Oil Choice

[mikado463]

So my zero turn (Kawasaki) calls for 10w40, curious as to who's running what. full synthetic , blend or good old 'dinosour blood' ? are you adding zinc ?

 

[TheOldHokie]

This is what thev internet has wrought

 

[Trash Panda]

Before you guys start chiming in, lemme get my popcorn.

 

[leonard65]

Yeah, this could be a long one. I'll start 10 W30 Kubota Oil.

 

[Bee-Positive]

Hey mikado463 welcome to the forum.

If you haven't already guessed the topic of "type of oil" has been BEAT-TO-Death already. Try searching for older posts (by title).

Buy your favorite flavor of diesel engine oil and follow the maintenance guidelines in the Operators Manual. Just don't use non-diesel rated engine oil.

P.S. Same goes for Hydraulic Oil (Kubota SUDT 2 )

 

[85Hokie]

So my zero turn (Kawasaki) calls for 10w40, curious as to who's running what. full synthetic , blend or good old 'dinosour blood' ? are you adding zinc ?

It says 10w 40 ......... ok - use it!!!!

Three types of people here:

those that do not think synthetics are worth the price
those that are undecided and scared to use something different
those that read and UNDERSTAND data from experts about synthetics.


And with the popcorn and drink in hand, why the hell would you NOT use synthetic?

despite a couple bucks a quart more and in some cases less than conventional oil, it is superior in EVERY category from cold weather starting to withstanding thermal breakdown at higher heat,

For those that heard the ol BS that it causes seal failures and it is bad for new engines ......... look up the data rather than try to debunk that it is not better.

There is nothing wrong with conventional oils - but the bottom line is that synthetics are called for in more and more applications.

Here is a short list for those that cannot get a grip on reality of synthetic oils.


Vehicles that come from the factory with synthetic oil typically include:

• High-Performance & Luxury Models: Cars built for extreme power and track use almost exclusively use full synthetic oils from the factory. Brands include Porsche, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes-AMG, Nissan GT-R, Lexus LFA, Bentley, and Aston Martin.
• General Motors (GM): All Buick, Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet vehicles (especially those using the Dexos oil specification) utilize synthetic or synthetic blend factory fills.
• European Brands: Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz rely heavily on synthetic motor oils designed to withstand their tight-tolerance, long-interval service schedules.
• Hyundai & Kia: Modern vehicles from these brands come filled with full synthetic motor oil right off the assembly line.
• Ford: Many Ford vehicles, including the F-150 and high-performance models like the Mustang Shelby GT500, come with a synthetic blend or full synthetic (like Motorcraft) depending on the engine.

Do some reading on Zinc ....... flat tappet cams may need it, but too much is worst than not enough.

Whatever the book calls for will always get you to the finish line ........... HELL i KNOW people who STILL use straight 30 weight in their ford 8n's ........... cause that is what the book called for!!! AND those that did not read the manual carefully missed the part about adding a quart of kerosene in the winter so make the viscosity better in the cold.

 

[Kurtee]

Cenex Superlube TMS 15w40 Para-synthetic diesel engine oil. I have used this engine oil for years in every thing. Mowers, tillers, motorcycle, atv, tractors (Allis Chalmers, Kubota, and John Deere) Works for me. I took the time to study the safety data sheet of this and the recommended John Deere oil when I got the Z950R with Kawasaki engine and found the specs equivalent. I have run multi grade oils in all small engines since the first Snapper in 1976. The important thing is to change oil at proper intervals. I do not leave an engine sit through the winter with old oil, I change to have fresh uncontaminated oil when parked. I believe that the dirt and such settles to the bottom of the crankcase when parked.

 

[skeets]

The HD 20w50 M1

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Unless that Kawasaki is a diesel, two people on here have given you wrong advice.
Sx for spark-ignition engines, gas
Cx for compression-ignition engines, diesel

The rest is your choice.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

It says 10w 40 ......... ok - use it!!!!

Three types of people here:

those that do not think synthetics are worth the price
those that are undecided and scared to use something different
those that read and UNDERSTAND data from experts about synthetics.


And with the popcorn and drink in hand, why the hell would you NOT use synthetic?

despite a couple bucks a quart more and in some cases less than conventional oil, it is superior in EVERY category from cold weather starting to withstanding thermal breakdown at higher heat,

For those that heard the ol BS that it causes seal failures and it is bad for new engines ......... look up the data rather than try to debunk that it is not better.

There is nothing wrong with conventional oils - but the bottom line is that synthetics are called for in more and more applications.

Here is a short list for those that cannot get a grip on reality of synthetic oils.


Vehicles that come from the factory with synthetic oil typically include:

• High-Performance & Luxury Models: Cars built for extreme power and track use almost exclusively use full synthetic oils from the factory. Brands include Porsche, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes-AMG, Nissan GT-R, Lexus LFA, Bentley, and Aston Martin.
• General Motors (GM): All Buick, Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet vehicles (especially those using the Dexos oil specification) utilize synthetic or synthetic blend factory fills.
• European Brands: Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz rely heavily on synthetic motor oils designed to withstand their tight-tolerance, long-interval service schedules.
• Hyundai & Kia: Modern vehicles from these brands come filled with full synthetic motor oil right off the assembly line.
• Ford: Many Ford vehicles, including the F-150 and high-performance models like the Mustang Shelby GT500, come with a synthetic blend or full synthetic (like Motorcraft) depending on the engine.

Do some reading on Zinc ....... flat tappet cams may need it, but too much is worst than not enough.

Whatever the book calls for will always get you to the finish line ........... HELL i KNOW people who STILL use straight 30 weight in their ford 8n's ........... cause that is what the book called for!!! AND those that did not read the manual carefully missed the part about adding a quart of kerosene in the winter so make the viscosity better in the cold.

I don't cut grass in the winter, so no need to spend more $$ on synthetic. Yes, I ram SAE30 in my 2N and 8N, again never used in winter.

 

[lmichael]

Yes the Kawasaki is a gasoline not a diesel engine. That being said I use Rotella T6 in all my small engines. Not for any other reason but to cut down on what I need to buy and keep on my shelf

 

[Trash Panda]

Good.

This is progressing nicely!

 

[nbryan]

Yes the Kawasaki is a gasoline not a diesel engine. That being said I use Rotella T6 in all my small engines. Not for any other reason but to cut down on what I need to buy and keep on my shelf

The T6 "diesel engine additives" are ok on small gas engines? No harm?

 

[Runs With Scissors]

are you adding zinc ?

Hmmm…..never heard of this…..

 

[lmichael]

The T6 "diesel engine additives" are ok on small gas engines? No harm?

Of course no harm. You likely would NOT want to use T-6 on say a brand new gas engine/hybrid vehicle as there is no way it can meet the specialized demands modern gas engines place. Things like Stop Start, or how a hybrid is constantly cycling it's ICE engine even going down the road.
So yeah there is no way I'd ever put it in my Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. But on your little 2 cyl Kaw engine it's fine. No need to go out of your way to buy it. I simply use it because I used to have a lot of other small gas engined lawn and garden equipt, in ADDTION to my Kubota. Well I'm not about to be buying specific oils for the gas engine lawn mower, snow blower, what have you. Gonna use T-6 across the board. Though I no longer have much L&G equipt with gas engines. I am trying to eliminate all that and go electric. So I have a battery electric walk behind Toro mower, battery electric edger, blower and snow blower. Only things I have burning gas or diesel now are my Inverter generator and large pressure washer. But even there, I will be installing a full battery backup power system on my house this summer, and if I can find a battery large pressure washer I'll go with it as well. Hoping to eliminate all my ICE equipt and vehicles BTW EXCEPT for my Kubota which will need to be pried from my cold dead hands along with my guns

 

[Trash Panda]

Hmmm…..never heard of this…..

View attachment 175048

I think my wife has that stuff in pill bottles in the bathroom.

I’m gonna crush some up and go add it to my tractor and 6.7 right now. Seems like a foolproof idea to make better oil!

🫠

 

[William1]

The best advice is to change it regularly. Viscosity, based on temp extremes.
Which oil? Does not really matter. Though new is strongly suggested.

 

[JasonW]

 

[85Hokie]

For those that INSIST on using DIESEL oil:

Pay attention to this :

 

[skeets]

OK so what diesel eral should we use ?