Kohler engine
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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=172753
Printed Date: 28 Oct 2025 at 4:14pm
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Topic: Kohler engine
Posted By: DaveWisc.
Subject: Kohler engine
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 6:37pm
| Ok I know should put this in Garden part but I just got done using break in oil and need to change oil in the engine so.I bought by mistake 15/30 synthetic oil have never used synethiic oil so can use it in that old an engine.Thanks Dave |
Replies:
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 7:13pm
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If the Kohler is old ( K series), dump the new put in SAE30 or whatever Kohler says. While ANY engine will run with ANY type oil in it, you'll get best results using whatever type the MFR recommends .Brand of oil isn't important, it's the 'spec' that counts. Also if 'newly ' rebuilt, change the oil after say 50 hrs or whaterver the MFR says. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Brian G. NY
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 8:29pm
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You are probably opening up a big can of worms here. LOL Just remember, the oil spec'd for an old engine was probably the best available "at the time". I am a firm believer that today's motor oil has a lot to offer beyond what was available 'in the old days" so I use Mobil 1 10W30 in all my old Kohler engines. Most don't have oil pressure gauges but the Magnum 18 that I have does have and it runs higher oil pressure when hot while using synthetic oil. Wait while I put on my armor 'cause I am expecting at least some flack!
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Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2020 at 6:39am
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I don't know who recommends this, but have always heard it said. Recommendation. Conventional engine oil should always be used to break-in a new or rebuilt engine. ... Synthetic oil contains additives and friction modifiers that will slow down the break-in process. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: Brian G. NY
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 9:46am
I have always read that as well.
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CTuckerNWIL wrote:Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 9:51am
| I was always taught a 10W or 20W NON-DETERGENT for the break-in process and 50 hrs run time. |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 11:08am
Yeah. It's basically saying, the oil is so "good" and "protective" that your engine won't break in. (That juuuuuuust right amount of wear of rings seating and such). |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2020 at 11:35pm
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The biggest break-in problem people have with the K-series Kohler singles, is that they start them up and listen to them run, but don't put a proper load on them... hence, there's no significant combustion pressure to force the rings to seat. I haven't done any lately, but 20 years ago, I built a dozen or so, including the 'somewhat stronger' K241 in my 109 plow-pulling beastie. I did at least six 241's, several 301's, and a 341. I built all my K-singles for my Cub Cadet hydrostat (WF, NF, and QL series) tractors... and my process was to start them up just long enough to get timing and carb set, then hop on and head down the street, to a hill, run them up to governed speed, and advance the hydro until the engine started to pull down from high idle to governed speed, then run up that (quarter-mile) hill... then drive back down (basically coasting, right?), then repeating about four times. The return down the hill provided cooling time between 'pulls', but after four runs up the hill, I had seated rings. Kohler K-singles don't have oil filters... they just get changes. I used conventional for the break-in run up the hill and back, then drained and put in 10-30 Mobil 1. Aside from the fact that I beat the daylights out'a those motors, they all did fine... ------------- Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest. |