Synthetic oil in small engines

[AMCJeepMJ]

I have a new Cub Cadet SC500EZ self-propelled mower with a 159cc 4 stroke OHV air-cooled electric start engine on the way, and nowhere in the manual or the Cub Cadet site can I locate if synthetic motor oil such as Mobil 1 will work effectively in the engine. I have contacted MTD/Cub Cadet and they can only tell me what is in the manual, which is to say not much. The mower comes with 10/30 non-synthetic and I will be using it for the break-in hours.

 

Thoughts or experience on synthetics in small engines? The interweb seems to be a mixed bag of answers on this, and I intend to have this mower last 10+ years. Hopefully.

[Megadan]

Don't know about Cub Cadet, but straight off of Briggs and Stratons web site:
 "Our engines are designed to run on conventional oil, full synthetic, or synthetic blends. It’s an owner’s personal decision if the extra cost is worth the additional benefits synthetic oils offer. When a customer calls the Answer Center, we recommend the synthetic as it offers the premium protections we talked about earlier."

[HOrnbrod]

I've run Mobil 1 for eleven years in my Deere with a 501cc B&S four stroke engine (it's a rider) with zero problems. It gets an oil change, lube, and new filter every winter. I keep waiting for it to break so I can get a new zero turn Deere, but it refuses to break.

[64 Cheyenne]

Just as long as you use dino oil till the motor is broke in, then synthetic will be fine.

Couple other suggestions, always keep covered when not in use, I don't believe in running dry for winter storage, and only use premium non ethanol fuel if available in your area. This a big a big one (fuel) I worked repairing small engines for a while, easily 50% of our business was carb rebuilds due to oxygenated fuels.

[johnj92131]

X 2 on oxygenated fuels. Ethanol is my enemy!  Very tempted to start buying Aviation fuel for the lawn mower and for the Honda Trail 90, simply to avoid ethanol

 

Couple of thoughts on oil:  Any oil that meets SAE specs required for the small engine should be fine.  I would use the same engine oil I keep on hand for my car/truck.  Simply to keep my stock of different oils at a minimum.  Change it once a year, call it good.

[DirtyComanche]

We put Amsoil synthetic in all the Honda/Subaru pumps, generators, etc at work because they start easier in the cold with it.  I doubt you would go wrong using a good synthetic.

[AMCJeepMJ]

Thanks for the feedback on synthetics; looks like I will be going this route after break-in.

Just as long as you use dino oil till the motor is broke in, then synthetic will be fine.

Couple other suggestions, always keep covered when not in use, I don't believe in running dry for winter storage, and only use premium non ethanol fuel if available in your area. This a big a big one (fuel) I worked repairing small engines for a while, easily 50% of our business was carb rebuilds due to oxygenated fuels.

The manual does state to use minimum 87 octane, and to use Sta-bil fuel stabilizer if using E10. We are fortunate enough to have a Shell station in Bend that sells zero-ethanol fuel.

[64 Cheyenne]

I recommend this if you do have to use ethanol fuel. http://www.starbrite.com/startron

[75sv1]

^{John Deere has synthetics oils. Mine has a Kawasaki motor. I think some of the Cubs use Kawasaki.}

[64 Cheyenne]

Those Kawasaki motors are nice, fuel injected also.

[75sv1]

Mine isn't. It has a carb. The newer ones are probably. Kawis are the nicer engine. I think there are two Cub engines. Read around. The upgrade one is suppose to be a lot better. People prefer the Kawi tough

[scottsdale1977]

I'd be more worried about using he ethanol gas than Synthetic oil.  Had to replace the whole carb on my John Deere thanks to that crap.. so now I spend the extra $.0.40 and get the non-ethanol gas.  It's pricey, but Amsoil has nice synthetic oil for small engines.  X2 for the Mobil 1 in the truck though.  Seems fine to me. 

[AMCJeepMJ]

Yes, the ethanol gas is a no-no; 93 non-ethanol is what I'm running in it; hell it gets better fuel than the Benzes!

[FrankTheDog]

I run starbrite in the fuel of my small engines and at the end of the season I run 50-1 two stroke mix so it has a good stabilizer in it.

All my equipment starts right up the next season with no trouble.

As long as you keep fresh oil in it doesn't matter a bunch what you run.

[DirtyComanche]

I run starbrite in the fuel of my small engines and at the end of the season I run 50-1 two stroke mix so it has a good stabilizer in it.

 

Funny thing is ALL of the gas I keep around is 50:1.  I mix it when I fill the can at the gas station.  I use it in my 4 strokes and 2 strokes...  Never had any of the ethanol gas issues that people constantly complain about, and the can I'm finishing off right now has been sitting in my shed for 2+ years.

 

My lawnmower smells better running on it too!

[FrankTheDog]

I had a can of mix I got from the neighbors that were moving and it was several years old. My daughters boyfriend ran out of gas and they asked me which can to use. They grabbed the wrong one and dumped it in his honda and drove the 10 miles to the gas station without a problem.

Thank you! I wasn't about to pour it into anything of mine.