We run NAPA 20-50 dino in all our Kaws and Kolhers, used to run Pepboys before that.....All API approved. You can use syn if it makes you feel better, but with out proper maintenance it won't make the engine last any longer.....
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Without going into too much detail, Yes.

IF you are going the 10w-30 route OR the 15w-40 route temp depending on mower Manual spec.

I use ROTELLA 10w-30 T4 and/or 15w-40 T4 and............. add 4 ounces of Lucas TB Zinc-Plus Engine Break-In Additive | Problem Solvers & Utility Lubricants | Lucas Oil Center to each GALLON of the Rotella T4.

ALWAYS Shake the bottles before blending, AND again before adding the final mix to your engines.

Flat Tappet Lifters as well as Roller Lifters with needle bearings will benefit greatly!

The ZDDP is anti wear. The Calcium in the Rotella T4 is anti acid.

Maintain change intervals regardless of the extra protection with this mix!

Keep Intake screens and air cooling passages CLEAN.

At least a 1 minute engine "idle cool down" during hot weather use, or hard mowing.

Been doing this for Decades.

The ZDDP oil Diesel blends are Frowned Upon heavily for usage in autos with Catalytic Converters, as it damages the Catalyst....so MANY auto oils have levels of ZDDP that is considered LOW for FLAT TAPPET Lifter engines.


NOT for engines with an INTERNAL WET Clutch. Too slick!

 

At least a 1 minute engine "idle cool down" during hot weather use, or hard mowing.

 

I run full synthetic 20w50 motorcycle oil in anything aircooled. Used to run redline brand, now I run Lucas

 

Use exactly whatever the manual tells you to use.

I know from experience….

 

Agreed.

i always buy the oil the manual recommends for my engine and environment temperature.

so i run Kawasaki k tech 20w40 in my kawis, and briggs 10w30 in my timemaster with a briggs engine.

When i had the redhawk with a kohler, i ran kohler oil, i forgot the weight though.

 

I run Mobile 1 10-40 high mileage oil as I think they add more zinc to it.

 

It won’t matter. I run Mobil 1 5w30 in everything snow and lawn. Better starting and flow on short warm up and covers cool morning and other temp fluctuations.

 

I hope my experience is abnormal but I was running automotive 10/30 in my Honda 21 and while I don’t use a 21 except for very specific needs it didn’t last a year on auto oil. In the fall I use a push much more often and I believe the rings wore thin and failed all at once. Really hope you caught this in time, or I hope my situation wasn’t the norm.

 

Hmmm, so no great consensus. I always use synthetic, but is is regular automotive. But, I can easily switch to Rotella T6 synthetic, as I use that in my truck. I hear that may have more zinc. I will have to see if Bobistheoilguy.com has some info.

 

Hmmm, so no great consensus. I always use synthetic, but is is regular automotive.

No surprise there......

So go buy some lawn mower oil......
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I think the Rotella guys are running T4. T6 I think is avaialable in either 5w-40 or 15w-40. I wouldn't run T6 in air cooled mowers without a little more info. T6 is designed for modern diesels with sensitive EGR and DEF sytems and may have less zinc. I run oil designed for air cooled engines in my mowers and ATV's, a lot higher oil temps in theses motors.

 

Probably not wise to roll the dice on oil not formulated for air cooled engines, especially after likely increased wear on the rings and cylinders. I would go straight to a very high quality small engine oil immediately in any engine that ran even one season with automotive oil.

 

@Breezmeister , did you find my suggestion alarmist or incorrect?

 

I find it ill-informed.......
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Have used engine oil for 40 years, never wore out an engine due to using car oil as opposed to lawn mower oil.......

 

I ran Mobil1 in 3 Kawasaki big blocks, and an fx801 with zero issues, for various amounts of time. That being said, I have switched to K-tech 10-40 for all the reasons listed.

....yeah I know... that's not much help

 

I run k tech for the zinc additives. I currently run 10w-40 but might switch to 15w-50 in summer for even higher temperature rating.

 

Stumbling in on this conversation.
I run a commercial lawn service in Georgia and I go thru alot of oil. Hot southern days and 75-100 hr oils change intervals. I have multiple mowers with Kawasaki 38.5 and Kawasaki 26 Vanguard 37 efi on them.
With the amount of services i perform i was thinking of going with Rotella t5 semi synthetic. The Kawasaki 20w50 is about $95 for a case of 12. I can get the rotella t5 in gallons for $19. So about $60 for 12 qts. Versus the $95 for Kawi oil. The benefit of keeping things a little more simple and buying cheaper by the gallon would be a benfit because im already running this in the trucks. Whats yalls thoughts on going that route. Are there any other commercial guys on here that run rotella in the mowers.