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Oil for old engines

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Topic: Oil for old engines

Posted By: Rich-MN
Subject: Oil for old engines
Date 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

Replies:

Posted By: Stan IL&TN
Date 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.

Posted By: 7060
Date 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.

Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date 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.

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"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

Posted By: Rich-MN
Date 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.