Oil for old engines

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   Been talking to a few guys about using synthetic oil vs. standard off the shelf oil in my Kohler 20 hp 2 cylinder ( 35 yrs old). Been using 10-30 Valvoline and change it a couple of times a year in my Toro Turf Truck ( dump box and blade). Pro's and Con's about the use...Also thinking about the engines in my WD ( 1950) and D-17 ( 1966).. any and all info would be helpful.   Rich-MN

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Rich-MN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Ramsey,MN Points: 3887	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rich-MN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Oil for old engines Posted: 07 Mar 2010 at 9:35am
	Been talking to a few guys about using synthetic oil vs. standard off the shelf oil in my Kohler 20 hp 2 cylinder ( 35 yrs old). Been using 10-30 Valvoline and change it a couple of times a year in my Toro Turf Truck ( dump box and blade). Pro's and Con's about the use...Also thinking about the engines in my WD ( 1950) and D-17 ( 1966).. any and all info would be helpful. Rich-MN

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Stan IL&TN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: Elvis Land Points: 6730	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stan IL&TN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Mar 2010 at 9:49am
	Synthetic is a superior lubricant over dino oil but there are some risks. Dino oil after a few years of use will apply a coating to the inside of the engine (some call it dino plating). It helps seal the gaskets from the inside. When synthetic oil is used it will clean off this dino plating and this could result in leaks should the old gaskets have cracks in them which are sealed by this dino coating from the inside of the engine. If you do make the switch you should run the engine as normal for a few hours and then change the oil filter as the filter could become loaded with all the stuff the synthetic oil is going to clean out. Even with those risks. I run it in my 1968 one-seventy and everthing else I have. It leaked oil before and that hasn't changed. LOL Some of that reasoning is that you will not have to change it as often as dino oil so it's less work if you have many engines to change the oil in. That's my 2 cents worth.

7060 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Location: Missouri Points: 1148	Post Options Post Reply Quote 7060 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Mar 2010 at 10:07am
	Ive heard that if you used high detergent oil in an engine that previously used conventional motor oil, it would break down the sludge, or dino plating inside and plug the pickup screen on the oilpump. I am not sure where I heard that, or weather its true. We've switched to Rotella in several engines with no problems so far. Synthetic is probably better but we usually use Rotella, but last time I used Mobil Delvac 1300. I even use 15w40 Rotella in both my gas pickups.

Brian Jasper co. Ia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Prairie City Ia Points: 10508	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brian Jasper co. Ia Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Mar 2010 at 11:28am
	Does the Kohler have an oil filter? The big reason for not switching oil brand/type is if the engine was running on non detergent oil and has sludge in it. Detergent oil will loosen the sludge and circulate it. I just cleaned out the bottom sump in a Wisconsin ACN engine that had so much sludge in it, I had to dig it out of the drain hole to drain the oil out. It was also very gritty stuff. Engines I want to start in cold weather get Mobil 1 0W-20 with BG MOA added. I do run Mobil 1 in my 27 hp Kohler on my lawn mower.
	"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford

Rich-MN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Ramsey,MN Points: 3887	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rich-MN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Mar 2010 at 4:11pm
	Thanks folks...and Brian the engine does have a filter...think that I will stick to the dino oil only use a lighter oil in the winter when I push snow...with summer comming up I usually change in the spring to "keep it clean", then in the fall after dusty use etc..Thanks again ALL.