RedLine Racing in a new air cooled engine?...

[Blokey]

I understand that air cooled engines run best on straight weight oils, i.e.: 30 wt.

I just replaced the clapped out old Kawasaki FB-460V single cylinder 12.5 hp engine in my SCAG 36 mower with a brand new Kawasaki FH381V-S21 "Kai" V-twin 13 hp engine; with
I was thinking of using RL 30 wt "racing" oil in the mower when I change its oil at the end of the season. I like the idea of its high moly, low detergent, synthetic formula and think it would be a good oil to run in an engine of this type. What do y'all think?

 

[Brett Miller]

Unless your going to change it very frequently, I wouldn't do it. Racing oil most likely does not have corrosion inhibitors your engine needs for infrequent use. Better choices would be Amsoil ASE or Rotella T 10w30.

 

[Dr_No]

and detergents

 

[flatlandtacoma]

I'm not sure why you think you want low detergent?

 

[Blokey]

OK, my bad, air cooled engines don't like lots of VIIs, is that correct? I know there was some component of oil that you don't want too much of for use in air cooled engines and I was thinking it was detergents.

OK, in addition to ASE and Rotella T, how about motorcycle oils? I'm also considering RP Max-Cycle as it's formulated for air cooled motorcycle V-twins, plus it's the only oil of that type that's available in 10w30, most seem to be 20W-50.

 

[Steelhead]

Redline ester based and Amsoil PAO based multi vis. oils have very little if any VIIs. multi vis. is a characteristic of PAO/ester tech.
use the 10w40 Redline and be happy.

or just use a HDEO 15w40 since most of us don't mow in the snow and ice. 15w40 HDEOs have little VIIs in formulations

 

[Craig in Canada]

Many PAO based 10W30s may indeed have no VIIs and actually be straight 30W. This is the case with Amsoil ASE which I'm using in my Honda masters.

Since you don't seem to be avoiding high priced or boutique lubes, consider the Amsoil. Amsoil is one of the few to actually state that it is VII free but I wouldn't be surprised if a lot more PAO 10W30s weren't.

Craig.

 

[harrydog]

I agree with Steelhead. Redline 10w40 would be a great choice. POE basestocks are excellent for the high temps that you'll likely have with an air cooled engine.

 

[Steve S]

Get the oil changed soon . You don't need racing oil. Use the Amsoil 30 wt "HDEO" or the diesel marine 15w/40 if you want or Redline street oil or any HDEO as a matter of fact.

 

[Lonnie]

I save every little bit of Red Line 5w30 oil during an oil change and put it in my lawn mower. My non contact thermometer read lower temps on the crankcase than conventional 10w30. I have no idea if that proves anything but my mower gets what ever synthetic oil I'm using in the cars. Soon it's going to get RLI 5w30. This change I want to do because that lawn mower lives in the back yard and I think it will be better for the enviornment.