What type of oil are all of you running on your engines? I know that Vanguard recommends the use of either 5w-30 or 10w-30 on their engines but I feel like if this weight of oil is too thin for an air cooled engine. The reason I say this is because on every air cooled engine that I've ever owned in the past, the manufacturers have always recommended 10w-40 or thicker. It was only in the last five years or so that I've noticed the switch to thinner oils and I think the EPA and emissions control have more to do with it's choice than engine life.

Right now I'm planning on running Mobil 1 10w-40 High Mileage since it's the thickest 10w-40 Mobil makes with a Pure One PL10241 oil filter that has the same specs as the briggs but much better filtration.

Briggs Filter Cross Reference Below:

"Briggs type" 3/4" X 16 threads 8-11 PSI Bypass
Gasket 2.734"OD 2.430"ID 0.226" thick
Length" Wix Purolator Hastings Fram Kohler B&S Baldwin JD TEC MotorCraft AC
2.3" 57035 NA LF503 NA 2805001 492932 B7165 ? 36563 NA NA?
2.7" 51056 L35310 LF302 PH8172 1205001 492056 B1410 AM125424 36262 NA PF2210
3.4" 51348 L10241 LF157 PH7575 5205002 491056 BT223 AM101207 ? FL793 PF53
4.8" 51516 L20195 LF134 PH3600 NA NA B243 ? ? FL400A PFL400A

My question would be how would the heavier oil perform in cold weather?

That might be the reason for the lower recommendation....

To handle the extreme weather that we run in. 100 degrees in summer and 20 degrees in winter..

I run 10W-30 in the summer and then switch to 5W-30 around duck season or when it starts to get cold. Both synthetic.

I run 10w-30 year round...

I run Amsoil synthetic 10w-30 year round.

Amsoil 20-50 year round. Air cooled engines make alot of heat.

Drake, how many hours do you have on your engine running that oil and do you have any mods?

I was informed today by Chops to run Valvoline 10w-30, non synthetic, and I could switch to synthetic after 30 or 40 hours If I wanted.

It's possible that the use of synthetic oils too soon will affect the way the engine breaks in because of the reduced friction these oils provide. But then again, there are a few high end sports cars that come with synthetic put in from the factory so who knows.

It's a phuckin lawnmower engine!!!!!!

35 hours on a Stage II Generac right now. Motor was broke in for 2 hours at 2000 plus rpms with 15-40 Rotella -T.

Sum of you act like your runnin an F2 McLaren.

i got a briggs book with my motor. I would think everyone would if they buy new motor. So here it is read the book and it will tell you what oil. if you run the oil they state in the book you can not go wrong with the warranty side of it. Amsoil 5w-30 briggs recommend for -30 dreg to 114 plus dreg. and will not vold warranty. run 10-30 first 5 hours per book and then amsoil 5w-30.
READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!

i like budweiser and tobacco spit juice. it seems to work better than any of the 5w-30.

how often yall change your oil?

http://bsintek.basco.com/BriggsDocument ... 0HsjhJvcv4
Page 6 of 28 tells you the type. It reccomends B&S oil and has a chart for tempurature changes. It does not specically name any other brand to run. Sure you can run whatever you want in the engine. As long as you change it out within the maintenance shcedule the engine will not know the difference.

Back to my previous post about Rotella which Drake1 is running. I have read how that oil has more Zinc than other oils and that helps with cam wear for flat tappet lifters. Just a thought to point out. It really doesent matter what you put in it. There are so many opinions on oils you can debate it for years. Put what you are comfortable with and enjoy your engine.

Mobil 1 10w-30 from day one

Rotella is definitely a good oil to run on any air cooled engine. I go to www.bobistheoilguy.com a lot and in the motorcycle section you'll find a ton of people running that oil that post oil analysis reports with very good results. I just think it might be too thick for the small oil pump that these engines come with, but that's just my opinion.

Really, yall are puttin too much thought into dis.

Marcus, please don't yell at me. You're gonna give me a complex.