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faithfulFrank


He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose....


Location: Batavia, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Points: 1067

Another Oil Question
Original Message   Feb 3, 2005 6:51 am
Hey Guys,
At the risk of starting another heated oil  thread, I just have a simple question, that should not be a a problem.

For my new snowblower, the Tecumseh manual says this.......

Above 32 degrees............straight 30 SAE
0 to 32 degrees..................multigrade SAE 5W30
Below 0 degrees.................Synthetic 0W30

Now for my question...........most of the time, I think I blow snow in that 0-32 degree range. Sometimes we could get a snow at night, and blow snow the next day with the sun out, and it may be above 32 degrees.  Sometimes, it can get so cold here that it is below 0 for days, and you are blowing snow........(although usually when it is that cold, it does not snow.)

Does 0W30 mean it has almost no lubracation in the coldest weather?  I either plan on using synthetic 5W30 or 0W30, but am not sure which I should really use.  Perhaps I am over thinking this, because I know guys who always use just regular straight 30 with no problems.

Synthetic 5W30 has to be better then that, and I'd say that it is in that range (0-32 degrees) that most of the blowing occurs. Does using 0W30 just give me a wider range of protection, or could it be too thin sometimes since it is sometimes zero weight..( a concept I cannot grasp....how can a oil be zero weight, it would be like water.....??)

What do you guys suggest......??

Hard to believe we have gotten so little snow that until this week, I am still on the break-in oil..........well, off to work.

thanks,

Frank D.

Ariens 1332DLE Pro, Exmark 52" HP ZTR, Gardian Generac generator, Shindiawa T230  Excell/Honda PW, Craftsman rototiller, Favorite IPE- My Mac + Ipod- No Windoze for me!
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solara


Location: Boston
Joined: Jun 16, 2004
Points: 252

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #7   Feb 3, 2005 12:45 pm
based upon info from this site went w/ the synthetic 5w 30.

i had bought the oil. put it in and then  lookesdat the chart in the engine book.  almost drained it out (as it was not wehat was recommended),,,,,but hell tecumseh is requiring (recommending) synthetic at the lower temp range so i deducted that the synthetic in the higher tem range would  not be bad.

2004-2005 Ariens 11528LE
Jacobsen snow-burst
Blue9R


Location: Illinois
Joined: Dec 20, 2003
Points: 224

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #8   Feb 3, 2005 12:53 pm
Hi Frank,

0W (read zero "dub ya") and 5W (read five "dub ya") are the cold flow ratings for two different grades of a SAE 30 multi-viscosity oil.  The "W" actually stands for Winter and this rating is necessary, due to the property of an oil getting thicker with colder temperatures.

A  0W oil meets a max cold flow rating of 6200 centipoise at -35C (-29F) per the SAE J300 guidelines.

A 5W oil meets a max cold flow rating of 6600 centipoise at -30C ( -20F).

So a 0W -30 rated oil is going to have better cold flow characteristics than a 5W-30 at extreme, below zero, temperatures.

However, to be practical, M1 0W-30 & M1 5W-30 have very similar viscosities from normal engine operating temps down to about 0 degrees F , where the 5W starts to get thicker at a faster rate.

Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #9   Feb 3, 2005 1:17 pm
And Frank, as far as the warm weather, I run 5 or 10W-30 even in the summer in my Kohlers. Maybe your Tecumseh Snow engine is different in needing strait 30W, as the manual says but the point is, when are you going to using it much when the temperature is more than few degrees above freezing? I would not use strait 30W in a winter machine. Take your pick of the other two.
AJace


I have an Ariens 926 Pro because I like Orange



Location: Near Gettysburg
Joined:
Points: 969

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #10   Feb 3, 2005 3:40 pm
I use regular Valvoline 5W-30.  Sometime I'll switch to synthetic.

Blue9R, I really enjoy reading your posts about oil. 


Ariens 926 DLE Professional; Toro S200; Craftsman LT1000, Echo ES-230;

faithfulFrank


He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose....


Location: Batavia, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Points: 1067

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #11   Feb 3, 2005 5:26 pm
Thanks guys for the info so far.........
I know most of you are far more knowledgeable about oil than I.
Yes Marshall, you are right in that I'l never run this in the summer........
I was basically asking under my conditions, should I pick Mobil 1 0W30 or Mobil 1 5W30.........

Respectfully,
Frank D.

Ariens 1332DLE Pro, Exmark 52" HP ZTR, Gardian Generac generator, Shindiawa T230  Excell/Honda PW, Craftsman rototiller, Favorite IPE- My Mac + Ipod- No Windoze for me!
Dave___in___CT


Deliberate often...
...decide once...


Location: West-Central Connecticut
Joined: Sep 17, 2002
Points: 3159

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #12   Feb 3, 2005 6:12 pm
Hi Frank...


One important point... what is the temperature where the snowblower is stored ?

If it's stored above 32... and it's zero outside... then a straight 30 weight is fine...
since the engine is above 32 before it's started... and once started... it'll be way over 32...


Or... am I all wet on this folks ?


Dave...


Whether you think you can or you can't... you're right.
Henry Ford

   BCS Tractor & snowblower

robmints


Joined: May 13, 2003
Points: 4691

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #13   Feb 3, 2005 7:25 pm
mml4 wrote:
5w30 Synthetic. 

Marc


That's what I use. But I would not fret over the difference between zero dub ya and five dub ya.

If you want to be absolutely sure, maybe call Tecumseh.

Factory Service Location
Tecumseh Power Company
900 North Street
Grafton, Wisconsin 53024-1499
Toll Free 1-800-558-5402
Highwind


Despite the high cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular.

Joined: Jan 13, 2004
Points: 985

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #14   Feb 3, 2005 7:34 pm
Frank,

Use 5W30 as it falls in the range of your average winter temperature. Check your owners manual and see what it says for recommended oil for all round use.  Mine says to use 5W30.

If you have to start it on a day colder than -20F, the oil will only be thicker for a short time while the engine warms up, but it won't be frozen solid. Seldom does it snow at -30F where either of us live.  We don't live in areas of extreme cold so don't need 0W30.

Dave_in_Ct:

If the machine is stored where the temperature is consistently warm and started there you could use the SAE30 oil, but the 5W30 will perform the same at that temperature. I'd use whatever the manual says, to be safe. Should you have to leave it outside and it gets very cold, it will be harder to start with the straight 30 weight oil. Won't have the wear protection of the multigrade for a short time until the oil warms up.

Honda stable: HS 724 snowblower;  HRS216 lawnmower; BF2 UWWW; 5 HP, 2200 psi/2.9 GPM pressure washer.

Electric: BV2500 B&D Leaf Hog/snow duster; old 12" Weedeater.

faithfulFrank


He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose....


Location: Batavia, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Points: 1067

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #15   Feb 4, 2005 5:18 pm
It sounds like the concensus is to use 5W30 Synthetic.  The baby is stored in an unheated, but attached and insulated garage, so the "start-up" temperature would average between 10 degrees to 35 degrees.............

I may call Techumseh as Rob suggested, since it is a free number, etc..........but I'm sure the 5W30 would be a good choice...........

Frank D.

Ariens 1332DLE Pro, Exmark 52" HP ZTR, Gardian Generac generator, Shindiawa T230  Excell/Honda PW, Craftsman rototiller, Favorite IPE- My Mac + Ipod- No Windoze for me!
Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Another Oil Question
Reply #16   Feb 4, 2005 7:49 pm
Heck Frank, you got 9 more months to decide, you missed the snow this year.  
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