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

Can you use engine oil that you buy for your car engine, for your snowblower engine?

Speedbird, thanks for the info. My briggs says to change it after the first five hours so I will put in the same synthetic blend castrol that I have been using in my old snowblower.

Coldfingers

As specified in the owners' manual, I drained the oil in my Ariens (with 11.5 Tecumseh) after the first 2 hours. I refilled with Mobil 1 0W-30. I change it after each season. At this time there are 40 hours on the engine which has consistently started and run very well.

I am using this Amsoil 5W-30 in mine.

https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/asl.aspx

So here is the recommendation for my snow blower's briggs

http://faqs.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/faqs.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1419&p_created=948406560&p_sid=6X7QqCmj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=1419&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0yODYsMjg2JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

And here is mobil 1 5-30 specs

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil1_5W-30.asp

Can someone explain to me what this means? "Use a high quality detergent oil classified "For Service SF, SG, SH, SJ" or higher."

What's mobil 1 classified as? What classification are we talking about, is there a wikipedia page about this?