Small engine oil vs regular oil

[Gale Hawkins]

The reason we use Synthetic Rotella 5W-40 if because it works well for our small gas or larger diesel engine. 5 is better should they be started in cold weather and the 40 vs 30 gives a little edge in protectiong air cooled engines per my understanding on the subject.

 

[crashz]

Total Base Number - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Close... Mace is right though. TBN is parameter to measure the oil's ability to resist corrosion and damage due to acid build-up. Acids form during the combustion process. Additives that increase TBN are meant to neutralize acid, therefore over time and operation, they are consumed. Some of these "basic" additives are also used for detergent dispersant additives, but that has nothing to do with TBN by itself.

However - you are right in the fact that the small engine oils do settle out particulates rather than keep them in suspension for filtering. Hence lower detergent/dispersant parameters. B&S used to specify a non-detergent oil years ago. Tough to find ND oil these now though.

I wonder if Honda decided that using a ND oil would require some type of sump that would allow settling and consequently a larger size, therefore they gave up that train of thought. Rightly so. A stationary engine can benift from this process, but not something that will routinely be tossed around, stirring up the trash in the sump. That could explain why my lawn mower is dying now that I mow our very steep hill vs years of mowing a nice flat lawn.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I maintain 17 four-cycle engines, gas, diesel, turbo, water-cooled, air-cooled, including a generator. There is only one oil on my shelf for all the engines, Mobil 1 5w-40. I do not have the time or space to use this oil in that and that oil in this. Been doing this since at least??? No issues. Philip.