I use some Kinetix oils around the shop and have normal results. Kinetix markets the high zinc rating which my understanding is one of the additives in the "formulated for use in small engines" so Briggs, Kohler, Kawasaki, etc all use zinc in their oil but just don't mention it. Since small engines operate at higher temps than auto engines, the oil is formulated better against thermal breakdown.
Most people get hung up over the API oil rating, but unless you are needing to meet some Nasa spec, the oil rating has no bearing on what the oil is going to be used in. We are arguing over SH, SJ oil when I believe the current API spec is SN. The most important thing for most people should be is the oil rated for S whatever for use in gas engines, and C whatever for use in diesel engines.
