Which type of oil ?

[Marc]

I have an old TORO 3 speed OHV self propelled 21 or 22" mower. I believe that it has a Briggs motor but not absolutely sure. I can not find original manual and believe that metal serial # face plate has fallen off.
Near the operating handle there is a model number #56-6460 and near the front on the lower body of the mower is the #530.

I am attempting to determine what would be the appropriate oil to use in maintaining the mower. Ideally a source to the manual would be wonderful.

As a newbie to this forum, I apologize for such a simplistic query.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[StarTech]

Wasn't find anything at Toro or any of my vendors for a 530 SP mower nor the other numbers.

If it is a Briggs most likely it will SAE30; although, a few engines are using 5w30. The SAE30 is a good grade for summer time use and 5w30 for winter use as you thinner oil during that time of year.

[Marc]

Thanks
I was wondering if the manual would have specified a non-detergent oil as it was manufactured/purchased around 1986.

[Deere2me]

Thanks
I was wondering if the manual would have specified a non-detergent oil as it was manufactured/purchased around 1986.

No, you wanna use detergent oil. I just use 10W-30 if its still cold in the am to be safe. Otherwise I use 30wt detergent.
'Course any thread/post about oil will generate a chitload of differing opinions.........


You can get ya a manual here: https://lookup3.toro.com/request/request.cfm

[creia]

marc,
You did not provide your LOCATION in your profile -why not?
Average air temps (especially winter lows) differ around the country/world and would effect what wt oil you would use.
Michael

[Marc]

Thanks for the feedback.
My location is Vancouver Canada. The temperature rangewhen operating the lawnmower would usually be 55-80 degrees fahrenheit.

[creia]

Thanks for the feedback.
My location is Vancouver Canada. The temperature rangewhen operating the lawnmower would usually be 55-80 degrees fahrenheit.

O.K., based on that information you would use a good-quality SAE 30 "Detergent" oil, as per Briggs specs.
Sidebar: Thank you for updating your profile with your location - I wish more members would!
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.

[bobodu]

No way I would run 15w around here !!

[bgsengine]

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