I have a Craftsman garden tractor and it seems to be burning oil awful fast. I don't see any leaks whatsoever. I've been using 10w30 engine oil for the last couple of seasons and lately it's been sputtering even after I have changed the spark plug, fuel filter, and cleaned the air filter.
2007-09-04 23:46:11 · 8 answers · asked by jeremysully 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
10w30 and sae 30 are both 4 cycle oils. I use 10w30 in my sears garden tractor because I use it in winter for snow blowing. I've never had an oil problem. Does it smoke?
2007-09-05 17:35:56 · answer #1 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the people blathering here about oil have no idea what they are talking about. The weight of an oil is far less critical than what kind of use it's designed for. A 30 straight weight oil acts exactly like a 5-30 oil at the temperatures an engine operates at, so it's fine in that respect. What's more important is if it carries an SAE SJ, SL, SM rating, etc. That's the part that is important. If it's not rated at least SH (or whatever your car requires, a 1996 car might be lower) you probably should not use it. Other than that, it will not hurt anything at all. It might actually be good for that old worn out car. As long as you're using it in reasonably warm weather (above 50 degrees) you'll be fine.
2016-05-17 07:17:53 · answer #2 · answered by ashli 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The manual for my sears tractor, briggs engine, says 30wt. It also says that if you use multi-grade you will burn more oil. The two issues could be related but probably not. Burning oil will cause carbon build up on the valves and cylinder head and foul the spark plug. How did the plug look when you changed it? Was it carboned up? Black and oily or clean. The "sputtering is probably a fuel issue and as mentioned, you should clean the carburetor. You said that you cleaned the air filter. You can clean the prefilter but at some point you have to replace the filter. It could cause the engine to run rich and rough.
2007-09-05 05:37:17 · answer #3 · answered by renpen 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, when youre losing oil - its most likely going out thru the exhaust - youd be able to see it in the form of white smoke.
It could be sputtering from running rich ( carb). Try disassembling the carb- give it a thourough cleaning. To help stop some oil loss, try a thicker weight oil. Its only a matter of time before the rings will need replacing, if its burning oil excessively.
More times then not its just easier and cheeper to find a replacement motor.
2007-09-05 03:50:27 · answer #4 · answered by The Kidd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use sae 30 weight oil, don't use 10w30 as this has additives and detergents in it for car engines. If your burning oil it sounds like your rings are bad or the valves, thats why its not leaking just burning.
2007-09-05 03:16:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What oil does the manual that came with the mower tell you to use? If nno manual call Sears Service Dept., give them the model number and they should be able to tell you the correct oil. There is a big difference beteen 4 cyclr and 10w30 motor oil. Sorry, your tractor.
2007-09-05 00:03:31 · answer #6 · answered by Leslie S 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
use standard 30 weight, 10w-30 has a detergent in it to Clean engines, and also thins it out,
sputtering could be casused by moisture in the gas,
or by useing 10w-30 allows the engine to heat up more causing the valves to expand and not seal as good,
oil is oil,
2007-09-05 02:14:28 · answer #7 · answered by William B 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
YES
2007-09-05 02:30:58 · answer #8 · answered by Bonno 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋