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SAE 30 Oil vs. 10W-30 oil

#1

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

I am getting tired of buying the little SAE30 1 liter oil pints for my mower. Instead, I would like the big 5 liters jugs, it is less expensive and I have more.

I was thinking about getting 10W-30 instead. Would this be fine or not? It says that my mower needs SAE30 and 10W-30 when it get's colder, but it seems to me that 10W-30 would do fine and do it's job on cool mornings and when it is hot also.


#2

reynoldston

reynoldston

Don't be surprised if it starts using oil. No one agrees on oil on this forum.


#3

Carscw

Carscw

I use 10w-30 year round. Not going to say what brand it will just start a oil war


#4

066

066

I use 10w-30 year round. Not going to say what brand it will just start a oil war

yep!, a subject with a lot of debate, just use what works best for you,


#5

D

de dee

I am getting tired of buying the little SAE30 1 liter oil pints for my mower. Instead, I would like the big 5 liters jugs, it is less expensive and I have more.

I was thinking about getting 10W-30 instead. Would this be fine or not? It says that my mower needs SAE30 and 10W-30 when it get's colder, but it seems to me that 10W-30 would do fine and do it's job on cool mornings and when it is hot also.

10w30 is a upgrade, I use syn. oil 5w40 you can get better use out of the oil if the Temp. has a ,wide range. and you dont have to change oil if it gets cold,. I have a tractor mower that changes to a snow blower for the winter,. manual says use syn. oil,. this is a 2013 unit,. by craftsman,. I also have a scooter 300 cc. that uses syn. oil, that uses 5 w 50are you on the west coast ,. you are talking mowing at this time of year., in ottawa I wont be thinking mowing for 2 months,


#6

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

Yea, I am close to Ottawa, so I won't be mowing soon.

I really don't want to start an oil war, because it will never end. I just wanted to know if 10W-30 would be safe to use instead of always buying the smal SAE 30 oil pints.
I also thought it could be better, because in the spring and in the fall, mornings can get a little cool and the same goes for the evenings. So, I wouldn't need to always change to 10W-30 oil.


#7

wjjones

wjjones

As long as you keep a regular service schedule on your equipment it should be fine. I prefer the sae 30 myself but it really is just by preference. A good pm service schedule is what matters keeping your oil changed on a regular interval.


#8

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

As long as you keep a regular service schedule on your equipment it should be fine. I prefer the sae 30 myself but it really is just by preference. A good pm service schedule is what matters keeping your oil changed on a regular interval.

I guess I will stay with SAE30. That is what the mechanic told me to use when I first bought my mower.


#9

reynoldston

reynoldston

Yea, I am close to Ottawa, so I won't be mowing soon.

I really don't want to start an oil war, because it will never end. I just wanted to know if 10W-30 would be safe to use instead of always buying the smal SAE 30 oil pints.
I also thought it could be better, because in the spring and in the fall, mornings can get a little cool and the same goes for the evenings. So, I wouldn't need to always change to 10W-30 oil.

Here in the US they sell engine oil in quarts not pints. You might have something different in Canada. As I said earlier don't be surprised if your mower starts using oil when you change over to 10W-30. I have seen it happen and really don't know why. Unless there is a reason like starting problems I would say keep using SAE 30. I have been using 15W-40 diesel oil in mine.


#10

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

Here in the US they sell engine oil in quarts not pints. You might have something different in Canada. As I said earlier don't be surprised if your mower starts using oil when you change over to 10W-30. I have seen it happen and really don't know why. Unless there is a reason like starting problems I would say keep using SAE 30. I have been using 15W-40 diesel oil in mine.

When I say pint I mean almost 1 liter which is about 1 quart if I am correct. It is really annoying that they don't offer the SAE30 oil in big 5 liters (just like for cars)


#11

Carscw

Carscw

When I say pint I mean almost 1 liter which is about 1 quart if I am correct. It is really annoying that they don't offer the SAE30 oil in big 5 liters (just like for cars)

You can use the oil they sell for cars it's really the same


#12

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

You can use the oil they sell for cars it's really the same

There is SAE30 oil that cars use?


#13

Fish

Fish

Just a note.....

Never, ever use 10w40 in an air cooled engine!!!!


#14

Carscw

Carscw

There is SAE30 oil that cars use?

Yes. I have a 69 ford ranger I run it in.


#15

Carscw

Carscw

Just a note..... Never, ever use 10w40 in an air cooled engine!!!!

I have heard this before but never asked why. So I will ask now why


#16

Fish

Fish

Multi-viscosity breakdown. It cooks down to molasses and destroys the engine when it does.


#17

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

Yea, I've heard bad stuff with the 10W-40 stuff.

I couldn't find much SAE 30 oil on the Canadian Tire website, but I did find 0W-30 oil. Would that be the same?


#18

Carscw

Carscw

Multi-viscosity breakdown. It cooks down to molasses and destroys the engine when it does.

That's right now I remember. Man for a min I thought I really did not know everything.

No really thank you I did not know


#19

pugaltitude

pugaltitude

Briggs do 5litres sae30 over here part number 100008E.

As long as you use same api rating as your equipment takes then it will be fine.

I use 10w40 multigrade in Honda, kohler and kawasaki and on Briggs sae30.


#20

T

tom-ky

Just a note.....

Never, ever use 10w40 in an air cooled engine!!!!

How about 15W-40 Rotella? I have personally seen it ran in many air cooled engines.


#21

Kodie's Lawn Service

Kodie's Lawn Service

You say you would like to quit buying quarts I don't know if you know this or not but you can buy 30w oil in a 5 quart bottle :thumbsup:


#22

Fish

Fish

Yea, I've heard bad stuff with the 10W-40 stuff.

I couldn't find much SAE 30 oil on the Canadian Tire website, but I did find 0W-30 oil. Would that be the same?

No, not close to the same..


#23

Fish

Fish

The Rotella is popular for diesels, and is real common. Like I said, the only thing I say no against is 10-w-40, they may have changed it in the last 20 or so years,
but I doubt it. And there is always the long list of folks that swear by it, which makes these oil threads kinda silly.


#24

reynoldston

reynoldston

Here we go again like so many times before. Ever body uses different oil and no one agrees with what is the better oil to use. I find as a repair stand point its the person that buys a new mower and thinks the oil that come with the mower new will last forever has oil problems.


#25

exotion

exotion

Here we go again like so many times before. Ever body uses different oil and no one agrees with what is the better oil to use. I find as a repair stand point its the person that buys a new mower and thinks the oil that come with the mower new will last forever has oil problems.

Right bottom line. Read your manual it'll tell you excatly what the engineers (the people who designed the engine with 8+ years of education and lots of experience) what they think is best do what they say cost wise its not going to be huge no matter what brand oil is oil as long as its a well known brand....


#26

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

Thanks for all the info guys. I did not know that SAE30 was offered in 5 quarts. I am going to try to look for it.
That way I dont have to always buy it by the quarts.


#27

M

marvc

I am getting tired of buying the little SAE30 1 liter oil pints for my mower. Instead, I would like the big 5 liters jugs, it is less expensive and I have more.

I was thinking about getting 10W-30 instead. Would this be fine or not? It says that my mower needs SAE30 and 10W-30 when it get's colder, but it seems to me that 10W-30 would do fine and do it's job on cool mornings and when it is hot also.


My thoughts are this; I use between sae30 or 10w40, but my mowers are a few years old now and broke in good. My church bought a new ZTR mower with a 24 hp. kawasaki and 60 inch cut. Both the dealer and owners manual recommended sae 30 only in it till around 40 to 50 hours when it is broke in good before changing to a multy-weight or synthetic, otherwise it could likely lead to using or leaking oil. I'm not quite sure what other engine manufactures recommend, but would use the 40 to 50 hour period before changing oil weights or types. I changed the original oil and filter in our kawasaki at 8 hours like recommended and it was black. I also strongly recommend chainging the filter at each oil change - cheap insurance against oil problems. Filters are cheap enough for the number of times per year they are changed. I change mine twice a year and have had no oil related problems at all, and grease everything at the same time. Just my thoughts, take with a grain of salt and use for your thoughts, wants and needs.:biggrin:


#28

Ric

Ric

My thoughts are this; I use between sae30 or 10w40, but my mowers are a few years old now and broke in good. My church bought a new ZTR mower with a 24 hp. kawasaki and 60 inch cut. Both the dealer and owners manual recommended sae 30 only in it till around 40 to 50 hours when it is broke in good before changing to a multy-weight or synthetic, otherwise it could likely lead to using or leaking oil. I'm not quite sure what other engine manufactures recommend, but would use the 40 to 50 hour period before changing oil weights or types. I changed the original oil and filter in our kawasaki at 8 hours like recommended and it was black. I also strongly recommend chainging the filter at each oil change - cheap insurance against oil problems. Filters are cheap enough for the number of times per year they are changed. I change mine twice a year and have had no oil related problems at all, and grease everything at the same time. Just my thoughts, take with a grain of salt and use for your thoughts, wants and needs.:biggrin:


Kohler is the same, it says to use a petroleum base oil for the first fifty hour to insure that the rings are seated properly, they don't give a specific viscosity.


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