Oil for Kaw 651

[wallyuwl]

Been looking for oil for my new Gravely ZT XL 42". Great mower, only problem I've had is the tires tear up the lawn a bit if I turn too sharp, and the bagger clogged when the grass was a little wet.

Anyway, I have been thinking about the first oil change even though it is probably a year away. I am up to 4.5 hours and bought it in May. It was very dry June and July, but even in a normal year I would put on about 10-12 hours.

I noticed Costco has their Kirklands 15W-40 HD oil on sale starting Sept 2. Any thoughts on this? Or should I stick with T6 or something? I don't think the Kirklands HD is synthetic, and not sure about going 15w (or 5w with T5 or T6) instead of 10W which the book recommends.

Thoughts?

 

[jeepman3071]

15w40 would work perfect in that engine, I use 15w40 in most of the Kawasaki powered mowers I service.

 

[racer12306]

I have a 691 in my Gravely, same basic engine. Many will tell you never use less that a xxW40 in a Kawasaki, it'll burn oil.

I've yet to agree with that and have used Amsoil Small Engine 10w30 it's entire life on 100hr intervals. High recommendation for this oil. Currently at 360hrs (still a baby really).

I originally started with this oil when it was labeled as 10w30/SAE 30 dual rated oil.

 

[MParr]

Did you get a Kawasaki engine owners manual with your machine?
Anyway, Kawasaki recommends 10W40. 20W50 can be used if the engine is using oil or when there is high ambient air temperature.
So, 10W40, 15W40, 15W50, or 20W50.

 

[gman2304]

15w40 would work perfect in that engine, I use 15w40 in most of the Kawasaki powered mowers I service.

I’ve used Rotella T5 15w40 in my 25 year old Kawasaki 501V with ( estimating here ) 2,000 hours and it still runs like new. It’s used about 9 months a year and pulls a Cyclone Rake for leaf pick up as well as a John Deere 80 lawn cart and a 40 inch plugger in the fall.

 

[Arch Stanton]

Did you get a Kawasaki engine owners manual with your machine?
Anyway, Kawasaki recommends 10W40. 20W50 can be used if the engine is using oil or when there is high ambient air temperature.
So, 10W40, 15W40, 15W50, or 20W50.

They also recommend doing the first oil change at five hours.

 

[spasm3]

I'm running amsoil AME 15w40 in my kaw 651-V

 

[cptbarkey]

Have 5w50 Castrol Edge in a FE290, and 10w60 Total Quartz in a FV600. 15w40 will go in once I run out or come to my senses.

 

[racer12306]

Did you get a Kawasaki engine owners manual with your machine?
Anyway, Kawasaki recommends 10W40. 20W50 can be used if the engine is using oil or when there is high ambient air temperature.
So, 10W40, 15W40, 15W50, or 20W50.

Did You Do A "Break-In" Oil Change On Your Riding Lawn Mower/Zero-Turn?

With about 20 hours on my new 2022 Gravely ZT-XL (42", 21.5 HP Kawasaki FR651V 726cc air-cooled v-twin, Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 transaxles) that I bought in September when we moved into our new-to-us house on 1.1 acres, I'm considering going ahead and changing the oil and filter soon. I've decided...

bobistheoilguy.com

I posted the temp chart in this thread. There’s many options depending on your temp window.

 

[MParr]

Did You Do A "Break-In" Oil Change On Your Riding Lawn Mower/Zero-Turn?

With about 20 hours on my new 2022 Gravely ZT-XL (42", 21.5 HP Kawasaki FR651V 726cc air-cooled v-twin, Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 transaxles) that I bought in September when we moved into our new-to-us house on 1.1 acres, I'm considering going ahead and changing the oil and filter soon. I've decided...

bobistheoilguy.com

I posted the temp chart in this thread. There’s many options depending on your temp window.

I’ve seen the chart.