SAE 30

[hanz63]

So what engines are we still preferring SAE 30 over 10W30 on? I always have on L heads for sure. Others I talk to just go w/ 10W30 across the board. Should there be a big difference?

[RoyM]

I prefer SAE 30 for summer use in air cooleed engines if I can get it, otherwise 10W30 works fine. The only exceptions are Kohler Command which have hydraulic lifters, multigrade is in order here.

[KE4AVB]

Personally I switching all the engines over to 15w50 synthetic by Mobil One but of course I am in an area where we have summer temps in the 100+F and winter temps in the teens at times. A plus to this switch is I only only need one multi-grade oil. 5w30 is just a little too thin when hot in my own engines and many of Kawasaki engine are now specing 20w50 for summer use.

[Skywatcher]

Hi Hanz

I used to buy SAE-30 by the 45 gallon (205 litre) drum, which would last me about 3 to 4 years and I'd get the $50.00 deposit back on the empty. SAE-30 is no longer available by the drum and there's no deposit return on the empty, so I switched to the 5 gallon (19.5 litre) pail which is also NLA in my area. As the L-head engines are getting few and far between, I've switched to SAE-15w40 and SAE-10w30 as they are the most readily available in the 5 gallon pail. Virtually all the newer OHV engines specify 10w30 right on the cowling and B&S call for 15w40 in their V-twins. I keep a jug or two of full synthetic 0w30 for snow blower engines, but that's about it for my assortment of engine oils for the 4-strokers. All the best,

Sky

[38racing]

Hi Hanz

I used to buy SAE-30 by the 45 gallon (205 litre) drum, which would last me about 3 to 4 years and I'd get the $50.00 deposit back on the empty. SAE-30 is no longer available by the drum and there's no deposit return on the empty, so I switched to the 5 gallon (19.5 litre) pail which is also NLA in my area. As the L-head engines are getting few and far between, I've switched to SAE-15w40 and SAE-10w30 as they are the most readily available in the 5 gallon pail. Virtually all the newer OHV engines specify 10w30 right on the cowling and B&S call for 15w40 in their V-twins. I keep a jug or two of full synthetic 0w30 for snow blower engines, but that's about it for my assortment of engine oils for the 4-strokers. All the best,

Sky

I still get the 19L pail of sae30 at walmart. It says diesel but it has an s spec listed as well. It was a green pail and I was having trouble finding it so bought 3 when I did. Then I found out that they had just changed name and put in black pails. My reading on briggs saying multigrade now is that mean synthetic multigrade.

[hanz63]

Interesting info. Thanks for all your feedback. So they now recommend 15w40 in Intek twins? Or just the Vangaurd. Last I heard the oil of choice was SAE30 for Intek and L head, w 10W30 as an acceptable oil. If I recall they give the nod to people who want to use synthetic 5W30. Seems limiting. I'm familiar with (Summer) 20W50 on the Kawasaki- especially for the heavy users. Kohler likes 10W30 in Commands but SAE30 if over 50 degrees I think is OK. I never figured out why they they cared on the solid lifter engines. Back in the olden days, Tecumseh switched away from 10W40 on the TVS /TNTs as it foamed if I recall. Anyone know if I am remembering that correctly? Because of this, I don't use above a 30 grade in WPMs. Lots to ponder here.

[38racing]

I recall reading that conventional 10w40 was never warranty approved for autos because of ythe high polymer content to get that range. Synthetic doesn't have the polymers.

[KE4AVB]

Hanz, COuld you enlighten me what you using the WPM to stand for to me it is words per minute but of course I am a big dummy too.

[bgsengine]

Hanz, COuld you enlighten me what you using the WPM to stand for to me it is words per minute but of course I am a big dummy too.

Me, too. I also interpret it as "Washer Pump Module" (from my automotive days)

[hanz63]

Sorry about the terms. They are abbreviations for what we've used on service orders for ever in my world. Could have come from our Toro Distributor back when? WPM = Walk Power Mower, FER= Front Engine Rider, RER , RTT, WBE Etc. It would make more sense if it were WBM, now wouldn't it?
Being with Toro in my early days, we had the experience on the 10W40 in the TNT engines- which had a lower governed speed and they said still beat the oil to death. For the life of me, sometimes I look back at the bits and pieces of UBI I do remember and think my education came off of sugar packets or something....