Diesel Oil use in a Cub Cadet Kohler 25 HP engine . . . good, bad, or not the best ?

AxleHub · Mar 8, 2016

Greetings,

I'm looking for opinions on the use possibility of a high quality diesel engine oil in a Cub Cadet 25 hp Kohler gas engine.

I have a 2011 Cub Cadet I 1050 zero turn tractor. It has the 25 hp Kohler gas engine and has just 85 hours use. I bought it from a dealer (his personal unit) last year with 59 hours on it. I changed oil and filter and used 10w-30 Havoline regular oil.

I also have a new subcompact massey tractor that I switched from using dino oil to full synthetic mobil one delvac 5w-40 diesel oil.

I understand diesel engine oil has some benefits for diesel engines in absorbing suet. And certainly full synthetic can be good for lubrication. Normal tractor recommendation is for 5w-30 dino oil but the synthetic seems easier on the engine for cold starts and heat issues.

So I'm wondering if this same diesel engine oil would be a good thing for my Cub Cadet gas engine.?

Is there something about diesel engine oil that would not be good for a gas engine?

Input and opinions welcomed

32 chev · Mar 8, 2016

No problem I use rotella t or chevron Delo 400 in all my engines gas and diesel.

Soundguy · Mar 8, 2016

If that oil has an s rating high enough, go for it!

mjonesnh · Mar 8, 2016

Just changed oil in my 23hp Kohler command using the Kohler 10w30 branded oil. It is rated SJ but also has a CH-4 diesel rating which would cover most diesel engines before the CJ-4 came to market. I would not hesitate to use 10W30 Rotella if I did not have access to the Kohler oil. It seems that since their Kohler branded oil is considered diesel rated oil that they think this is the way to go.

jim44 · Mar 9, 2016

Been using Delo 400 15w-40 in every machine I have for about 20 years, gas or diesel. So far, so good.......

AxleHub · Mar 9, 2016

Greetings all,

I may have miscommunicated so I thought I would correct any wrong impressions. The Diesel Engine oil I mentioned about using is not a Rotella product. It is a Mobil 1 Delvac ESP 5w-40.

Its certifications are. API CJ-4, CL-4 PLUS, CL-4, CH-4 /SM, SL

and then some cummins and catepillar and acea approvals as well.

Soundguy · Mar 9, 2016

If the S certifications meet your gas engine spec.. go for it!

artfull dodger · Mar 10, 2016

Diesel engine rated oil has a higher zinc content, important for flat tappet (non roller rocker/lifter) engines. Just got back from Kawasaki schooling, and they recommend a "diesel engine" rated oil for all thier engines now. I mostly run Shell Rotella T in most everthing I have, granted my lawn tractor is a diesel, but I also use it in my B&S powered Snapper push mower.

Hill Billy Bob · Mar 14, 2016

I have an LT 1050 with the Kohler Command Engine.....Have run Mobil Delvac 15w/40 since new (it's a 2005 model), without any problems whatsoever. I also run it in the transmission, with a once a year change interval. This mower has logged 1,130.3 hours, and still runs like a top.....no smoke, no makeup oil between changes.