2006 Toro Push/self propelled mower

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
Don't run a 5W-30 PCMO in your lawn mower. An air cooled lawn mower engine sees much higher oil temps than a car engine does, and the oil will get very thin. Use a good SAE 30 oil or an HDEO like Rotella.

I used M1 5-10-30 oils in my Honda walk behind with no problems. The mower is 22 years old. Your advise is not sound IMO. In fact I use this oil in my generator, riding mower, pressure washer with great results.

 

[lars11]

I think the splashability of sae 30 or 40 oil is very much alike when warm and since a 5w-40 synthetic will splash better than a straight 30 when cold, you made a really good choice with that T6.

It is better oil for that mower than a straight sae30 dino, even if the manual states sae30.

 

[wag123]

I'm the second guy who has been in the OPE business for a long time (25 years, Hondoman has me beat by 5 years), and I'm the third guy who will tell everyone to use a quality straight 30 weight high detergent motor oil in your lawnmower. The only OPE application that I can recommend a multi-weight motor oil for is something that gets used in the winter, like a snow blower or generator.
The problem is that ALL multi-weight oils (even synthetic oils) contain VII additive. High heat is the enemy of VII and will destroy it. In a high-load/high-heat application (like summer use of a mulching mower with an air-cooled engine), what you will eventually end up with is a 5 or 10 weight oil with high oil consumption and sludge buildup. A quality SAE 30 motor oil is the way to go in a lawnmower. It will stay in-grade when subjected to very high temperatures and will not sludge.

 

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: wag123
The problem is that ALL multi-weight oils (even synthetic oils) contain VII additive.


Oh dear, the can of worms has been opened.

 

[asharris7]

Originally Posted By: wag123
I'm the second guy who has been in the OPE business for a long time (25 years, Hondoman has me beat by 5 years), and I'm the third guy who will tell everyone to use a quality straight 30 weight high detergent motor oil in your lawnmower. The only OPE application that I can recommend a multi-weight motor oil for is something that gets used in the winter, like a snow blower or generator.
The problem is that ALL multi-weight oils (even synthetic oils) contain VII additive. High heat is the enemy of VII and will destroy it. In a high-load/high-heat application (like summer use of a mulching mower with an air-cooled engine), what you will eventually end up with is a 5 or 10 weight oil with high oil consumption and sludge buildup. A quality SAE 30 motor oil is the way to go in a lawnmower. It will stay in-grade when subjected to very high temperatures and will not sludge.


They don't sheer though...

 

[steve20]

2 experienced professionals, the owner's manual, and myself (X2) have advised straight 30---and what do you go out and do?
Why did you ask in the first place?

 

[Hokiefyd]

In deference to those who recommend SAE30, Tecumseh does only recommend SAE30 for their small engines. They're one of the few engine manufacturers who still do recommend a straight-grade oil, but they do. Briggs and Honda recommend some form of multi-grade in their engines.

That said, the Rotella T6 5W-40 won't hurt it a bit. Whatever you do is better than leaving the oil unchanged for seven years.