Oil weight recommendation

[bgm1961]

I've been living in an apartment for the past 15 years and moved into a new house a few months ago. So, I'm new to riding mowers.

I recently bought a Cub Cadet ZT1 50", with about five cuttings behind me. So far, I'm happy with my purchase, and I intend to keep it that way!

My first (5 hr) oil change is coming up. It seems that 10W-30 is the most common/prevalent viscosity sold locally.

However, the Kawaski Engine manual writes: "10W-40 is the recommended oil for most conditions." Of course, it doesn't preclude other weights, calling for them based on the operating ambient temperature range.

So, according to the manual's oil chart:
- 10W-30 is suggested for 14 deg F to 90 deg F ambient temps.
- 10W-40 is suggested for the wider range of 14 def F to 110 deg F.

Where I live in Missouri, the temp often climbs above 90 deg several times during the summer. So, their recommendation of 10W-40 seems the way to go.

BUT:
10W-30 is pretty much the only weight the local stores sell for small 4 cycle engines.
Except, Lowes does sell Kawasaki brand 10W-40! It's the ONLY 10W-40 they sell, and it's the ONLY weight sold with the Kawasaki brand. Not to mention that it's like a $1,000 per quart. <grin>

QUESTIONS:
As such, I wonder if Kawasaki recommends 10W-40 only to help with the sales of their own-branded motor oil (which again, is 10W-40), or if 10W-40 is indeed the best viscosity for 80 deg to 95 deg summer days?

So then, if it's the latter, then why don't the local stores stock more 10W-40???

What viscosity to you guys use and would recommend?

Thanks!

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by bgm1961

I've been living in an apartment for the past 15 years and moved into a new house a few months ago. So, I'm new to riding mowers.

I recently bought a Cub Cadet ZT1 50", with about five cuttings behind me. So far, I'm happy with my purchase, and I intend to keep it that way!

My first (5 hr) oil change is coming up. It seems that 10W-30 is the most common/prevalent viscosity sold locally.

However, the Kawaski Engine manual writes: "10W-40 is the recommended oil for most conditions." Of course, it doesn't preclude other weights, calling for them based on the operating ambient temperature range.

So, according to the manual's oil chart:
- 10W-30 is suggested for 14 deg F to 90 deg F ambient temps.
- 10W-40 is suggested for the wider range of 14 def F to 110 deg F.

Where I live in Missouri, the temp often climbs above 90 deg several times during the summer. So, their recommendation of 10W-40 seems the way to go.

BUT:
10W-30 is pretty much the only weight the local stores sell for small 4 cycle engines.
Except, Lowes does sell Kawasaki brand 10W-40! It's the ONLY 10W-40 they sell, and it's the ONLY weight sold with the Kawasaki brand. Not to mention that it's like a $1,000 per quart. <grin>

QUESTIONS:
As such, I wonder if Kawasaki recommends 10W-40 only to help with the sales of their own-branded motor oil (which again, is 10W-40), or if 10W-40 is indeed the best viscosity for 80 deg to 95 deg summer days?

So then, if it's the latter, then why don't the local stores stock more 10W-40???

What viscosity to you guys use and would recommend?

Thanks!

I use the OEM Kawasaki 10W-40 Oil In My Cub Z-Force SX54. But that all My Local former Cub dealer Has In stock so I Bought a case a year ago or so But the oil is used In some other Machines engines that I have. But any brand of 10W-40 will work

[bgm1961]

Thanks for the reply!

So, you're suggesting to go with 10W-40 instead of 10W-30? I guess my ultimate question is based on the notion that since 10W-30 seems to be what everyone around here sells, then it would seem that everyone uses 10W-30.

Hell, even the Maintenance Kit offered by Cub Cadet for Kawasaki engines comes with 10W-30!

Yet 10W-40 is the recommended viscosity (presumably due to its wider range of ambient temps). So, it seems you recommend going with the 10W-40 despite its (higher) cost and its lack of local availability?

I'm not trying to ask a loaded question although it's certainly coming across that way! I'm just trying to make sense of why Kawasaki recommends 10W-40, yet that viscosity is hardly stocked locally, and when it is, it's only the Kawasaki brand. Not to mention that Cub Cadet themselves puts 10W-30 in their Kawasaki maintenance kit.

I think I'm overthinking this way too much and should just use 10W-30. But then I'll wonder if I'm hurting my engine when the temp gets above 90 degrees. But then, given how 10W-30 is the most available, I won't be the only one!

Thanks!

[ol'George]

Well if it were me, I'd just go to a truck stop, farm/home store or Tractor supply and get shell rotella 10W40.
Hell last time I was in Walmart they had it.
If its good enough for a diesel truck/tractor it will work in a lawnmower.
And if they have synthetic all the better.

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by bgm1961

Thanks for the reply!

So, you're suggesting to go with 10W-40 instead of 10W-30? I guess my ultimate question is based on the notion that since 10W-30 seems to be what everyone around here sells, then it would seem that everyone uses 10W-30.

Hell, even the Maintenance Kit offered by Cub Cadet for Kawasaki engines comes with 10W-30!

Yet 10W-40 is the recommended viscosity (presumably due to its wider range of ambient temps). So, it seems you recommend going with the 10W-40 despite its (higher) cost and its lack of local availability?

I'm not trying to ask a loaded question although it's certainly coming across that way! I'm just trying to make sense of why Kawasaki recommends 10W-40, yet that viscosity is hardly stocked locally, and when it is, it's only the Kawasaki brand. Not to mention that Cub Cadet themselves puts 10W-30 in their Kawasaki maintenance kit.

I think I'm overthinking this way too much and should just use 10W-30. But then I'll wonder if I'm hurting my engine when the temp gets above 90 degrees. But then, given how 10W-30 is the most available, I won't be the only one!

Thanks!

I'd stay with the 10W-40 But It doesn't Matter which Manufacturers 10W-40 you use

[Greg57]

I'm in western NY, and plan on doing my break-in 5 hour oil change in a few days [i'm 2 or 3 hours late, oops], and I just purchased the STP premium 10w 30, 4 stroke small engine oil. For the 50 hour oil change, I may splurge and do the kohler 300 hr 10w 50 oil and filter kit. Not sure yet.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by Greg57

I'm in western NY, and plan on doing my break-in 5 hour oil change in a few days [i'm 2 or 3 hours late, oops], and I just purchased the STP premium 10w 30, 4 stroke small engine oil. For the 50 hour oil change, I may splurge and do the kohler 300 hr 10w 50 oil and filter kit. Not sure yet.

300 HOUR OIL CHANGE?
Do as you like, but in all my years,100 hours oil change on an engine that is air cooled and working 100% ALL THE TIME is absolute maximum I'd go unless I'm trading it every year and don't care about it.

[Greg57]

Originally Posted by ol'George

300 HOUR OIL CHANGE?
Do as you like, but in all my years,100 hours oil change on an engine that is air cooled and working 100% ALL THE TIME is absolute maximum I'd go unless I'm trading it every year and don't care about it.

haha kohler claims 300 hours, but I wouldn't let it sit that long. 300 hours for me would probably equate to about 5 years. My kohler 7000 series manual states 100 hrs, and the cub cadet manual suggests 50 hr oil change intervals. So using the STP oil I plan to follow the 50 hour plan, and if I change to the kohler "300 hour" oil and kit, then I'll probably change the oil every 100 hours.

https://www.cubcadet.com/en_US/oil-l...oaAunEEALw_wcB

[Ol’ Autocrosser]

Originally Posted by bgm1961

I've been living in an apartment for the past 15 years and moved into a new house a few months ago. So, I'm new to riding mowers.

I recently bought a Cub Cadet ZT1 50", with about five cuttings behind me. So far, I'm happy with my purchase, and I intend to keep it that way!

My first (5 hr) oil change is coming up. It seems that 10W-30 is the most common/prevalent viscosity sold locally.

However, the Kawaski Engine manual writes: "10W-40 is the recommended oil for most conditions." Of course, it doesn't preclude other weights, calling for them based on the operating ambient temperature range.

So, according to the manual's oil chart:
- 10W-30 is suggested for 14 deg F to 90 deg F ambient temps.
- 10W-40 is suggested for the wider range of 14 def F to 110 deg F.

Where I live in Missouri, the temp often climbs above 90 deg several times during the summer. So, their recommendation of 10W-40 seems the way to go.

BUT:
10W-30 is pretty much the only weight the local stores sell for small 4 cycle engines.
Except, Lowes does sell Kawasaki brand 10W-40! It's the ONLY 10W-40 they sell, and it's the ONLY weight sold with the Kawasaki brand. Not to mention that it's like a $1,000 per quart. <grin>

QUESTIONS:
As such, I wonder if Kawasaki recommends 10W-40 only to help with the sales of their own-branded motor oil (which again, is 10W-40), or if 10W-40 is indeed the best viscosity for 80 deg to 95 deg summer days?

So then, if it's the latter, then why don't the local stores stock more 10W-40???

What viscosity to you guys use and would recommend?

Thanks!

If you’re in Missouri, I’m real close climate-wise (Overland Park, KS). I have a 2023 ZT1-50 and a 2012 Cub LTX1050 KW rider with nearly 500 hours on it, both with the same Kawasaki engine you have.
I also owned and autocrossed air-cooled Corvair turbos for ten years in the ‘70s, so have lots of experience with air-cooled engines which get a LOT of cooling from their lubricating oil. I ran Castrol 20W-50 in the Corvairs, and have used that or, as a minimum, 10W-40 in both mowers. Corvairs were HARD on the oil of that period - the recommended oil change interval on those engines was 6,000 miles or 60 DAYS(!), and that oil was Black after 60 days! I had zero lubrication or wear problems with either of the two Corvairs or the Cubs I currently run. Unless you’re using your rider in cold weather that might require the 10W for the low temperature - say under 40 degrees - like plowing snow, I’d focus more on the upper end of the temperature scale.
Those Kawasaki engines are solid. Neither has ever leaked or used a drop of oil between changes. I love ‘em. You can get whatever weight oil you decide on at any decent auto parts store - you don’t need to limit yourself to the mower shops.