I've inherited a rather old Snapper riding mower with a B&S 4hp engine. I
don't have an owner's manual for it, and I need to know what sort of oil to
put into it. Should I use the same oil that I'd put in my regular push
mower, 30 sae straight-grade viscocity oil?

TIA,
Brigitte

"Brigitte" wrote in message
...
I've inherited a rather old Snapper riding mower with a B&S 4hp engine. I
don't have an owner's manual for it, and I need to know what sort of oil
to
put into it. Should I use the same oil that I'd put in my regular push
mower, 30 sae straight-grade viscocity oil?

TIA,
Brigitte



www.snapper.com. Go to "contact us" and ask them.

right..use 30w detergent (HD) oil. lucas the mower man.

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm

If it still has good oil-control (doesn't leak or burn much), I'd go
for one of the higher-vi synthetics. Makes for a "happy" engine, IMHO.

J

I think Briggs reccomends a good brand of 10W30. Penzoil and Castrol
are good.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Brigitte" wrote in message
...
I've inherited a rather old Snapper riding mower with a B&S 4hp
engine. I
don't have an owner's manual for it, and I need to know what sort of
oil to
put into it. Should I use the same oil that I'd put in my regular
push
mower, 30 sae straight-grade viscocity oil?

TIA,
Brigitte

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ...
I think Briggs reccomends a good brand of 10W30. Penzoil and Castrol
are good.

Every mower I've had recommended straight 30 wt.

Bob

wrote:
If it still has good oil-control (doesn't leak or burn much), I'd go
for one of the higher-vi synthetics. Makes for a "happy" engine, IMHO.

J

I will double on that. I switched to 5W30 Mobil 1 on all my air cooled
engines. It can stand heat a lot better than conventional oils. Don't
worry about the 5 rating. That is only when very cold. When warm it
still has 30 weight viscosity and is a bit easier to start.

I have a 45 year old B&S engine that runs like new using it.

Bob wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ...
I think Briggs reccomends a good brand of 10W30. Penzoil and Castrol
are good.

Every mower I've had recommended straight 30 wt.

Bob

Not any more. They all say multi-weight is also good except that since
air cooled engines run hotter than others the oil level should be
checked more often. The solution for that is to use synthetic which
will stand up even better than straight weight. Synthetic is really
considered to be like a straight weight except it doesn't get as thick
when it gets cold, therefore can meet the multi-weight classification.

Just everyday straight 30 will be fine. That's all i run in over 100 pieces
of small eq, and 33 trucks at the landscaping co i work for.

--
Steve Barker


"Brigitte" wrote in message
...
I've inherited a rather old Snapper riding mower with a B&S 4hp engine. I
don't have an owner's manual for it, and I need to know what sort of oil
to
put into it. Should I use the same oil that I'd put in my regular push
mower, 30 sae straight-grade viscocity oil?

TIA,
Brigitte

small engines haven't changed. The only reason they are recommending the
multigrades is for emissions ratings. Also, it is more likely someone will
have a multigrade on their shelf than a straight weight. Small engines use
straight 30.

--
Steve Barker



"Rich256" wrote in message
...
Bob wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
I think Briggs reccomends a good brand of 10W30. Penzoil and Castrol
are good.

Every mower I've had recommended straight 30 wt.

Bob

Not any more. They all say multi-weight is also good except that since
air cooled engines run hotter than others the oil level should be checked
more often. The solution for that is to use synthetic which will stand up
even better than straight weight. Synthetic is really considered to be
like a straight weight except it doesn't get as thick when it gets cold,
therefore can meet the multi-weight classification.

Steve Barker LT wrote:
small engines haven't changed. The only reason they are recommending the
multigrades is for emissions ratings. Also, it is more likely someone will
have a multigrade on their shelf than a straight weight. Small engines use
straight 30.

But what I am saying is that synthetic multi grade such a 5w30 really
is a straight weight. That is the way it is made. It doesn't get as
thick when it gets cold and is far superior for small hot running
engines. It doesn't have all or need those Viscosity Improvers used to
make conventional multi-grade.

Just take a look at the manufacturers literature and you will see they
even say multi-grade conventional is OK.

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/dis...sp?docid=64066

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/dis...sp?docid=64066

Go to the source.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Bob" wrote in message
...

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
I think Briggs reccomends a good brand of 10W30. Penzoil and Castrol
are good.

Every mower I've had recommended straight 30 wt.

Bob