Synthetic oil

[BRIAN FOLEY]

Anyone using mobil 1 or other synthetic in the mowers? What do you think? Brian

[Toroguy]

Brian,

I switched to the Mobil one last season(16hp Briggs), I figure the price is not an issue for the small amount needed and the age of the engine being newer.

It could be psychological but I feel more comfortable with the synthetic.

I use "Car and Driver" oil in my truck and personal vehicle. My mower is my favorite pet.

[lawnkid]

I use Castrol Synthetic on my mowers and it works excellent. I've tried MObil before and it was also good. It's kinda like a whatever I can get my hands on but I mostly use Castrol for my mowers.

[LJ lawn]

i use SYNERGYN and LUCAS additives in everything.

[plow kid]

I use <B><I> ROTELLA </b></I> Synthetic in everything, it's around $12.99 a gallon and I use Mobil 1 filters.~NaTe

[jaybird24]

yep Mobil 1- works great, and on those cold spring or fall mornings the engine seems to turn over much easier. Anyone run synthetics in their two strokes- I used it last year, a little less smoke and no clogged ports or buildup.

[turfsup]

NOt sure if amsoil is available in your area but its great stuff! i use it in everything. its a little pricey but it pays off in the end.

[plow kid]

Originally posted by turfsup
NOt sure if amsoil is available in your area but its great stuff! i use it in everything. <I>its a little pricey.</I>

@ $7.49 a quart here i think I will stick to ROTELLA Synthetic. For the price of 2 quarts of amsoil I can buy a gallon of ROTELLA Synthetic. . ~NaTe:p

[olderthandirt]

Amsoil in every thing for 15 yrs and don't regret the extra cost at all!!!!!

[David Haggerty]

I'm with you on the Rotella synthetic.

When Wal-Mart started carrying it I bought every quart & gallon they had.
So far I've only put it in the hydraulic systems of the two Toro 325-Ds.

I'm ready though, next oil change it goes into everything.
Except maybe the 580-D. It specifies straight weight only.

Have you seen the Rotella synthetic in a straight 30 weight?

Dave

[Tony Harrell]

L J Lawn, Have you been using Lucas long? I'm trying ths combination to unstick a lifter in my truck-75% Castrol 20/50 and 25% Lucas. It took about 150 miles to make a significant difference but it won't completely go away and it might be too scuffed. It's worth the $6 vs $100 in parts for new lifters if it works.

[jdseven]

I change oil every 100 hours on my mowers using regular oil how often would I change it with synthetic oil? Thanks

[TLS]

jdseven,

100 hr intrevals on an air cooled gas lawnmower engine using regular dino oil?

Thats a little too long for my tastes. I go 100 now on my 27 LC Kawi with the Mobil 1. I would stick to 50hrs with dino oil.

Things get pretty dirty anything after 100hrs.

Mobil 1 is good stuff.

[plow kid]

I am not sure as to the strait 30 wt but I know that they have a 10-30, I saw it @ sams. A case of ROTELLA @ sams is $34.99 for non synthetic, and synthetic ROTELLA is 71.95 a case. I know that several different truck stops have the full line of synthetics, like "PETROL" off of I~75 they carry a full line, even diesel fuel addatives and antigell. ~NaTe

[jdseven]

TLS thanks for the reply. I will try that Mobile 1 and will change every 100 hrs. Now that I think about it you are right about it 50 hrs should save on downtime and repairs. I also change the filter after each oil change the manual advises 200 hrs but I think that is to long. Oil and filters are cheap compared to repairs.

[GLS]

I use Valvoline Full Synthetic oil in all of my mowers. I also change the filters when I change the oil. I get it for $4 a quart. It seems to run better when the engine gets hot.

When does everyone replace spark plugs? I usually do every year, but I might do it a little sooner because they are usually a little black.

[jaybird24]

Ichange my plugs evry few months. Probably more often than needed but they're cheap and I'm kinda anal about maint. By the way Sams sells mobil 1 $21.68/case - best price I've seen. Make sure you get good quality filters also- I,ve noticed w/ oem filters the oil tends to be much blacker -but with wix filters the oil looks new at 100 hrs. but the oil in the filter is like mud which tells me it is doing a great job.

[LJ lawn]

i don't know about the stuck lifter,but i started using LUCAS additive a couple years ago when i got a first hand testimony from an old diesel mechanic (this guy just retired from cummins) he rebuilt an engine for a guy and recommended using lucas at every oil change.(and no he wasn't a dealer for the stuff either the guy had to buy it himself) the time came for the usual rod and main bearing replacement (usually done around 350K to 400,000 miles on a rig) when he pulled off the rod and main caps the bearings had hardly any wear at all.so he just re-installed them.regular oil changing and additives make a big difference.

[landscaper3]

All our mowers oil are changed at 50hrs or in our case EVERY week or Every other week so we only use regular oil.