By Bruce on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I am changing my oil in my 18 horse Vanguard to synthetic. Does anyone have a preferance as to the brand and weight for synthetic motor oil. I am hoping my engine will run cooler on the synthetic.

Thanks

By Alan on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bruce,
I use Amsoil 20w-50 in most everything. Chev 454 truck, Ford Explorer, Ford tractor, Chev 454 boat, Honda V65 motorcycle, 18hp Coot and even the lawn mower. Have never checked the temperature on any of them though. I don't really need a 20w-50 in any of them but I haven't had any problems so far. I tried Mobil 1, 10w-30 I think, in a Chev 350 several years ago, the valve guides wore out pretty quickly on that one. In comparison, the heads on my supercharged 454(using amsoil) have over 210k miles, no sign of wear so far. I generally change the oil once a year in most everything. On the truck I changed the lubes in the axles, transmission, transfer case and engine to amsoil, gas mileage went from 10 to 12 mpg. I destroyed the pinion bearing in the front axle a couple years ago but never figured out what caused it. Maybe I should have changed the lube in it occasionally? I use Mobil Glygoyle synthetic worm gear lube in the Coot worm gear boxes. It's a real pain to find though.
Alan

By Bruce on Unrecorded Date: Edit

thanks Alan. I was considering Amsoil. But I have never tried it. The Amsoil plant in only 80 miles from me. I plan on changing the oil in my coot to synthetic. I have an 18 horse briggs that is running too hot so I hope the synthetic will help to cool it. I use mobil 721 synthetic in the worm gears on my coots. Very expensive and like you said...hard to find. thanks again.

Anyone else have any suggestions??

By Scott Philipps (Argosrus) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

100% Synthetic 4 life

By Ronw on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bruce, I use Castrol Syntech 10w30 in my Argo and also in my generator's B&S engine. From what most mechanics tell me, synthetic is the way to go with our small engines and transmissions. Ron W

By Bruce on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have decided that I need to replace my oil with synthetic. Now my problem is what weight? I am leaning toward Amsoil or mobil. But I am open to more suggestions. I was thinking of 10w30 weight. This is going into a hot running Briggs Vanguard 18 horse.

Thanks everyone.

By ronw on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The dealer that sold me my Bigfoot recomended 10w30 synthetic, so thats what I went with. I think it works fine in the 18hp B&S Vanguard.

By Alan on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The Briggs manual says a 5w-30 or 10w-30 synthetic will cover all temperature ranges. As a general rule, the books say you should use the thinnest lube you can get by with. I always go heavier than what I think I need. To compensate, I let the engine warm up a few minutes before I start driving. I figure letting an air cooled engine warm up isn't a bad idea anyway. The dreaded piston vs cylinder expansion thing. Seems like I remember air cooled aircraft engines use a straight 50 weight oil. I doubt I could crank the Briggs on a cold day with 50w though. In case anybody uses leaded fuel, synthetics don't do very well at getting rid of lead.
Alan