What oil do you use?

[Merkava_4]

How do you guys figure out how many hours is on your equipment?

Do you guys have hour meters on everything?

[kylecal91]

I use Amsoil in everything. Figure it's a cheap alternative to using cheap oil. I use all synthetic even in my diesels, runs cooler, better performance, longer life... the list goes on and on. I recommend Amsoil but any good name brand synthetic is good. Just look at the price first, that will tell you which one to buy...

[P&C Lawn Care]

Used to used Mobil 1 full synthetic but that got expensive, now we use Supertech (Walmart) synthetic for all gas engines and Rotello synthetic for diesel.

[65hoss]

Regular Rotella 15w-40 and Opti 2 on 2cycle.

[a_mow_zing]

Originally Posted by SangerLawn

We use Pennzoil in all of our mowers. Change oil every Tuesday. Been doing this for 4 years.

We also have been using Super Tech boat out board oil for all of our 2cycle engines for about 6 years now. I was told by several mechanics that out board oil is the best way to go on any 2cycle engines that you are going to be running hard. We haven’t had any problems out of any of the equipment and a lot of stuff has out lived there life expectances. Considering its $11.00 per gallon and making our stuff live longer then its supposed too, I came to the conclusion that is a great deal.

I hope you do realize that outboard oil is intended for water cooled engines only, right? I would guess that these mechanics are dealer mechanics trying to sell more new machines.

[grassman177]

every machine has an hour meter, of course. only cheaper models dont. of course it is easy to add one so i recommend it

[rcslawncare]

I run the Kohler straight 30, and Stihl synthetic in the handhelds. I change every 50 since I don't rack up hours as fast due to part time use.

[DLCS]

Gas engines straight 30 Valvoline, every 100hrs oil and filter. Diesel every 250 hrs for oil and filter. I use the recomended JD oil for the diesel.


If you need a hour meter get a Tiny Tach.

[CoupesCuts]

Originally Posted by kylecal91

I use Amsoil in everything. Figure it's a cheap alternative to using cheap oil. I use all synthetic even in my diesels, runs cooler, better performance, longer life... the list goes on and on. I recommend Amsoil but any good name brand synthetic is good. Just look at the price first, that will tell you which one to buy...

Do you have any proof that the synthetic makes you engine run longer? I hear everyone saying this but I have never found someone who has run two of the same engines side by side on synthetic and one conventional.

[CoupesCuts]

Originally Posted by grassman177

we are at 50 hrs oil and filter, using , hell i dont remember but it works. i know our oil is plenty dirty at 50 and could never go 100hrs, that is way long. our engines state at 50hr intervals except the diesels go 100, but conversly it states 200 on them but we like fresh oil.

we dont get much past about 1200-1600 hrs on a air cooled engine though b4 you can tell it has worked alot, have blown a few that had issues, but over all they still run but we get new mowers at that point.

This is the problem I'm running into. I was using Quaker State SAE 30 and by 50hrs it was black. I could never make it to the 100hr interval. So I decided since I like the Opti-2 so much, I'd try the Opti-4. It's not synthetic like most people think. Even after using that (which is way expensive) I couldn't make it past the 50hr mark. This is why I started this thread so I could find out what is working for you guys out there. Am I going to get 100hrs out of a synthetic? Or should I just go back to my Quaker State and change it often. Which is better? Or is there another option?