Testing Best 4-cycle Engine Oils For Lawn Mowers

Today I’m going to show you a comparison between the best oils for small engines: Briggs and Stratton Premium 4-cycle small engine oil, the SAE 30, and what I’m going to compare it to Mobil-1 10W-30 full synthetic vs. Redline + I’ll give you information about choosing the oil in Buyer’s Guide.

Here you find a quick comparison of oils for the lawnmowers.

Best oil for lawn mower – Comparison Table

So what are we going to do? Just put different oil in the mower and check the sound!

Sound of Briggs and Stratton Premium Oil in Mower

That is about five minutes of running. Just wanted to let you know what it sounds like and how it idles out and how it smooths itself out. Sounds pretty good!

Sound of Mobile-1 Oil in Mower

I’m going to put Mobil-1 Synthetic 10W-30 in, and again, this was Briggs motor oil. This was just regular SAE 30, regular oil, non-synthetic.

I just did an oil change with Mobil-1, and it is super clean, very friendly, clean oil, which is what you want in your engine.

There is what it sounds like with the Mobil-1.

Sound of Redline 10W-30 Oil in Mower

This is the final oil change I’m going to do on the mower.

With Redline 10W-30 fully synthetic oil, and the motor is a little bit louder with this oil. That’s partly because I put a mulching blade on there, a Gator G3.

So instead of having a mulching plug, it’s a cover that goes on, and it’s got a mulching plug built into the bottom of it so that you don’t have to use a bagger anymore, and all the clippings and everything stays inside the deck.

So, partly because of those two things, it’s going to seem a little bit louder.

But honestly, it felt like the motor had a lot more power too. I can’t explain it. It’s just one of those things where I use the mower, I went through the grass like it was nothing, and it just was incredible.

Final Words About Testing Oils

Mobil 1 and Red Line are both 10w SAE 30, which means that you can use them in cold temperatures like in fall ad winter, but the truth is that they are both expensive.

Redline gives a little more power to the engine, Mobil 1 is the best alternative, but the winner is Briggs & Stratton SAE 30 oil. It costs so low (48 oz. for $8) and does its job: save my small engine very well. Do I need to use a lawnmower in cold weather? I can buy a B&S 5w-30 oil, and there is no problem.

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Since I’ve been using it, I haven’t been burning any oil hardly, and it’s just running incredibly. I just wanted to give a thumbs up to Redline and Mobil-1 too. Take B&S and your lawnmower says “Thanks Bro!” to you 🙂

Best Oil for Lawnmowers – Buyer’s Guide

Knowing what type of oil should you use in operating your engines is crucial to ensure the performance and lifespan of your equipment. Not only will it make your job easier but also for cost-saving measures. This guide is for lawnmower enthusiasts and homeowners to facilitate and provide them with the correct purchase and use of engine oils.

Differences between 2-cycle and 4-cycle oils

The 2-cycle oil is commonly used with smaller gardening tools like weed trimmers and chainsaws. On the other hand, tools with bigger engines like lawnmowers and tractors used 4-cycle oils.

2-cycle engines do not have a separate lubrication system; hence the oil is mixed with the fuel distributed throughout the engine for lubrication. Since the oil and fuel are mixed, it is necessary to mix them at a specific ratio. Further, 2-cycle oils tend to wear out quicker.

Consequently, it is best if the consumer shall mix high-quality 2- cycle oils to avoid wearing out significantly. Experts also show that 2-cycle oils are easier to start in cold temperatures.

On the other hand, a 4-cycle engine has a separate circulating pump; hence the oil is poured directly to the port, and the oil is not mixed with the fuel. 4-cycle oils improve the engine’s durability, promote fuel efficiency, and boast of its lower emissions.

What motor oil to use in my lawnmower?

Choosing the right oil for your lawnmower requires consideration of different factors such as the engine’s type, quality, and even the weather where you live in. It is vital to know what type of engine is in your lawnmower.

In addition, it is best to check first the manufacturer’s manual of your mower to check whether it is not compatible with certain additives. With this, you can avoid future risks and loss, especially since lawn mowers are quite costly.

These are the types of oil you may choose from depending on your area’s climate:

1. SAE 30 – Experts said this is the safest bet. It works in warmer temperatures and best suited for smaller engines.
2. SAE 10W-30 – This oil improves starting in cold weather, although increased oil consumption is its disadvantage.
3. Synthetic SAE 5W-30 – This oil protected all temperatures and improved starting with less oil consumption.
4. SAE 5W-30 – This oil is best in frigid temperatures.
5. Vanguard 15W-50 – This oil is used in commercial lawn cutting and other chores for continuous use.

It is also important to consider that in choosing the motor oil, use high-quality detergent oil such as “For Service SF, SG, SH, SJ.” Further, special additives are also prohibited.

Why do we use synthetic oil in lawnmowers?

Consumers can never get wrong with using synthetic oils. It promotes longer engine life and fewer wear and breakdowns because it increases fluidity.

Synthetic oils can work either in extremely hot or cold temperatures. Since lawnmowers tend to generate a lot of heat, they need oil that can cool them, and synthetic oils are best for that job.

Synthetic oils are also known to lubricate better and are more refined than conventional oils. It keeps the performance of the lawnmowers more efficient and protects the engine from deterioration.

Synthetic oils also collect dirt better. During the removal and change of oil, more debris is removed from the oil system.

Benefits of Synthetic Oil

1. Lower oil consumption
2. Cleaner oil and fewer emissions
3. Lesser friction in engines
4. Reduced engine deposits
5. Better function in high and low temperatures
6. Quicker engine starts time
8. Longer intervals between oil changes

Full vs. blend synthetic oil, what’s the difference?

Full synthetic oil is regarded as the purest type of synthetic oil. It uses a synthetic base stock mixed with additives to ensure the high performance of the oil. Consumers frequently use full synthetic oil due to several factors such as longer change oil intervals, optimum protection to the engines, and longevity for usage.

Although the study shows that fully synthetic oil is 30% more expensive than synthetic blend oils, the longevity of the full synthetic oil is worth it for its price.

Why Synthetic blend oils are cheaper?

Synthetic blend oils are a mixture of synthetic and mineral oils. They were designed to provide almost the same benefit as full synthetic oils but at a lower price.

However, it is said that synthetic blends are not capable of reaching the same performance as that of the full synthetic oils. Yet, it is much closer to the average full synthetic change intervals.

Both types of synthetic oil are better options for your engines than conventional oil. Both of them extend the life of your engine, and you will never go wrong in choosing any of them.

Benefits of full synthetic oil

1. It offers the highest protection and performance than conventional oil and synthetic blend.
2. High efficiency in engines.
3. It has longer oil change intervals.

Benefits of Synthetic Blend

1. It offers better performance and protection than conventional oil.

2. It is less expensive than full synthetic oil.

Mobil 1 (10W-30) vs. Redline oil (10W-30). Are differences between them significant?

Mobil 1 (10W-30) was designed to reduce friction in your engine. The product was engineered to meet the specific needs of the consumers, such as it ensures wear protection, better engine performance, and performance over a wider range of temperatures.

Mobil 1 has a track record of performance. Feedback from the consumers shows that it can maintain viscosity, reduce losses and damages, and allow for less frequent oil changes and fewer engine deposits than any other oil available in the market.

What do we like about Mobil 1?

1. It is a synthetic oil.
2. They perform well even in high temperatures.
3. It improves mileage drastically.
4. It has a bigger oil change interval. You can change oil annually.
5. It neutralizes harmful acids to protect engines.

Redline oil was designed to reduce oil temperature as well as keep your engine cleaner. Its added detergents reduce friction in the engine, which protects the engine from wear and keeps the engine clean over time.

Redline products undergo rigorous quality assurance procedures to make sure that it meets the demands of the consumers. Many consumers mentioned that their engines run smoother and quieter after the use of the product.

What do we like about Redline?

1. It is a synthetic formula that guarantees protection in your engine.
2. Their cooling additives offer exceptional performance and better protection.
3. Ensures stability at high temperatures.
4. Features high detergency, which offers friction reduction and wears protection.
5. It has high-temperature stability.

The features guaranteed by Mobil 1 and Redline are seemingly similar. Their consumers gave positive feedbacks as they noticed that their engines run smoother and more efficiently.

They also have similar benefits and advantages. There is no fast and hard way to say which is better because it depends primarily on the engine’s design. You cannot just theoretically predict which of the additives will run perfectly with your engine.

Can we use car oil in the lawnmower?

Using car oil may not be the safest choice for your lawnmower. There are several factors to be considered before using automotive oil. The smaller engine of lawnmower may need a different viscosity than car engines.

A lawnmower needs higher quality oil. It should be at least SAE 30 to perform well, and cars can handle lower quality oils but can still run and function.

Some lawnmowers have 2-stroke engines, while others have 4-stroke engines. A 4-stroke lawnmower engine works the same line as a car engine which is also 4-stroke. However, there are differences as to the size of the engine and the manner it is cooled.

Why don’t we use 4-stroke oil in a 2-stroke lawnmower?

Further, using a 4-stroke oil on a 2-stroke lawnmower may be catastrophic. 2-stroke oil has different additives in it, which are not present in car engine oil. It may cause serious and irreparable damage to the lawnmower.

Thus, it is a rule of the thumb to check the manufacturer’s manual and as much as possible follow what they recommend. Small engine oil vs. car oil since small engines run hotter than automotive engines do, the little engine oil can withstand higher temperatures.

Why Zinc is so important for small engines?

Experts said that the oil temperature in a small engine could reach up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Ordinarily, car oils are not designed to withstand these temperatures and will begin to break down. Small engine oils contain higher levels of Zinc than most car oil. Zinc has anti-wear qualities to work under extreme pressure and also works as an anti-oxidant.

Ethanol in the oils for car

Car oils contain additives and detergents, which will wear down small engines very quickly. Further, automotive oils contain ethanol in their composition or blend.

FAQs

How to change the lawnmower’s engine oil?

Doyle Mathews Lawn Expert

Pro Tip: When I change the engine oil, one of the things that I like to do is to lay down a four-by-four post. And the only reason I do this is to get the engine above the drain pan to catch the oil, and the owner's manual recommends that you drain out the engine oil from the field tube.

• So after I get my drain pan in the right place, all I need to do next is undo the dipstick and let the engine oil run into the drain path. So as you can see, my four-by-four posts were a good idea because I didn’t have the post. The dipstick would be lying right on top of the drain pan, and it would be just a little bit harder to get the dipstick out and drain the engine oil out. Another thing I did before this step was to start the lawn more up and let the engine warm up. This makes the engine oil more viscous so that when I drain it out into the drain pan, it will drain more completely.
• So I’ll leave the lawn more in this position until I don’t see any more oil dripping out of the filter.

• And once I have all of the old oil out of the engine, I can tip the mower back down and put new oil back in. Here I’m just cleaning up the drain pan a little bit so that I can take it to a recycling center and dump the oil when I’m ready.
• Okay, last step. This particular motor takes just a little over half a quart to fill the engine back up to where it should be with new oil. And what I have is some Quaker state 30 weigh engine oil. I like this bottle because, on the backside of the bottle, there is a clear stripe down so that you can see how much oil you’re adding to the engine.

The hardest part of this whole process sees the new engine oil on the dipstick. So I’ve added just over a half a quart, and it’s brought the engine oil up to full on the dipstick. Or you can buy Extractor Pump (aff link) and make it easy! And that’s all there is to it. Engine oil on the lawn more is good to go for another season.

Conclusion

In performing lawn mower maintenance, choosing your oil is one of the most important factors to consider. Choosing the right oil is necessary to ensure that your engine will run smoothly, and keeping a fresh and clean oil is one of the things you can do so that your equipment stays in its right shape.

We recommend using the oil in your user’s manual. Not only that they warranted your equipment, but they want to ensure that you get the best out of your investment.