Who's using synthetic oil?

[Richard Martin]

Who here is using synthetic oil in their 4 stoke Kawasaki or Kohler engines and how many hours have you put on your engines to date?

[Keith]

Low hours though. My 25 Kohler was switched over at the first change to Mobil 1 10-30. It now has just under 700 hours. My Kubota gas on the Grasshopper is at about 2800 hours and has had Amsoil Diesel 30 until the last two or three changes. It now has Mobil 1.

[bdemir]

I use mobil 1 also and the two engines have around 1300 hours. Never have had any temp. related problems. My truck also runs mobil1 and i use high octane gas always. The high octane and synthetic oil compbination will make an engine last longer in my opinion. My truck sounds great and people cant believe how great it sounds after seeing what it looks like. The sythetic tranny fluid did not save my transmission though.

[Richard Martin]

Bdemir wrote:

<b><i>I use mobil 1 also and the two engines have around 1300 hours</b></i>

What engines are you using on your mowers BD? And, is that 1300 hrs each or 1300 hrs total?

[luckylawnboy]

I paid $50 for six quarts of Kaw. oil. It does not say what the oil is on the bottles, but If I use them, then it doubles the warrenty on my new 17hp . Must be Super Oil

[thefarmer4]

lucktlawnboy,
do you have extended drain intervals on that $50/6qt. oil?
If you don't that sounds pretty expensive. You could put that $$ into a bank account and save up for a new motor.

[Eric ELM]

Welcome back. It's been awhile since you posted.

I don't use synthetic oil, but I do use an additive called Tufoil, http://www.tufoil.com if you want to check it out. I've used it for the past 12 years and had great luck with it. It is in the Guiness Book of Records. It is so slick that an easy turning filter becomes a big chore to turn off if some oil starts running down the side of the filter when taking them off. You can't grip it hard enough to turn if off with your bare hand, so I have to use a rag at this point. It makes the engines run cooler, which is a good thing on air cooled engines. I didn't know how much cooler until I put it in the new diesel Chopper I got in June. After 150 hours I put it in the diesel, which was during a very hot spell we were having. The diesel has a temperature guage on it and it ran 10 degrees cooler after putting the Tufoil in it. BTW, a water cooled engine doesn't run that hot to start with, so an air cooled engine could run much cooler.

I have run Tufoil in the 3 Kohler engines I've had plus all other 4 cycle engines and diesel engines, including the trucks and personal vehicles for the past 12 years. The 3 Kohler Engines, (1) 20 HP Magnum traded it in at 2000 hours, (2) 20 HP Magnum, sold it to a friend and it has over 2,500 hours and still runs good, (3) Still use this one, 22 HP Command with 3,235 hours and it still runs strong.

This additive is $125 for a gallon which treats all my engines for close to 2 years. You need 8 oz for a V8 engine the first time and 4 oz each change after that. An 8 oz bottle is around $11.00, I'm just trying to answer future questions here before I get them. :)

[Richard Martin]

I appreciate the info Eric. The reason I asked for info on synthetics is I am trying to find out how long an air cooled engine would last on synthetics. There will be 2 more followup threads on normal oil and oil with additives.

[Mowman]

Richard,
I bought a used Walker in June 00 and since then have run Mobil 1 10w30w and the engine seems to run cooler. I also change over all the other fluids to Mobil 1. Gear boxes and hydro's seem to be running cooler also. Time will tell how long things will last. To me air cooled running cooler will last longer. So yes I think Mobil 1 will help in longer life in your engine. Cost a little more, but if it last longer you are money ahead.
Mowman

[guntruck]

When we did our first oil change back in september we used 10-30 mobil 1. The Great Dane now has 20 hrs.

[luckylawnboy]

Well my dealer said to change it at 50hrs first, then 150 from there on. You have to keep record of this on a card from Kaw. to make the warrenty ligit. Just keep your eye on the level and go. 4 yr warrenty, can't beat that.

[thefarmer4]

luckylawnboy

Sounds like a good deal let us know how it works out. Maybe keep track of your costs and repairs on motor for next 4 years.

Eric ELM

Thanks for the post on tufoil I'll be checking it out.

As for me I'll be switching everything to Amsoil in the spring. I plan on doing extended drain intervals. Amsoil is one of the few companys to endorse their product for such use. (Mobil 1 doesn't) I will send out some oil samples for testing.

Most of us are changing oil every 50-100 hrs so I figure I'll test at 150 hrs, 300hrs, 450hrs and so on until test shows its time to change oil.

I'll report my findings next year for anyone that is intersted.

Anyone that has any suggestions for me feel free to contact me at knutz1995@yahoo.com

[Paradise Yard Service]

Thumbs up on the Amsoil product! No I'm not a dealer. But I use it on my Honda wb and it lasts much longer, so your for application it would be the way to go. I've used 10-30 on my 86 Mazda truck since bought new. Never lifted the valve cover yet and it has close to 200,000 miles. Only change the oil once a year and the filter every 6 mos. My clients always comment that they can never here me coming cause da motah is sooooo quiet. Also, the Power Foam is the most superior carb/injector cleaner period! Follow directions and watch the garbage the comes out of the tailpipe!


My first experience with Amsoil was in 1979 when I put the tranny lube in my old BMW 2002 surf car. Had a problem with shifting which improved after the change. I later had a problem that I thought was tranny related so I took the tranny out and brought it down to the BMW man in Honolulu. He opened it up and showed me that there was no problem with the trans! In fact he said it was perfectly fine comparing it to another similar trans. The visable differance was clear. The Amsoil trans was clean and shiney, the other trans was brown from too much varnish which indicates too much heat and heat kills trannies. My problem had to do with a center coupling that wore out so bad it blocked the linkage from 1st and 3rd gear. Changed the coupling and was back out in the surf next day!

Well I hope this helps and sorry for sidesliping the topic to surf cars but AMSOIL ROCKS!

[Richard Martin]

luckylawnboy wrote:

<b><i>Well my dealer said to change it at 50hrs first, then 150 from there on.</b></i>

and he also wrote:

<b><i>I paid $50 for six quarts of Kaw. oil.</b></i>

Who here besides me thinks that the Kawasaki oil is in fact synthetic oil? It has an extended drain interval and cost $8.33 a quart.

[Keith]

Yeah, uhhh....I'd be willing to go along with that :D

Let say 750 hours a year =5 changes. Two quarts per change = 10 quarts per year x 4 years. That's $355 to extend a warranty on an engine that should, in fact, last 4 years with any synthetic, provided it's changed every 150 hours. I don't even know how much it holds, that's just going by the 12 1/2 Kawasaki. The more the better for Kawasaki :D You'd figure they'd find a way to cram 6....7 quarts in there. Sure, your saying "Well Kawasaki has to pay for the oil." Well yeah, but even at 3 dollars a quart they would be making a chunk of money they never should have.

Now, I can see why you want to extend your warranty, but it seems to be at a cost. If it's worth it to you....fine. I just think it's a scam. It's just like Shindaiwa having a three month warranty, but upping it to 1 year if you buy a case of two cycle. What it boils down to is they don't want you running Otis' 30weight Coconut Oil in the machine. They want quality oil in it and that is their way of getting you to do it. Just seems a little greedy babysitting your oil changes and making a pretty good profit by doing so.

luckylawnboy wrote:
"Must be Super Oil"


More like Snake Oil



[Edited by Keith on 12-05-2000 at 11:30 AM]

[MOW ED]

Mobil-1 synthetic in all 4 cycle engines. Total hours=210 26efi
190 15hp command
650 25 command junk.

Walker fills their hydrostats with Mobil 1 at the factory on the new units.
GM fills their Corvettes with Mobil-1.
Porsche fills theirs too.

So do I.

[Keith]

Originally posted by Keith
Let say 750 hours a year =5 changes. Two quarts per change = 10 quarts per year x 4 years. That's $355

That should have been $333. I tried to round it to $335 and hit the 5 one too many times. :D Too late to edit it.

One more question, Has anyone blown a head gasket on a Kohler while using synthetic?

[Lawnnorder]

Used Amsoil 0W30 and filter on my 1995 Ferris with Kawi engine since new. 3300 hours later I have NEVER added oil between changes. Change oil and filter every six weeks. Will be doing oil samples next season because the dealer says this oil should be good for at least six months. Will see if he is right.

[Richard Martin]

Wow! That's the kind of data I was hopeing to see. I tried to find luckylawnboy's Kawasaki oil online but I had no luck. Kawasaki does sell a synthetic 10w30 oil for motorcycles and when I tried to see which engines are cleared to use it the web site said there are no restrictions on it's use. I wonder if that includes the engines we all use everyday.

I also went to Kohler's and B&S's web sites and both of those manufactures allow use of synthetics. I think someone is lying to me because both the Kawasaki rep and my local Kawasaki dealer told me that Kohler or B&S do not allow use of synthetics.

[Keith]

As far as I know Kohler actually markets a synthetic oil and recommends it in colder climates.

[bdemir]

Two of my engine have probaly a total of 3000-4500 hrs. Synthetics will prolong a life of any engine but give it different properties also. The engine will run coller but looser on the inside. This is why its not good to use synth oil on a new engine. The oil is bonding and does not give around places where regular oil does thus causing the engine to expand in certain areas. Although the longterm heat properties of sythetic oil is awesome. Most race engines will run much smoother and faster and some can not be run at all without syth oil. My advice would be to use high octane always and change oil often with synth, oil always. Mobil1 is my favorite and seems to be the smoothest at high rpms.

[Cutter1]

mobil 1!!

[mowin at the lake]

Mobil 1 10W 30 in every thing 2 52 toros 18hp koler hydro 881 & 1342 hours. 36 bunton 12.5 kaw 1800 hours
jd f620 20 hp koler 665 hours

[ericksonbrad@hotmail.com]

amsoil amsoil amsoil i cant stress it enough. we have been using it in everything for years now. other synthetics are good maybe just as good also but amsoil caters to commercial customers giving even better pricing than they give their dealers. they make you sign a form indicating that you will not use for resale. friends and family are ok if not for profit. we dont have a set change interval, since conditions with dust and heat vary i watch for oil to start changing color and then change it. we also send in samples to be tested from time to time and have found this to be an acceptable method. the drain intervals have gone up to 2.5 times recommended intervals at times. we also run in our personal vehicles and change every 7500 miles which is way too much according to the samples tested by amsoil but i figure it is a good number since i rotate tires every 7500 anyway. check out their warranty also! (not that it would ever be needed.) also i dont think that this could be used as liquid tune up or anything for older motors, it would be like feeding fine wine to a pig expecting him to appreciate it.

[jimsmowin]

amsoil in every thing, run 10,000 mile changes on all trucks - changed over at early miles 6,000 mi. changed tranny and engine gained on average 2-MILES PER GALLON no promblems with any equipment 22 hp kaw- 17 hp kaw- 27hp cub cadet disel- 3 6hp briggs - 1 5HP BRIGGS 5 years old-- does not use oil: what a mower ! 7 weed eaters echo 3 chain saws and on CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT AMSOIL.

[lawrence stone]

Amsoil is good stuff but I use Havoline Full syn at $3 quart in 4 cycle engines.

Spending $8 for a quart of oil is nutz.

[ericksonbrad@hotmail.com]

amsoil is not expensive if you buy at a retail store however if you buy from a rep in your area setting up a commercial account the price for amsoil drops alot. for example i pay 3.55 for any 10w30 40 50 and on strait 30, this is if you buy in smaller quantities if you buy in 30 or fifty gallon drums it goes down to about 3.44 and 3.27 respectively. also i have found their heavy duty grease to be excellent for holding up on the spindles and chassis, at 2.30 a tube i woudnt buy anything else. have never had to replace a spindle or bearing in over 8 years of business. the 100:1 runs about 4.70 a quart but remember a quart makes me 20 gallons of mix and im a little bit heavier per label on bottle for extreme usage.