The purpose of this post is to discuss the difference between Kawasaki small engine oil and typical automotive oil. This information may also apply to other small engine oils to a greater or lesser degree. Since Kawasaki gives us more information about their oil than the other small engine manufactures do, we are most comfortable recommending and using their oil. Below we will discus two reasons why you should use small engine oil in small air cooled engines.
1. HEAT
Small air cooled engines run hotter than most automotive engines do. This is especially the case on hot summer days. Air cooled engines don’t have a thermostat to control the engine temperature like cars do. As the air temperature gets warmer the air blowing over the engine to cool it also gets warmer. If you get grass or other debris stuck in the cooling fins it can make the problem even worse. The oil temperature in a small engine can reach 280 – 300 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot summer day. This is nearly 100 degrees hotter than the oil in a typical car. Automotive SN/SL oils are not designed for these temperatures and will begin to break down. Kawasaki small engine oil is designed for use in high temperature environments and will not break down as quickly.
2. Zinc
The other important difference between Kawasaki small engine oil and most automotive oil is the levels of zinc that are added to the oil. Kawasaki small engine oil contains much higher levels of zinc than most automotive oil. Zinc has outstanding anti-wear qualities under extreme pressure. It also acts as an anti oxidant. High heat conditions in small engines accelerate the oxidation process in oil. This causes it to thicken and break down into other molecules. Because zinc is an anti oxidant it helps to prevent this break down of the oil and extend its useful life.
Small Engine Oil & Your Car
Can you use small engine oil in your car? The answer is no. High levels of zinc can cause damage to the emissions systems on newer cars. Automotive oil back in the 1970s contained high levels of zinc. However, modern automotive oils no longer contain as much zinc because high levels of zinc can damage the catalytic converter and 02 sensors in modern cars. For this reason we do not recommend using small engine oil in your car.
I use Castrol Edge Advanced Full Synthetic in my mower, it does good, but I noticed on extremely hot days the mower consumes quite a bit of oil, mainly when the temp is in the 90s or higher, now I have an understanding of why its doing this. Thank you for the information.
I’ve been using Valvoline sae 30 for my walk behind mowers and 5W30 synthetic blend for my snowblower and I got told at my work is not the right oil
Hi Ben, I would use the oil weight recommended by the engine manufacture in the owner’s manual. 5w30 is usually the best weight of oil for snow blowers, especially if they are stored in temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. SAE 30 is usually a good weight of oil to use in a walk behind mower unless it is a large area walk behind mower and has a twin cylinder engine with hydraulic valve lifters. In both cases I recommend using small engine oil rather than automotive oil. – Kevin Jr
Small engine 4 cycle oil is specifically designed for air cooled engines that run at higher temperatures than automotive liquid cooled engines. Additive packages in 4 cycle air cooled engine oil are also designed with special detergents and more zinc to fight against wear and oxidation. One can easily find 4 cycle small engine oil at Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply and Ace Hardware to name a few. Or one can purchase the oil at your local outdoor power equipment store. Small engine oil also comes in full synthetic and synthetic blend. Stens also has a full line of small engine oil. I have used Stens 10w30 conventional oil for years in my lawnmowing equipment with good results. I use Toro 5w30 winter blend oil for my snow blowers. My point of view is this. Outdoor power equipment is an expensive investment, and the right oil and the right oil change intervals can make all the difference in longevity and performance. And for engines that use oil filters, use a quality small engine oil filter. A little money now can save you a lot more latter on.