Which type of oil ?

[GoatDriver]

Detergent oil should be used with filtered units, as it keeps sludge, trash, and wear particles suspended in the oil itself, therefore carrying it to the filter for removal. Without a filter, detergent oils will continually bathe your internal engine parts with all the suspended trash and wear particles, letting them work their way into your bearings, etc....and common sense tells us that that is not a good thing for any engine.

Non-detergent oil does not suspend theses particles in the oil but allows them to settle in the bottom of the oil reservoir of the engine avoiding the repeated "bathing" of the internal parts in the trash and wear particles...and common sense tells us here that that is better for less wear.

There are applications for both oils, use the correct one for the application at hand.



"While many mechanics and dealers only work with detergent motor oil, non-detergent oils are still prevalent and useful in many applications. In fact, non-detergent oils are most often used with appliances that require gasoline, such as lawnmowers and tractors. Another common non-detergent oil is two-stroke oil, which is frequently used in motorcycles and aquatic vehicles.

.... non-detergent oil helps protect the life of your engine by ensuring that it runs at a cooler temperature. The low pour point of the oil safeguards it from freezing at low temperatures. Similarly, because non-detergent oil has a higher viscosity index, it does not thin out at higher temperatures.

While non-detergent motor oil may not perform all of the cleaning functions that detergent oil does, it plays a vital role in protecting your equipment investment. As long as you change your oil on a regular basis, it doesn’t matter whether you decide to use detergent or non-detergent oil for your engine. But if you want oil that’s optimal for protecting your equipment and keeps your equipment running as efficiently as possible, stick with non-detergent oil."

- See more at: http://www.cardwelldist.com/dev/Cardwell-Blog/Non-Detergent-Oils-101-Find-Out-If-They-Are-Right-For-Your-Equipment#sthash.btxJfH5W.dpuf

[RoyM]

I respectfully disagree. Non detergent oils are for use in such things as air compressors and pressure washer pumps where there are no combustion by products. They are not designed for high temperature environments like an internal combustion engine. The detergents break down these harmful deposits and keep them suspended so they can be drained with the oil. If abrasion occurs and/or sludge accumulates, the oil is not being changed as frequently as it should.

[AandPDan]

Just because you find something on the internet it does not make it true.

Check your owners manual if you have any doubts but Briggs, and virtually EVERY small engine manufacturer, has required DETERGENT motor oil for more than 50 years.

What a "distributing company" knows about motor oil is something else to consider.

Marc - 1986 isn't really "old".

[bgsengine]

I agree with RoyM - 30 years experience outta count for something - The ONLY time we have specified Non-Detergent oil in an engine is during initial break-in after a rebuild.... and that oil gets changed out after the first 5 hours of run time, then we go to Non-Detergent oils -

The main reason being - initial break-in results in the most particles in the oil - which we DO want to drop out of suspension - But as said, non-detergent oils will break down and degrade much more quickly - Thus, the oil change after the first 5 hours in which we'll run the engine to get oil warm and then immediately drain - outta see all the shiny particles coming out with that oil - then we'll refill with fresh DETERGENT oil.

I have seen engines with under 25 hours , running non-detergent oil, the oil comes out black and thick as tar, and a nice thick layer of sludge in the pan. They get a second oil change after an hour's run time and that fresh oil when drained comes out like ribbon candy - the old black sludge from the non-det oil being pulled out by the detergents and dispersants in the detergent oil.

(and we KNOW they were running non-detergent, as those few customers, who have been educated otherwise by show and tell had been buying and using non-detergent oil, from the same thinking that results in blog posts like the one linked.)

[GoatDriver]

....Just because you find something on the internet it does not make it true....

Just because you read something in a book does not make it true either.....somebody typed the book up, just as somebody typed the content on the web.



As with most other things today...common sense is no longer used nor applied.

[bgsengine]

....Just because you find something on the internet it does not make it true....

Just because you read something in a book does not make it true either.....somebody typed the book up, just as somebody typed the content on the web.



As with most other things today...common sense is no longer used nor applied.

Umm, the Manufacturer's own manual recommends detergent motor oil.. Common Sense would dictate to use the oil the manufacturer recommends.

then you have experienced professionals that have seen and had actual experience with the effects of using either type, and THOSE pros also recommend using detergent oil...

I'd think common sense would tend to indicate experience of many pros some with over 50 years in the industry under their belts might somewhat outweigh the opinion of a single blogger whose sole purpose is to TRY TO SELL THEIR OIL..

[KE4AVB]

Hope no nobody spills any water or start crying as this thread is getting very slippery now. Sorry couldn't resist.

Good discussion; although, personally I found to use what the manufacture recommends as for a particular equipment. They had done a lot testing over the years and should their equipment than any of us in the field. Even though it seem sometimes they don't listen to our input on problems they do; at least I hope they do.

[GoatDriver]

And it could be that even the "companies" have been fed information or have fed information themselves that will push the use of one product over the other....y'all just don't get it...its all man and man has been proven thru all history to be manipulative and loving of change to make himself "look" better.

[creia]

Goatdriver,
Just to be clear...
Are you saying that 104 years of Briggs and Stratton R & D is wrong?
Michael

[Matt]

in lawnmowers and almost all outdoor equipment, i use a 15w40 diesel oil. its commonly on sale everywhere you go. its lubricity specs are second to none. that said, some of the new engines "suggest" synthetic, which is also a great oil but would not use it in a engine that was originally used with regular dino.

Re: Which type of oil ?

Postby bobodu » Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:30 am
No way I would run 15w around here !!

Re: Which type of oil ?

Postby bgsengine » Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:27 am
I second that - 15W40 kills snowblowers around here. Plus it is a diesel spec usually, not for use in gas engines - Use the engine oil weight, viscosity and API specification listed in the engine owner's manual - Unless you have a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering, I would not be trying to second guess the 100+ years of collective engineering experience of the manufacturers and API


hey fellas, the op said it was a mower, so its summer usage unlike winter, snowblower where the 15w40 in a smaller engine would a little thick. but a diesel 15w40 in a small engine with its high zddp which is crucial to any engine would be a great oil to use in summer and warm climates. i do not want to start any great oil debate here just saying that a 15w40 diesel engine oil is an excellent oil to use. but yes, use whatever the factory recommended oil calls for.