol in E10 isn't directly the problem. It is the affinity between grain alcohol and water which is the problem as it causes the water to separate out of the E10 fuel and combine with the grain alcohol in a distinct layer at the bottom of the tank. The...

Good to know, Thanx.

For the past decade I've been a complete devotee to 0E fuels, using it in everything I own that burns gas. Seasonal equipment gets stored with full tanks and a few oz of Sea Foam and for 10 years none of it has resisted starting right up, even in one case, after sitting nearly 2 years. In my...

The Apex and Kubota have the same 3100 series transaxles, the same engines, wheels and 10 ga deck. The Apex has a 4 year, (500 hr) warranty compared to the Kubota's 3. Up here the Kubota costs more, (though not by a lot). Is your dead Ariens not still covered under warranty or is Ariens not...

Hi All I'm about to purchase my first ZT mower. I expect to buy before next spring. I'm looking at an Ariens Apex and would appreciate any recommendations and or cautions before I buy. I've looked at Kubota too but believe the Apex is, pound for pound, the better buy. What say you ?