Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

[SoulWinner]

As some of you know I am restoring my dads 1973 Ford LGT 100 Lawn/Garden tractor. I has a 10hp Kohler that I rebuilt with a 020 piston, new valves, the works. Now, what oil should I put in it? I want a good oil for the break-in, but I also want to use an oil that will minimize wear in an air cooled engine. Changing the oil every 6 months is no problem, but it will prolly get changed once a year depending on how it looks. The tractor will be used almost exclusivly for mowing, but may pull a plow around from time to time. Any suggestions?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

I would break it in for say 10 hrs on a staight 30 weight, any brand, but use a detergent. Then I would use a 10W-30 synthetic, It will last a lifetime and run cooler.

 

[DJ]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

edit. "butting out".

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

Lubedude, when you say synthetic, do you mean full synth? I was thinking Castrol, they have a syth blend and a full synth oil; but I read a while back that thier full synth oil was not really fully synthetic (Car & Driver, Pat's column). I just want the engine to last forever. It has gone this far and was run hard and put to bed wet on many occasions. Now it will be MUCH better maintained, and I want to use best oil possible. Thanks

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

Full synthetic is what you want, Soulwinner.<br /><br />Plain and simple, regardless of the naysayers, synthetics are Slipperier.<br /><br />Slipperier=less friction<br />Less friction=less heat<br />Less heat=less wear<br />Less wear=longer life<br />Longer life=

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

Boomyal, no doubt synthetic has less friction, but during a break in of the rings it is something you don't need. Kohler engines are just about as much to overhaul as a chevy 350. Just helped a friend rebuild his a couple of years ago. He too thought putting synthetic in it would be a good idea. Wrong, the thing never got the rings seated causing it to overheat, blow smoke and oil. <br /><br />We tore the engine down again, found nothing wrong! Tried to wash off all the parts and put it back together. It helped, but the synthetic oil got into all the microscopic poors and still is keeping the rings from seating properly. Finally we ended up using Bon-Ami to help get the rings seated.<br /><br />I strongly recommend using a straight 30 detergent oil for at least the first 100 hours.<br /><br />Some manufactures will void a warranty if synthetic oil is used in their product when they are under the warranty.<br /><br />JMO

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

SS, Boom, Lube; Thanks for the info. I too have seen some funney things happen regarding rings during the break-in of rebuilt motors. I th8ink I'll do this: Use a HD 30 high detergent fo rthe break-in period, then dump it and go to full synth. I know that once the rings are seated I want really slick oil in there since the rod bearing is the rod it's self. How does this sound??<br /><br />SS, for yur friend with the rebuilt kohler that had probs with the rings seating, has he tried Sea Foam? This one time a buddy had a 280Z and one of the cylinders had low compression, so I put a little oil in it to recheck. I put too much in there and it unseated the rings in that cylinder. We took it to one of those oil change places and they used Sea Foam; via la, it fixed it!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

Originally posted by SS MAYFLOAT:<br /> Boomyal, no doubt synthetic has less friction, but during a break in of the rings it is something you don't need.

I agree wholeheartedly SS. The break-in issue was a given, in my mind.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

Originally posted by LubeDude:<br />I would break it in for say 10 hrs on a staight 30 weight, any brand, but use a detergent. Then I would use a 10W-30 synthetic, It will last a lifetime and run cooler.

Ok, I left off the regular dino oil durring break in, I guess I just figured you would know what I ment buy "any brand" I should have been more specific. I can see why the confusion. Absolutly use a dino oil for breakin. Actually the cheaper the better. You do not want to use say a racing oil or an oil with a heavy dose of ZDDP (a friction modifier) You want the rings to seat so you will need a certain amount of metal to metal contact. Your rod will be fine though.<br /><br />Yes, I do mean full synthetic. And the Castrol syntec would be ok also, It is a fine oil, but you are correct that it really isnt a full synthetic by Mobil or Amsoils standards, Its not a POA Base stock, Its base stock is a highly refined hydrocracked petroleum. Even so, its a great oil and will hold up well. I compaint is that you are paying a full Synthetic price for a wannabe oil.<br /><br />I think 100 hrs is a bit long, You do however need to really work the engine durring the last few hours of the 10 though, Like rototilling or something. It might be a good Idea to drain the oil at say 5 hrs and refresh, you will not beleive the little shinny things that will be in there, then drain again at 10-15-20 or however long you want to go. I dont think you can be to "anal" about it. But if you can work the engine hard for a couple of hours towards the end it will be better.

 

[BillP]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

SoulWinner,<br />Kohler VOIDS the warranty on some of their smaller engines if you use synthetic to break them in. After break in (I think it is 20 hrs)they say synthetic is ok to use. This is a FACT, so call the Kohler factory and ask them about your particular engine.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Best oil for my rebuilt Kohler??

BillP, you know what, I never even thought of contacting Kohler. Prolly cause of all bright folks here, why go anyplace else for info. This place is better that my Encyclopedia Britannica!