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

Hi...

My '82 Gravely 2-cylinder Kohler gas engine uses some oil  ( pint? ) every 1 - 2 tanks of gas...

I add oil... it still looks clean... does the oil need to be changed out... or is adding new oil sufficient to keep it runnin' OK ? ( no oil filter )

Yeah... I know... "change it anayway... to be safe..." 

Dave...

Dave,

You don't need to change it if it's new and you loose a pint every one to two tank fulls of gas. If you've been adding oil for the entire length of a normal oil change and it's approaching normal oil change time, then go ahead and change it.

I remember a study about how adding oil to existing oil added to it's strenght and prolonged the life of the existing oil by making the ratio of old oil to new oil better. I guess in theory one could keep adding oil and just change the filter if the engine used oil regularly.

Make sure you are using straight SAE 30 detergent oil. I reccomend: Penzoil, Quaker State, or Nappa oils. You need to tackle the reason why its using so much oil. Since its using a pint every 1 to 2 gas fillings, this indicateds that you might have oil burning. Considering that this mower is a 1982, your pisten rings are most likely worn out. What happens in a case like that is that when you have worn rings, the oil is let to get passed the rings and above the pisten. Therefor the oil gets ignighted which causes that blue smoke you might be seing or at least smelling. My Murray RER was doing the same thing until it finnaly worn out. Your engine could use new rings and valve job. Make sure the cylinder is honed before you have new rings installed. Marshall, I really would not reccomend that as it is not proffesional and not all LT's have oil filters. I reccomend changing your oil every year, there is no reason not to change it considering oil is not that expensive.

I use am currently running Valvoline SAE 30 in mine, but Termy told me to go look @ Pennzoil and Napa's oils.  I looked at the price also and Penzoil is higher in price so that must mean something.    I think I will switch oil brands.  If synthetic were commonly needed for OPE applications, I'd think the auto parts store, the local lawn & garden/service shop, or Walmart would carry it in SAE 30.  What do you guys think the best regular oil is?    

Dino oil? I like Valvoline! Never been a Pennzoil fan at all. No offense Terms.

I understand Valvoline has more additives than Pennzoil.  I believe he recommended Pennzoil or Napa for older engines, Valvoline for the newer ones. 

Thanks folks...

Termy... the twin cylinder engine was rebuilt about 500-600 hours ago... previous ownder did it... no smoke now... no oil smell...

I agree... it's likely time to do the pistons again... maybe more... This would be a tough $$$ decision on my part since I would have to pay to have it done... ...it's an old machine... the mower deck has seen better days... (still good though!) You got me thinkin'... I should get a price on an engine overhaul BEFORE it breaks...

I've already checked into a new engine... saw the same tractor 4-sale with blown engine... new stock engine not available... as 1-piece anyway... dosen't meet EPA regs... parts are available though... and an equivalent new engine is ~~$1,500 in the crate... + labor... and would have to be retrofitted... more $$$... 

I'm on year two usin' this 1982 tractor... glad it lasted this long ! ...especially mowin'  ~~3 acres of 2-3 foot grass a few times ! ...about got my $$$ worth out of it already...

Yeah Termy... I'll get an engine re-build price... Thank you for your advice !  

Dave...

Hi Guys!

Wouldn't the burning of that much oil foul the plug? It should at least show a whole lot of oil residue as well as the mower laying down a smoke screen thick enough to protect a convoy from Submarines. Are you sure you don't have a seal leak on the crank, or a pan gasket or drain plug leak? That's a lot of oil to be burning with no sign!!

Marc   

Dave___in___CT wrote:
one thing to bear in mind, regardless of how clean the oil is, if you dont drain it periodicly, you dont ever drain any sludge that may have accumulated in the crank case. As for oil, when in doubt follow manufacturers reccomendations, NOT necessarily a given brand or weight.  Personally i dont care for penz. it used to be, if not still is pariffin based, and in the winter would partially plug oil filters. Ive used Rotella T 10/40 in everything for a lot of years, both gas and diesel and including the mowers & its always given good service. main thing though is what ever oil you run, do change it to at least keep the crankcase cleaned out.

He probably has to clean his sparkplug all the time.

Thanks for you input !

No fouled sparkplugs... it runs "sweet"... no sign of leaks where the tractor sits... no smoke or oil ordor... seems to use a pint or 1/2 per 10 gallons of gas (2 tanks) and 5 or so hours of use... Hey... maybe it's a 2-stroke !

Will change the oil...

Dave...