Can you put automotive oil in a lawnmower
Most modern lawnmowers use two-stroke, air-cooled gasoline engines. The working volume of power units rarely exceeds 200 cubic centimeters. This design ensures the moderate weight and efficiency of the machine.
In some cases, companies build lawnmowers with water-cooled four-stroke engines. In this case, you should buy oil suitable for automotive engines. the construction of the ICE in this case will not differ.
General recommendations for lawn mower oil
Based on the above-mentioned engine design features, it is best to use a special lawnmower oil for lubrication, and it must be suitable for the temperature conditions in which the machine will be used. Optimal is considered a specialized lubricant class SAE 30. It is used at temperatures above 5 degrees.
If special is not available, you can use automotive grade greases:
These greases, too, are designed mainly for positive ambient temperatures and a maximum above 35 degrees.
By type of lubricant. mineral and semi-synthetic are allowed. Fully synthetic would be too expensive. API performance level. “SF”, “SG”, “SH”, “SJ” and higher. For four-stroke engines of garden equipment, the label should be marked “4T”.
The role of oil in internal combustion engines
The energy transmitted by the engine shaft to the rotating machinery is derived from the adiabatic expansion of the gases at the moment of explosion in the combustion chamber. Through the movement of the piston in the combustion chamber the gases are compressed. This means the system runs with minimal clearance, and abrasion appears on the mating parts. The gap between the parts increases, and the compression compression decreases, the necessary pressure for ignition of the fuel-air mixture is not reached.
that’s what it would be like if the lapped parts ran dry. lawnmower engine oil added to petrol or transferred to the components from the crankcase, creates a thin film between the parts, preventing wear, scuffing and seizure. Since absolutely no wear can be eliminated, oil washes out the microparticles in the gaps, preventing them from destroying the surface.
The prepared fuel mixture must be used within 2 weeks, kept in a metal or polypropylene container. Do not store the composition with gasoline in polyethylene bottles. Decomposition products will get into the mixture, the soot in the combustion chamber will increase.
The structure of the 2-stroke and 4-stroke types is different and therefore the consistency of the grease, the additives in it are different. Each type of mating assemblies in the machinery requires types of lubricant appropriate to the nature of movement of that assembly. What oil to put in your lawnmower, the manufacturer recommends in the instruction manual.
You should not use oil thinking that the more expensive the better. the use of ingredients depends on the class of equipment, the degree of grinding of the mating parts, the operating conditions. The composition of combustible mixture for two-stroke engines depends on how the base antifriction composition. 2-stroke engine lawnmower oil has a specific composition of. All oils are classified according to the method of production:
Meatball shaper from China
How to choose a lawn mower for your garden
This determines their lubricating qualities, their ability to remain liquid at lower temperatures. But 5-15% of each formulation is given to additives. They are the ones that create an effective composition that prevents:
- They have a special composition that prevents the oil from corroding the surfaces;
- heat resistance;
- resistance to decomposition;
- increased alkalinity which prevents oxidation;
- stabilize viscosity.
Lawn mower oil used with a 4-stroke engine has other additives, viscosity. It also cleanses the moving parts, but is not mixed with petrol. The oil oxidises, becomes contaminated with scale particles and must be replaced after every 50 operating hours.
General recommendations for lawnmower oil selection
Based on the above-mentioned engine design features, it is best to use a special lawnmower oil for lubrication and it must be suitable for the temperature conditions in which the machine will be used. A specialized SAE 30 grade grease is considered optimal. It is used at temperatures above 5 degrees Celsius.
If special isn’t available, you can use automotive grade greases:
These greases, too, are designed mostly for positive ambient temperatures and a maximum above 35 degrees.
According to the type of lubricating fluid. mineral and semi-synthetic are acceptable. Fully synthetic would be too expensive. The quality level of performance according to API. “SF”, “SG”, “SH”, “SJ” and higher. For four-stroke engines of garden equipment, the label should be marked “4T”.
Top 5. LIQUI MOLY 2-Takt-Motoroil
Considered 26 reviews from the resources: Yandex.Market, All Tools, Ozone, Ozovik
LIQUI MOLY is one of the best known motor oil manufacturers in the world. It is often called the best, and the brand’s catalog also includes lubricants for two-stroke engines. An interesting feature of this product is that it can be filled into any engine up to 100cc. This is a very wide spread. Simply put, the grease is suitable not only for a chainsaw or lawnmower, but also for a moped, and even a motorcycle. That’s why the oil comes in a variety of containers from 0.5 to 5 liters. If the manufacturer had paid more attention to anti-counterfeiting, the product could have taken a much higher position in the ranking. But because of the huge number of fakes on the market the buyers have a distrustful attitude towards it.
Pros and cons
- Used in engines up to 100cc
- Many kinds of containers of different volume
- Bottle with a handy dispenser
- The most counterfeit product
- There is practically no copy protection
Choice of fuel
After buying a new brushcutter the owner who has never used it can’t know what kind of gasoline to fill the mower, how to choose the right fuel, how to change it. The first thing to clarify is the type of engine this equipment is equipped with. Experts do not advise to operate two types of motor on fuel of the same composition. Gasoline engine must run on gasoline, which must be diluted with engine oil. It will protect the injectors and valves, keep them from failing quickly.
Proper operation of the engine of a particular lawnmower will provide the right kind of oil, which comes in:
Companies from various countries, including Russia, France, Germany, Sweden, USA, etc., make high-quality four-stroke oils for power tillers. Wide price range and variety of products lets you select the best option for any unit of small-sized agricultural machinery.
This table shows the average of the most popular four-stroke internal combustion engine lubricants.
| Price in rubles | |
| CARVER SAE 30 (0.95 l) | 290 |
| Husqvarna SAE 30 (0,6 l) | 400 |
| Patriot Supreme HD SAE 30 (0,95 l) | 550 |
| G-MOTION 4T 10W-30 (0.95 l) | 430 |
| SCOUT 10W40 (4 liters) | 1520 |
For a single-axle tractor or cultivator to be durable and to perform its functions well you need to create optimal conditions for engine operation: timely troubleshooting and lubrication of friction surfaces. For lubrication of friction parts it is important to use only suitable engine oil. It should be purchased according to the technical requirements of the power plant and the actual conditions of its operation.
Conventional versus synthetic oil
Which is better for your engine: conventional oil or synthetic oil? Generally speaking, regular oil will do just fine. If you use the oil in the proper conditions, it will provide protection and lubrication, at an affordable price.
However, synthetic oil offers better protection over a wider temperature range, but has a higher price tag. Synthetic oil collects more dirt, so when you change the oil, these particles will be removed from your lawnmower. It can lead to better performance overall.
Whichever option you choose, it’s important to check the level and refill the oil throughout the season, and change it completely after about 50 hours of operation.
What oil to use
The main factors to consider when choosing a lubricant are:
- Providing engine cooling, thermal shock protection;
- operation at high speeds and high loads;
- corrosion resistance during mower downtime in winter;
- no fouling or sulfate ash, smokeless;
- environmental friendliness;
- good solubility in gasoline;
- how long the lubricant can be stored.
The oil in your lawnmower must be biodegradable, all-season and economical.
2-stroke engines require a mix in the manufacturer’s recommended oil to gasoline ratio. For four-stroke engines, no mixing is done; the ingredients are poured separately into different containers. Lubrication is by means of oil tubes, pump, filter and valves.
For the lubricant use the types of oil that are most suitable for 2-stroke units:
The fluid contains 5-15% of various additives designed to increase efficiency of use, slow down corrosion and stabilize viscosity.
Lawn mowers with 4-stroke motors require a simple automotive fluid such as SAE30 or 10W40 with the right technical properties. Important feature of oils for lawnmowers with 4-stroke engines is their long-term stability. SF composition is suitable for almost all makes of cars. Frost-resistant fluid is used for winter operation. In the chart you can find the right oil grade to fill the tank of a 4-stroke mower for working in specific temperature conditions. For example, ALKO or Zubr ZMD-4T-M SAE30 mineral engine oil can be used at temperatures from.5 ° C to 35 ° C, and semi-synthetic Mannol 4-Takt Plus 10W-40 SL with a temperature range of.25°C to 40°C, suitable for all seasons.
Better oil for lawnmowers with 4-stroke engines
Motors with 4-stroke systems determine by themselves how much oil is needed for fuel enrichment. No manual calculations or mixing necessary. You just fill the grease reservoir and that’s it. Now you need to top it up as you use it up. This is convenient and practical, but such mowers are relatively expensive and in case of breakage their repair will cost you a pretty penny. But it is even easier with oils. In fact, any summer motor oil with a viscosity of 30 units will do. But it is better to buy specialized oils. It has an extended set of additives, developed especially for such engines, taking into account all their peculiarities.
Despite the fact that the overall design of four-stroke mower engines similar to automotive, they still have important differences: in order to reduce the price of the product at lawnmowers excluded oil pump and generally the system of oil supply, it increases the requirements to the viscosity used in the motors of garden equipment. The lawnmower‘s engine oil is dispensed by the crankshaft: it’s drawn from the crankcase and sprayed onto the parts. Due to this design, the viscosity of the lubricant should be sufficient to keep the oil film on the parts, at the same time it should not be too thick so as to hinder the movement of parts or form a hard crust.
Lawnmowers, on the other hand, operate mostly at positive ambient temperatures and the load on their engines is not as severe as on car engines. Lawn mowers most often do not require a “cold start” in freezing temperatures, which greatly reduces the life of a car engine and requires low-temperature properties from the lubricant.
On the contrary, lawnmowers are usually air-cooled and therefore have higher engine temperatures than liquid-cooled car engines.
The first filling is intended for running in of the engine. after five hours of work it is replaced, then on the new grease can work all season. In the future it is replaced according to the regulations after a certain number of moto-hours, or it is drained at the end of the dacha season and a new one is filled in the next year.
Oil properties for 2-stroke engines
- Lubrication. contributes to the efficient and accurate operation of the parts in the engine;
- Anticorrosive properties. use of 2t oil allows to considerably reduce occurrence of rust on all elements and units of the engine. This property of two-stroke oil is most important for motorboats and other vessels that operate mainly in salt water. over, the anti-corrosion properties are particularly useful if the engine has been idle for a long period of time.
- Reduced wear. Lubricating components with 2-stroke oil not only improves engine performance, but also reduces friction, which contributes to long engine life.
It is very important to use only good quality 2-stroke oil. Violation of this rule may lead to negative consequences, namely: the formation of a large amount of carbon deposits in the cylinders, coking of piston rings, as well as considerable wear of the elements.
Oil standards for two-stroke engines
There are two standards, according to which two-stroke oil is made:
2T oils are used for lubrication of air-cooled engines, such as: chainsaws, power tillers, lawnmowers, power plants, etc. And TC-W3 oils. for water-cooled engines, jet skis, etc. д.
All the presented oils differ in volume: the volume can be less than 50 ml, and sometimes oils are in bottles up to 5 liters. A standard package of oil is 1 liter. To create a quality oil-fuel mixture.
Two-stroke engine oil at attractive in our web-shop. You should call a toll-free number 8-800-333-83-28. An experienced manager will give you all the information on the terms and cost of delivery.
Correctly prepared fuel mixture is the key to effective work and long engine life. Composition burns completely, does not leave any deposits and does not harm the working components. Our short instruction will help to understand the intricacies of the process of mixing oil with gasoline.
Features of two-stroke and four-stroke engines
The two-stroke engine has the same operating principle as the four-stroke engine. The only difference is that the stroke of a two-stroke engine takes two strokes and a four-stroke engine takes four. The latter is understood as a downward or upward movement of the piston. In this case there are 2 strokes per 1 revolution of the crankshaft. The stroke of the piston is its movement, during which the energy of gases formed during combustion of fuel is converted into useful work of the engine (its rotation).
Structurally and operationally, two and four-stroke internal combustion engines differ from each other according to the following criteria.
- 2-stroke engines have higher values of specific and liter power (approximately 1.5÷1.8 times).
- Lubrication method.
- Four-stroke engines are characterized by greater fuel economy (fuel consumption is approximately 20-30% less), as well as their exhaust emissions contain fewer toxic substances
- The way the fuel mixed with atmospheric air is fed into the cylinder and the exhaust gases are exhausted. 4-stroke engines have a valve timing mechanism that opens and closes the valves when needed. No 2-stroke models.
- Noise levels in operation: 4-stroke engines are quieter.
- Complexity of the machine. 2-stroke models are simpler.
- 4-stroke motors have a longer service life due to their improved lubrication system and because the crankshaft rotates at a slower speed.
- RPM acceleration: 2-stroke machines accelerate faster.
- In terms of ease of periodic maintenance and in terms of repair, it’s easier to deal with a 2-stroke engine. It is also cheaper and lighter than a 4-stroke motor.
Power density is the ratio between the power of the drive unit and its weight. The liter capacity refers to the ratio between power and engine displacement (in liters).
The lack of a valve timing system makes two-stroke engines lighter and easier to design. the cylinder is filled with fuel-air mixture and purged of gas by expansion and compression through special holes: an inlet (blow-off) and an outlet.
Preparation of fuel mixture
To obtain the fuel mixture, engine oil is mixed with petrol in certain proportions. These are given in the owner’s manual. So, mineral lubricants are mixed with petrol at a ratio of 1 to 35, synthetic at 1 to 50.
- pour the exact amount of petrol into the canister;
- add the required volume of oil using a dosing device;
- close the container with cap;
- mix the composition by shaking the liquid.
The prepared fuel mixture is simply poured into the inside of the fuel tank, using a watering can for convenience.
The proportions of oil and gasoline in the fuel mix are shown in the table below. It allows to define quickly volumes of mixed materials.
It is possible to store the ready mix of petrol and oil in polypropylene or metal containers for not more than two weeks. Do not store the composition in plastic bottles. This is due to the fact that gasoline reacts with the container material, and the resulting products get into the working mixture. This will cause more soot deposits to form on combustion of the composition.
It is allowed to refuel only when the engine is almost completely cooled. Do not fill the tank up to the top: leave enough room for the fuel thermal expansion.
Follow the rules of fire and personal safety, performing the work on preparation and filling the working composition away from the sources of fire.
Differences in operation of 2 and 4-stroke engines
For two-stroke engines there are two ways to lubricate the piston system and the crank mechanism:
On the photo oil feed through plunger pump to combustion chamber inlet.
The second method is the future, while the first method. making up a combustible mixture. is used in gardening equipment. The new engines are quiet, economical, but more complicated.
You can use a table and a dosing device to prepare the combustible mixture.
The four-stroke engine has a reservoir for oil that is used to protect the moving parts. In this case, the lubrication system consists of a pump, oil filter and tubes that lead the compound to units. Crankcase or reservoir lubrication may be used. In the former, oil is pumped from the crankcase into the system and from there it is forced by the pump into the feed tubes. With a “dry sump”, drops of oil collected in the sump are returned to the tank.
Wet sump lubricant and dry sump lubricant pictured here.
The difference in oil composition for different types of engines is fundamental. The oil for a 4-stroke lawnmower must retain its composition over a long period of time. Compound for two-stroke engines should have less mineral inclusions in combustion to prevent formation of soot.
If you have a recommended oil, you should not experiment with a different composition. If you don’t have any, choose the recommended grade for 2 or 4-stroke models. If you use gasoline that is higher than the recommended grade, it means you will prematurely replace burnt valves and other components.
An important characteristic when choosing a protective ingredient is its operating temperature. The additive must be resistant to heat, but not thicken at low temperatures. Therefore, each mechanism has its own brand of oil, depending on working conditions.
Producers
When choosing an oil great attention should be paid to its manufacturer. It is best to choose the brand recommended by the mower manufacturer. In the instruction to the equipment, you can find information about the oil filled, the frequency of its replacement, and recommendations regarding the choice of working fluid.
Also, many lawn mower manufacturers make their own oils, which will have to be used for replacement if you want to keep the warranty on the machine. In addition, the manual provides general characteristics that the oil must meet. When choosing a fluid for replacement should be guided by this list. This allows you to choose an oil that meets the manufacturer’s requirements as closely as possible.
Many self-respecting manufacturers of lubricants offer their customers a separate line of products that are designed for the maintenance of garden equipment. If it is possible to choose such a special oil, you should buy it.
- Among all the companies that represent their products on the Russian market, the best is Shell Helix Ultra. These oils are popular in all countries. For 40 years Shell specialists have been working on a unique technology of synthetic oil production from natural gas. The resulting product is characterized by improved composition, which currently has no analogues. The manufacturer adds the necessary additives to the base composition, which allows to obtain products with different characteristics. This oil should be purchased only at specialized outlets, since low-grade fakes are often found.
- Liqui Moly company also presents high-quality products. The manufacturer produces several product lines that have different purposes. This range includes products for maintenance of garden equipment. Such oils are designed for long-term operation of trimmers and lawnmowers, their technical specifications are developed in accordance with the features of modern machinery and manufacturers’ recommendations.
Liqui Moly adds additive packages to lawnmower oils in order to reduce wear and tear and keep the engine clean. The main advantage of these fluids is the environmental friendliness, because they are made on a plant basis. Liqui Moly lawnmower oils meet all environmental regulations.
Rasenmaher makes a good mineral-based lubricant that has been especially developed for garden equipment. The product is suitable for 4-stroke engines with different cooling systems. The Rasenmaher additive can only be used at temperatures above zero. The manufacturer has carefully developed and selected additives for his product. The result is a wide range of functions: