budman2 57 #1 Posted January 19, 2022 (edited) what kind of oil and weight should this take in the winter? Thanks in advance! budman2 I guess I have been running the onans for too long! This is a kohler 14 magnum about a 1995 model 700 hours on it! Edited January 19, 2022 by budman2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,367 #2 Posted January 19, 2022 (edited) Some run SAE30 all winter long. some use 10w30 claiming it makes it start easier. We do not get extreme cold here so I stay with the strait 30. Edited January 19, 2022 by Maxwell-8 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,649 #3 Posted January 19, 2022 How cold is it where you store your tractor? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
budman2 57 #4 Posted January 19, 2022 (edited) Outside in the unheated shed! I used to run straight 30 weight years ago! just thought I would check! Also does anyone run synthetic oil in these? Thanks again, budman2 Oh yea I live in Ohio! Edited January 19, 2022 by budman2 weather info! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,649 #5 Posted January 19, 2022 I have winter and summer horses. Summer get Rotella 30w. Winter get 5w-30. it was 19 degrees in the unheated storage area the other day when i went to start a snow horse up... If you only start one occasionally in the really cold i suppose 30w isn't going to cause it to blow up. But my L-107 starts a few times a week in the real cold and is only used for short periods so she get 5w-30... Ever tried pouring st 30w when it is at 20 degrees??? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skwerl58 763 #6 Posted January 20, 2022 I have a 1987 model 414-8 and I run 30w year round. I started using Rotella T1 30w this fall and it is doing great. I have been adding the Rislone Zinc addditive to it for a couple of years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
budman2 57 #7 Posted January 20, 2022 Don't know what Rislone Zinc is or what it is for! educate me bud! budman2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,649 #8 Posted January 20, 2022 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Skwerl58 said: I have a 1987 model 414-8 and I run 30w year round. I started using Rotella T1 30w this fall and it is doing great. I have been adding the Rislone Zinc addditive to it for a couple of years. But how cold is it when you actually go to start it??? and how many times do you do it ?? Edited January 20, 2022 by pfrederi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
budman2 57 #9 Posted January 20, 2022 In Ohio it gets anywhere from 0 degrees up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,649 #10 Posted January 20, 2022 Just now, budman2 said: In Ohio it gets anywhere from 0 degrees up! Then I would go with 5w-30. Skew58 was in Virginia. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skwerl58 763 #11 Posted January 20, 2022 I am in SWVA so we get cold but not crazy cold like the North east. I have used it numerous times in the 20's but not colder. I pushed with it at 28 this week. I start it at half throttle also not wide open. I let it warm up some before full throttle. I told him what I was doing. If I lived in a colder climate I would possibly look at a 10/30 in the winter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
budman2 57 #12 Posted January 20, 2022 OK guys thanks! looks like I better go with the multi viscosity! budman2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,367 #13 Posted January 20, 2022 7 hours ago, budman2 said: Don't know what Rislone Zinc is or what it is for! educate me bud! budman2 Zinc is a metal and for years was an additive in engine oil. It help protect the cam and lifters of these small engines. Unfortunately due to environment reasons I guess. they removed a big part of the zinc additives packages. For longevity of our old KOhler and Onan motors. We better add in some zinc in with the oil. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,813 #14 Posted January 20, 2022 5 hours ago, Maxwell-8 said: Zinc is a metal and for years was an additive in engine oil. It help protect the cam and lifters of these small engines. Unfortunately due to environment reasons I guess. they removed a big part of the zinc additives packages. For longevity of our old KOhler and Onan motors. We better add in some zinc in with the oil. It actually started with aircraft engines about 3/4 of a century ago. Aircraft see heavy loads and extreme temperatures, so engineers found that this additive was beneficial. It became common in motor oils ever since. Then some genius decided that the little bit of ZDDP in the little bit of oil consumed would harm a catalytic converter, so the government caused it to be greatly reduced. The ZDDP has a benefit for all wear surfaces in an engine, not just the lifters. A rounded cam or failed lifter is an obvious problem, but an engine slowly wearing out is overlooked. Adding too much ZDDP can have negative effects like corrosion, so be careful with using additives. I now use Kohler oil, that has the correct amount of ZDDP, in all of my small four stroke engines so there is no need to calculate and measure additives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edgro 680 #15 Posted January 20, 2022 I use 10w30 year round, also for what it's worth, the w in oil designation is for winter, not weight 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
budman2 57 #16 Posted January 20, 2022 Thanks guys a lot of info on here! I need all the help I can get budman2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
