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  1. Sean McGillicuddy Member

    joined: Jan 7, 2012
    194 posts
    Easton mass.
    What is a good Synthetic oil to run in my Splitters engine?
    I do have a small weep/crack in the bottom of case.

    Thanks
    Sean
    #1

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  2. Bret Hart New Member

    joined: Oct 23, 2012
    76 posts
    Canastota NY
    I run Amsoil in everything I own and the fleet I manage as well, except during break in. The only exception is the 2 cycle oil I mix into the diesel for my truck. That gets Walmarts cheapest TC-W3.
    MasterMech and Pallet Pete like this.
  3. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,309 posts
    Northern Illinois
    Any of it should do the trick. Most splitter motors don't really get many hours on them. For an average homeowner, I would venture a guess at about 15 hrs per year. Maybe 20.
  4. lukem Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 12, 2010
    3,136 posts
    Indiana
    I run Rotella T6 5W-40 in just about all my OPE anymore. You can get a gallon jug at Wally World for $20.
    Nixon likes this.
  5. TreePointer Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 22, 2010
    1,303 posts
    Western PA
    Many of my small engines specify synthetic 5W-30 in their manuals for the widest range of operating temperatures. I get Mobil1 5W-30 when it's on sale.

    Here's the recommendation excerpted from the Briggs & Stratton manual that came with my 2009 Huskee splitter:
    [IMG]
  6. Machria Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 6, 2012
    857 posts
    Brookhaven, Long Island
    2 cycle diesel? That you have to add oil to? Never heard of such a thing....
  7. JustWood Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 14, 2007
    3,185 posts
    Arrow Bridge,NY
    You don't have too but it helps lube the pump and engine internals . This modern day low sulpher diesel is crap.
    I run canola in all my diesels.
    OP- My experience with synthetics is if you have a leak now it will become worse when you switch to synthetic. I've tried synthetics in a few pieces of equipment I own and was not impressed with results.
  8. MofoG23 Feeling the Heat

    Mobil 1 5-30 goes into all of my small engines, including the splitter.
  9. Jack Fate Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 17, 2013
    269 posts
    Northwest Ohio

    Total agreement on syn making leaks worse. Was gonna say 5-30 Mobil one otherwise .
  10. Sean McGillicuddy Member

    joined: Jan 7, 2012
    194 posts
    Easton mass.
    So before I switch to Synthetic, should I add some mystery oil, and then change it after it's run hot?
  11. fabsroman Minister of Fire

    joined: Jun 1, 2011
    942 posts
    West Friendship, Maryland
    Well, the "leak" will leak more with synthetics because they are designed to be of the same molecule size and move about more freely (i.e., lube better). Problem is that they will also move through a crack or bad seal just as freely. If the loss of synthetic ends up being significant, it isn't because the crack got bigger, just that the oil goes through it easier.
  12. MasterMech Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 2, 2011
    4,784 posts
    Hudson Valley NY
    Fabs is right. Synthetic will flow through a crack or bad seal faster. Just one of many things it does better than dino oil. :p

    AMSOIL ASE 10W30 Synthetic in everything (4-cycle) I own, Saber Professional for all the 2-cycles.

    If your case is cracked Sean, you gotta ask, is the engine worth the extra $$ for synthetic? I'd think about draining the existing oil, patching up that crack, and then go synthetic.
  13. Sean McGillicuddy Member

    joined: Jan 7, 2012
    194 posts
    Easton mass.
    Its not bad just a little weeping once in a while.
    It's like when you burned oil in the old engines, you filled the oil and checked the gas!!
    Makes you check the level more often which is good!
  14. smokinj Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 11, 2008
    15,417 posts
    Anderson, Indiana
    I run royal purple .
  15. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,309 posts
    Northern Illinois
    No need to do this. Drain the dino squeezin's and pour in whatever oil you want. Synthetic or otherwise. At the hours used, that engine will probably last 20 years without an oil change.;lol
  16. Machria Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 6, 2012
    857 posts
    Brookhaven, Long Island
    Your supposed to change the oil?



    ==c
  17. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,309 posts
    Northern Illinois
    Thats what I hear.;)
  18. basod Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 11, 2009
    765 posts
    Mount Cheaha Alabama
    If you add a quart over the year isn't that just like changing it?:)
  19. Valhalla Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 12, 2008
    880 posts
    Essex County, New York
    Synthetic is a superior lubricant. Over the lifetime of most any engine ownership, it will extend the service life of the motor.
  20. KodiakII Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 17, 2011
    341 posts
    Eastern Ontario
    The manager of our local TSC store (aka This Stuff's Chinese) told me when I was looking at one of their splitters to run it normally for 2 hours and do an oil change, run it for 8 hours and do another this time with synthetic. Guess the reasoning is to limit the exposure of oil borne filings and have it pretty much broke in before going to the super slippery stuff.
  21. nate379 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 21, 2010
    4,006 posts
    Palmer, Alaska
    I used to do that as well but I've found that it's too thick for winter use. It was bad enough in my garden tractor that the govener wouldn't work and it would rev the engine to the moon till the oil warmed up a bit. Exactly what I wanted... that 20hp Briggs spinnign to 10 grand at -25*

    For small engines I generally don't get fussy. Oil level is ok and not 15 years old, good enough for me. :)
  22. lukem Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 12, 2010
    3,136 posts
    Indiana
    -25 and I have to worry more about the operator functioning than the equipment.
  23. nate379 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 21, 2010
    4,006 posts
    Palmer, Alaska
    Eh, just means it's time to get the winter coat out of the closet.

    MasterMech likes this.
  24. fabsroman Minister of Fire

    joined: Jun 1, 2011
    942 posts
    West Friendship, Maryland
    What oil do you use for winter use then? A zero weight like 0w-30? Had no idea that Rotella was synthetic. Me, I pretty much use Mobil 1 in everything. F350, Mustang, Taurus, Focus, John Deere Z445, and what little I need in the splitter. Don't even have conventional oil in the garage anywhere. For the 2 stroke stuff, I use Stihl HP Ultra but am now thinking about buying a gallon of that stuff and being done with it for the next 20 years.
  25. lukem Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 12, 2010
    3,136 posts
    Indiana
    T6 is the syn version.
    TreePointer likes this.

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