Engine oil for B&S engines

[kebo]

Bought a new to me pressure washer with a B&S 8.75hp engine, didn't get the instruction manual. What type of engine oil do these engines normally require? 10W-30 or 10W-40? I am in SC, never gets real cold here, but I won't be using it during the winter anyway. Thanks.

 

[smstonypoint]

Of the various B&S engines I have owned over the years, 10W-30 was always listed in the owner's manuals as being fine for the temperature ranges in the Southeast.

Steve

 

[murphy1244]

I always use Mobil 1 5w30

 

[PoorPlowboy]

I use 20w-50, sae 30, or 15w-50 in non-pressure lubed engines, and I use 10w-40 or 15w-40 DEO like Rotella in pressure lubed engines. I only have B&S and Kawasaki single cylinders and they sound the best during cold start and high temp with those viscosity oils in my area (80-110 degrees). The easiest way to tell if you have a pressure lubed engine is if it has a spin on oil filter.

 

[smstonypoint]

Here's what B&S has to say: https://www.briggsandstratton.com/support/frequently-asked-questions/Engine%20Oil%20Recommendations/

Steve

 

[djdicetn]

Here's what B&S has to say: https://www.briggsandstratton.com/support/frequently-asked-questions/Engine%20Oil%20Recommendations/

Steve

kebo,

I tend to agree with the Briggs & Stratton recommendation and have always used Briggs & Stratton "brand" SAE30 oil here in Tennessee. I have never needed any equipment with a B & S engine when the ambient temperature was 40 degrees or colder and as pointed out even though 10W30 gives a better cold starting range, it can lead to oil consumption over time(as described in the B & S link that user smstonypoint provided). I had a True Value Lawn Chief lawn tractor with a 16hp B & S Vangard engine from 1995 until my son retired it last year(17 seasons of use). I changed the oil every season and the filter every other season and even though after 17 years the Lawn Chief was suffering from a lot of rust and the deck was pretty well shot......that 16HP Vangard was still running like new and not using a "drop" of oil between oil changes. I think that's a fairly decent testimonial for Briggs & Stratton SAE30 oil!!! In fact I just bought a 2012 Gravely Pro-Turn XDZ 152 which has a 22HP Kawasaki FX691V Commercial engine and guess what I plan on running in it beginning with the very first oil change(only has 5.4 hours on it so far)............yep, you guessed it, I'll be using Briggs & Stratton SAE30 oil in the Kawasaki based upon my experience that this oil seems to work very well in well-maintained lawn mower engines:0)