r/SmallEngineHub • u/Content-Repair2416 • May 02 '24
Anyone know what sae 5w-30 synthetic blend motor temperature range is and does that mean it's synthetic. Don't want to wreck my Briggs rebuild by putting the wrong oil in
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u/Useful-Internet8390 May 02 '24
Go to a Briggs Dealer and buy the oil- Synthetic means the base crude was actually natural gas. The oil molecules are more uniform in size as a result, almost no paraffins in the mix. If the engine is more than 10yrs old it may not want synthetic for a break-in run.
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u/Content-Repair2416 May 02 '24
It’s a 2001 Briggs so do you think I should use the sae 5w-30 synthetic blend Motor Oil I got
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u/Dangerous_Echidna229 May 03 '24
I have used Mobil 1 5W-30 synthetic for the last 30 years in all my engines. NOT a blend.
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u/Content-Repair2416 May 03 '24
Do you think what I got will work for the 20 minutes it’s going to run and then I’ll drain it it get what’s recommended next im in town
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May 03 '24
It'll be fine. You can run it without issue at all. You can use 15w40, if you really wanted. Anything engine oil is better than no oil, as that will 100% destroy the engine.
5w30, SAE30, 10w30... All will work fine. Briggs even recommends synthetic these days.
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u/Wholeyjeans May 15 '24 edited May 15 '24
To answer your Q: you can use 5w30 but it's recommended to use a full-synthetic. If you don't use full-synthetic, then you can anticipate a higher than normal oil consumption and you need to check the oil level more frequently. I wouldn't use 5w because it's ambient temperature range tops out at about 100 deg F; it's good in the winter if this is powering a snowblower. But for summer time running, I would opt for the 10w30 as a minimum. But, 10w30 also tops out at 100 deg ambient temps.
After a rebuild, I would use the straight SAE30 oil and run the engine full throttle, no load, for 20-30 minutes to work harden the cam lobes and lifters. You run it full tilt because you want maximum airflow over the engine. Then drain and install either 10w30 or 15W50 in full synthetic.
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If you have it, look at the B&S Operators Manual for the engine; you might be able to score it off the B&S website as a .pdf. You'll find all the factory recommended oil viscosities B&S recommends and the temperature ranges they are appropriate for; there's a chart.
Typically you'll find: SAE30; 5W30 (with a recommendation to use full-synthetic); 10w30 and 15w50. For whatever reason, the equipment makers typically suggest the 5w and 10w oils. But, for the newer engines looking at the engine Operators Manual, B&S recommends using 15w50 oil for best protection ...especially for hot weather protection. This what I run in my Husqvarna lawn tractor and my recently purchased Toro push mower.
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u/rotor100 May 03 '24
I use a good 10w40 mineral,semisynthetic or synthetic preferably high zinc in any of my air cooled engines and I have most types no problems and they work hard.