calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

[one more cast]

I just drained the oil on my lawn tractor with Mobil HD30. I had 2 qts and it holds 2.5 qts. I went to every store around and NOBODY has Mobil HD30 (I bought it at wally world last year). I looked on the Mobil web sight and they no longer list it. My question is what should add to fill my crank case? I'm not a big fan of mixing oils. Is exxon HD30 the same as mobil or should I add a Mobil multi vis. oil? This is only the 2nd oil change on this motor. I could also drain it out and use it in my tiller and push mower.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Please forgive me as I am neither you requested info from..... It don't matter that much. You could use another brand of HD 30 and be fine. You could also use a multi visc of any brand and be fine. It'll be so diluted by the 2 qts tha it won't matter. If this was a 747 or something I "might" be a little concerned. A lawn mower? Won't hurt it a bit.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

OMC, you are old enough to know this. HD stands for HEAVY DUTY. One of the most misused phrases of our lifetime. It's kinda like HEAVY DUTY laundry detergent.<br /><br />Someone finally saw the light and quit using that trite prefix. Any modern detergent 30wt will do you well.

 

[one more cast]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Boomyal, I know what HD stands for( Harley-Davidson right). Mobil no longer has striaght 30 wt. and It just pisses me off that these companys stop selling the stuff I like. Hermon shoes, Dark stiff denim jeans,4 speed Harleys and now Mobile 30. Whats this world coming to.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Appears those you are hailing are not answering just yet...in the meantime I'll throw in my pennies. If you're changing the oil, you're not mixing anything except a few inconsequential drops. Use a jack or a couple blocks of wood to tip that tractor up on one side toward the oil drain to get some more out if it makes you feel better. And even if you are mixing, it wouldn't hurt a thing. I change and mix oil brands as often as my underwear (every few months or so ) in most everything I drive, race cars included depending on sponsorship changes and whoever's willing to give me free oil that particular month. A simple lawn tractor certainly won't notice any difference. Any old SAE 30 will be fine...buy by price.

 

[one more cast]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

"If you're changing the oil, you're not mixing anything except a few inconsequential drops." <br /><br />c1c, I thought 2 qts. would fill it but it didn't. I am 1/2 qt low. It might be only a mower to the rich white honkeys on here but to me it was an expencive new piece of 22hp junk that I have to try an make last for 30 years.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Why not go to a 100% synthetic oil, such as Amsoil? Many claim they are the best, as do many websites on lawn mower care. Might be overkill, but if you want it to last....

 

[craze1cars]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Originally posted by One More Cast:<br /> "If you're changing the oil, you're not mixing anything except a few inconsequential drops." <br /><br />c1c, I thought 2 qts. would fill it but it didn't. I am 1/2 qt low. It might be only a mower to the rich white honkeys on here but to me it was an expencive new piece of 22hp junk that I have to try an make last for 30 years.

Ah....I understand now...I didn't realize you had already dumped in 2 quarts and ran out, so you're actually looking for that last 1/2 quart to top 'er off. Regardless...for reference my last oil change on the wife's Oldsmobile consisted of 3 different brands (I believe Q state, Exxon, and generic CarQuest brand) of conventional 5W30 bottles I had leftover here from past sponsorships. 6,000 miles later and that oil looks fresh and new...'tis almost about time for a change though. And maybe of more relevance to your situation, my early 1980's 18HP Wheelhorse tractor has seen so many mixed brands of conventional SAE 30 over the years, and I have no idea what's even in there right now. 900+ hours and 20 years later it hardly burns a drop each season...might have to put a splash in 1/2 way thru the summer, but it did that when brand new so I'm not blaming the oil. So I still maintain that mixing brands of oil is harmless, though I admit I'm more leery of mixing different weights or types.<br /><br />As you suggested, if mixing still scares you: It's simple enough to drain out those two quarts at a $4 loss (or recycle into your smaller motors), and buy 3 new quarts (I guess that adds another $6) of whatever new brand you're going to be switching to for the future. Then it'll all be fresh and of one blood...<br /><br />I, too, am a synthetic fan so it's worth considering. But for certain things I feel it's too expensive to be worthwhile...lawn tractor fits that bill in my opinion, but we each have our own threshholds so you can choose yours.<br /><br />Whatever you decide, enjoy yer new tractor. We all know that it's very difficult to be considered a REAL man if you don't own a solid riding mower....

 

[one more cast]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

OK heres the scoop. I'm going to add 1/2 qt of another brand 30 wt. and next oil change go to syn. I guess my original question reworded would sound like this: Is it better to mix grades or brands.

 

[tommays]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Most old lawnmoers without and oil filter were supposed to use a NON-Detergent motor oil which has become hard to find <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[LubeDude]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Been busy this weekend, just saw the post.<br /><br />If you dont want to go to a synthetic, you could use Chevrons Dello 400 30W. Great oil and will do great in your new tractor. If you want a synthetic, by all means do it. Your engine has broken in now and there will be no problem with the change over.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Straight weights are hard to find. Last time I only found some at the dollar store. Check you local auto supply.<br /><br />Any 30wt oil will work. Dont worry about mixing straight weight oils from different manufacturers , they should be fine.<br /><br />I would be a bit leery of mixing multi-weights from different manufactures.<br /><br />And dont mix straight weight with multiweight.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Gone]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Originally posted by One More Cast:<br /> Boomyal, I know what HD stands for( Harley-Davidson right). Mobil no longer has striaght 30 wt. and It just pisses me off that these companys stop selling the stuff I like. Hermon shoes, Dark stiff denim jeans,4 speed Harleys and now Mobile 30. Whats this world coming to.

My neice and her husband insist that HD stands for "Hundred Dollars". Nothing in the Harley shop costs less than a Hundred Dollars.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Go to Costco, they carry Chevron 30wt. Good price for the case as well.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Originally posted by One More Cast:<br /> It might be only a mower to the rich white honkeys on here but to me it was an expencive new piece of 22hp junk that I have to try an make last for 30 years.

I understand ya completely OMC. I hope I didn't offend in any way. More than anything is I was saying is it'll last just as long. As Bondo's tag says "Any oil is better than no oil at all" Not many on here understand cheap. If they seen me then they would know cheap. I make it last forever.

 

[TheOilDoc]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

Your lawn tractor specifies a SAE 30 oil because of ash content and undesirable viscosity improvers found in some multi-vis oils.<br /><br />Using different brands and viscosities will result in a mixed bag of additives, most likely shortening the life of both oil's original additives. You could certainly mix, but it would not be to your engine's benefit.<br /><br />The most obvious thing to do is drain the two quarts you already put in and start over. But again, if you're worried about wasting 2 quarts of oil, then by all means mix. I would have a preference to another brand SAE 30 oil over changing viscosity.<br /><br />I believe Mobil still makes SAE 30 in their Delvac (1630), Mobilgard, and Pegasus labels. BTW, "HD" is a term used in the oil industry that usually describes diesel or industrial engine oils.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: calling Lubedude and/or the oil Doctor

I saw Briggs and Stratton sae 30 oil for mowers at Wally world yesterday.I would surely mix brands before I mixed vis.