Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I was changing oil on a GX340 engine on my snowblower. The manual says it holds 1.1 quarts of oil (which I read as about 35 ounces) Yet, the manual also shows that you fill up the crankcase until it's touching the threads for the dipstick. This is pretty common in the GX line (same in the GX160). However, if you add 1.1 quarters, the oil comes halfway up the dipstick, nowhere close to the threads. If you fill it until it reaches the threads, it's closer to 1.4 quarts, or 45 ounces. I am frankly baffled by how much oil this engine needs. Thoughts? Also, this winter is the first the engine has really worked for more than an hour, and when I changed the oil, I could see flecks of metal (microscopic) glinting in the sun. I am inclined to add a magnetic drain plug to the machine, and was wondering if anyone had any opinions on doing this.

Mobil 1 High Mileage has more zinc (ZDDP), which is supposed to be better for typical small engines, from what I've read. This is because of the way the valves/pushrods ride on the cams; there are no roller-bearings riding on the cams, the way car engines do it.

I'm transitioning from regular Mobil 1 to Mobil 1 High Mileage in my small engines.

Amsoil also makes an oil specifically for small engines, which I believe has even more ZDDP. The ZDDP is apparently bad for catalytic converters, so they've been reducing the amount in car oils. But that concern doesn't apply to small-engine-specific oils.

Mobil's chart about the ZDDP levels in their Mobil 1 oils:

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Files/Mobil_1_Product_Guide.pdf

Admittedly, this likely counts as over-thinking it. I doubt I'll actually wear out any of my engines, based on how I use them. But it's kinda cheap insurance/peace of mind.