Mower Maintenance

[Geoff]

Or even Triple QX 5W30 Semi Synthetic Engine Oil (5 Litre) Price: £14.70 Free Delivery
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triple-QX-5w3 ... 43ae7d8a2c

Must find my manual and see if it agrees, snowdrift against the garage door at the moment.

[Ricard with an H]

Good find Geoff.

I've been overly suspicious about this oil market. Certain car manufacturers recommending the use of a particular brand is admirable if you're apathetic to marketing. Then we have the insistence that you change your oil every year regardless of mileage.

How about B&S recommending we change the oil every fifty hours, then they also recommend us using some naff oil they source, overprice it, and stick their name on it.

I'm grumpy today.

[Clive.]

I am no oil boffin...but several years ago, I suspect with Honda specifying 10w40 or was it 10w30, I seem to think some B&S engines appeared with 10w30 listed on the label....and then I think later this went back to sae30..due to high oil usage with 10w30.

Given that some owners never check the oil...high usage would more quickly make things go rattle bang due to no oil...whilst perhaps the sae30 lasted a bit longer 'til something else went a bit wrong and by chance the oil got a check. The number of machines we used to see in for other attention but additionally with low oil is where my thinking comes from here. Current machinery is generally a lot more oil tight than those of 20+years ago that I was used to.

I tend to use sae30 at work...and often sae20w50 at home. 20w50 used to be a good 30 equivalent in older mowers and at a good price but I suspect it is now higher priced as a specialist oil.

We used the red coloured B&S sae30 for a few years and it seemed to be a good oil. Our local agent was purveying it at a good price then...not sure if there was glut of it in UK.? or wonder if it was a way to bulk up spares orders from a B&S provider.?

Currently have a tin of Comma classic 30..really a car oil...but the car shop is on my route and the mower shop isn't..... Used same last year, seems quite ok...... However I think it is non detergent whilst I have a feeling that B&S is detergent.???

Anyway, we are on older pedestrian machines...all splash lubricated and not fitted with oil filters.

I do use a "thinner" multigrade in the engine on our power barrow..due to its Winter time useage.

Clive.

[richard p]

i just trot into asda or wilinson and buy a gallon of whatever multigrade is the cheapest... cant remember ever scrapping a mower due to a worn out engine, tis more likely to die from carb or ignition or rusted deck

couple of years ago my lawnflight rideon deck rusted out... i cut the centre two thirds out of one deck and the outside two thirds from another one , bolted the two together and plastered it with the black fibre filled paint gunk you use on flat roofs, it looks good for a few more years.

[Geoff]

Finally dug into the garage and found the manual:

We recommend the use of a high quality detergent oil classified "For Service SE, SF,SG" *, such as Briggs & Stratton 30 weight oil. Detergent oils keep the engine cleaner and retard formation of gum and varnish deposits. No special additives should be used with recommended oils.
Air cooled engines run hotter than automotive engines. Use of multi-viscosity oils (10W-30, etc.) above 40ºF (4ºC) will result in high oil consumption and possible engine damage. Check oil level more frequently if using these types of oils.
SAE 30 oil, if used below 40ºF (4ºC), will result in hard starting and possible engine bore damage due to inadequate lubrication.

* Don't know what that means, probably American

It appears sticking with SAE 30 is a low risk strategy. Can get it on eBay at a reasonable price but quite high PP. I'm thinking of getting it, some chainsaw chain oil, some 2-Stroke oil and persuading the neighbours they really need some to spread the shipping cost (Max shipping £9.50)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAWNMOWER-HOR ... 53f62ac04c

[Ricard with an H]

Thanks again for that Geoff, pity we aren't close neighbours Eh ?

My ride-on deck is due it's third coat of bitumen paint today and lot's of extra in the nooks and crannies. Of-course we won't know until the end of the season if it's been effective but i'm going to do a deck service in the middle of summer so I can report.

In the mean time my ride-on is to be put tractor duties hauling cow-poo and sand so it'll get an oil service on one of those days when it's nice and hot.

Regards
Mower-man