Lawnmower Oil Question
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Post Fiend
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Lawnmower Oil Question
I bought a lawnmower off my dad that he bought brand new in 1985. It is a Honda mower that bags and is self-propelled. My question is that on the top of the engine there is a sticker that says "For maximum engine life and performance use ONLY Optimal Four-cycle engine lubricant". I don't know when the last time he changed the oil on it was and was wondering what I should use. Is 10W-30 fine or should I use something else? Thanks.
-Matt
-Matt
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
My B&S manuals all say that 10w-30 is fine, but the engines will burn more oil. They recommend straight 30w.
Any SJ-SL 30w should do just fine. Or use the 10w-30 if you've already got it. Just pay attention to your oil level.
Any SJ-SL 30w should do just fine. Or use the 10w-30 if you've already got it. Just pay attention to your oil level.
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My B & S manual (Toro Mower) calls for 30W. Have an old gas powered edger that I bought from Grants 5 & dime store back in 1967. Paid $29.00 for it. Still has the Grant name on the back housing. Has a little Briggs & Stratton engine. Use 30W oil and change annually. Have had to change belts, wheels on the edger itself, but never touched the engine. Run it every week and starts right up. Keep the filter clean and throw in a new plug every year. That little B & S seems to be happy with 30W 
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Beast12, I will assume that the Honda mower is the model HR214 as this was one of their most popular models and is virtually bulletproof. Out of the Honda owners manual ( I have a 1986), Honda recommends for an all purpose oil to use a high detergent 10w-40 or 20w-50 for the usual summer months. If you are using it at below 0F, they recommend 10w-30. I have used Mystic JT-8 for all of these years in the 15w-40. FWIW, I also use premium gas with 8oz of VP fuels C-5 additive per 5 gallons. It is a stablizer and has the old timey lead in it for the valves. It also removes any carbon deposits. The Honda engine is known for smoking on startup because of the valves, mine doesn't-yet. Do not let the cables for the controls get wet as they will rust from the inside. I keep mine lubed with a pure silicon call "IT". I'm not sure how long these things last but I am on the third set of wheels and it only gets run over grass. I have yet to take it in for any work including tune-up. It get the oil changed every year and the air filter cleaned at spring and the gas tank flushed. Otherwise, one pull on the rope and it's off to work I go.Hope this info is useful.
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Post Fiend
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Originally Posted by Flash
Beast12, I will assume that the Honda mower is the model HR214 as this was one of their most popular models and is virtually bulletproof. Out of the Honda owners manual ( I have a 1986), Honda recommends for an all purpose oil to use a high detergent 10w-40 or 20w-50 for the usual summer months. If you are using it at below 0F, they recommend 10w-30. I have used Mystic JT-8 for all of these years in the 15w-40. FWIW, I also use premium gas with 8oz of VP fuels C-5 additive per 5 gallons. It is a stablizer and has the old timey lead in it for the valves. It also removes any carbon deposits. The Honda engine is known for smoking on startup because of the valves, mine doesn't-yet. Do not let the cables for the controls get wet as they will rust from the inside. I keep mine lubed with a pure silicon call "IT". I'm not sure how long these things last but I am on the third set of wheels and it only gets run over grass. I have yet to take it in for any work including tune-up. It get the oil changed every year and the air filter cleaned at spring and the gas tank flushed. Otherwise, one pull on the rope and it's off to work I go.Hope this info is useful.
-Matt
P.S. Maybe I should drain the oil and send it in for an analysis!
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wow you guys mowers last a long time. i run mobil 1 full syn. in my Sears 25horse garden tractor i use for mowing and towing jobs all spring through summer. Change it once a year and it barely gets dirty. It also has an oil filter though. I love them newer twin cylinder models man they are fast and instant startup. Talk about bulletproof , you should see my tractor. its been plowed into all kinds of stuff, run fast (6 speed) over yards with nothing but deep and bumpy terrain....not a single damn scratch. i got it on sale for 1999.99 when it was originally 2999.99 and i remember it being that much!!
Last edited by mustangsvt; Jun 14, 2004 at 04:35 AM.
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Post Fiend
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Originally Posted by Flash
Beast12, I will assume that the Honda mower is the model HR214 as this was one of their most popular models and is virtually bulletproof.
-Matt
EDIT: I did a search and came up with this Honda page: http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/ownlaw.htm Has owner's manuals for all the Honda mowers (even mine!)
Last edited by Beast12; Jun 14, 2004 at 04:28 PM.
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Mountain Pass
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From: Southwestern Ontario
Honda Mower
Hey Beast, How are ya? I also have a Honda mower, same model and an 89 year. I used to use the Optimal 30wt but switched to Mobil one 15w50 syn. Really you could use that or a straight 30wt dino and be fine. As for the cables, take off the little rubber caps under the control levers and dribble some oil in there. I just use what ever is left over from my vehicle and use a pump oiler or dripper oil can. Then run the cables through their motions to move the oil along. And keep the blade sharp. Mine works like a much more powerful machine in thick grass with a sharp blade. Later!
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From: Southern California.. Nea
Straight 30 or 20-50 in the summer ( I assume that is when we are mowing). Let it warm up for a minute before mowing.. air cooled engines run at high tempatures and you need to let them get up to temp just a little before putting them under load. They will last a long time if you do..
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Mojave, you are talking riding mowers right? Is it good to start them in low throttle and let it idle for a good 2-3 minutes before mowing to get it warmed?? ive had mine for a year and ive always started it in low. Mostly because a lot less noise and i always think its good for it.
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From: Minnesota
I always start an engine at low throttle if possible. Shut it down at low throttle also. Many newer engines require full throttle to activate the choke. As soon as it starts I put her down. A full throttle at startup creates more wear since the oil is not up in the engine and a full throttle at shutdown washes the cylinders with gas - not something you want especially if you are going to restart it at full throttle. Some may disagree, but that was the way I was taught.
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i always start my sears 25horse in low throttle, as low as it will go. if you dont, usually mine will chug (if its cold), also to take care of that run some carb cleaner through it, it helped mine. thats a good point since the oil is not all the way up in the engine, but i have full pressurized lubrication with filter. Would it still not be all the way up there?
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Post Fiend
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Well, my manual says to use Honda 4 Stroke or an equivalent high detergent, premium quality motor oil certified to meet or exceed U.S. Automobile Manufacturer's requirements for service classification SE or SF. SAE 10W-40 is recommended.
So I went a bought some Castrol Motor oil. It's called Castrol Grand Prix. It is a 4 stroke Motorcycle oil that is SAE 10W-40. It says it exceeds the API service SG. Which I assume is better than SE or SF.
So this should be good? They had lawnmower oil there but it was 20W-50 and had a different API service. I think the motorcycle oil has more cleaning detergents.
It is also "Engineered for performance"!!! Great! Now I can cut my grass in half the time!
-Matt
So I went a bought some Castrol Motor oil. It's called Castrol Grand Prix. It is a 4 stroke Motorcycle oil that is SAE 10W-40. It says it exceeds the API service SG. Which I assume is better than SE or SF.
So this should be good? They had lawnmower oil there but it was 20W-50 and had a different API service. I think the motorcycle oil has more cleaning detergents.
It is also "Engineered for performance"!!! Great! Now I can cut my grass in half the time!
-Matt
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From: NE JERSEY
Originally Posted by Beast12
I bought a lawnmower off my dad that he bought brand new in 1985. It is a Honda mower that bags and is self-propelled. My question is that on the top of the engine there is a sticker that says "For maximum engine life and performance use ONLY Optimal Four-cycle engine lubricant". I don't know when the last time he changed the oil on it was and was wondering what I should use. Is 10W-30 fine or should I use something else? Thanks.
-Matt
-Matt
After reading the posts here I was about to go with a higher weight Mobil 1 15w50.
Checked my manual and it recommends 10w30 should be used or a straight 30w in hot weather.
I'll stick with the Mobil 1 10w30.