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Which is better? SAE 10W or 10W-30/40


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Just a quick oil question. For winter use what is better? SAE 10W or 10W-30/40. I can find SAE 10W at fleet farm for 1.50 a quart. I dont often use it below zero so I dont find 5W-20/30 nessecary and I tryed synthetic 10W-30 in summer and under heavy load it drank it like water. 8hp Briggs I/C shortblock with approx 100 hours
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I run 10w-30. A long time ago I was told that it is a more durable oil then 10w-40? Don't know if it is true but it always stuck in my head.
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Check out this link, you will know more than you want to. :D http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=108232&SearchTerms=oil
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I'm using Mobil 1 5w-40 diesel oil year around (it's also rated for spark engines also). The diesel oil also has more zinc in it for better bearing and camshaft lube than the newer oils). [url]http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Files/Mobil_1_Product_Guide.pdf[/url]
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It's in an unheated barn. I tryed Mobil 1 10W-30 and it drank it like water so im not impressed with synthetics.
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In summer with lows in the 70's and highs in the 90's with SAE 30 it uses 1/16 of an inch every week if under heavy load and none if under normal load. With convetional 10W-30 it uses 1/16th of an inch every 4 days under normal load. With Mobil 1 10W-30 It used 3/8 of an inch in 2 hours. Im sticking with petrolium oil.
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If you are consuming oil at either rate, you have bigger problems. I'm surprised you hadn't mentioned any smoke or leaking issues.
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Since it was oil change time I picked up a jug of Briggs and Stratton SAE 30 which is blended for air-cooled engines.
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Diesel rated oil is what I use in my air-cooled engines, but conventional oil usually comes in 15w-40 weight. Rotella makes 10w-30 diesel oil but it is harder to find. I run 10w-30 Rotella in my diesel Kubota and 15W-40 Chevron or Mobil Delvac in my Onan powered Cub Cadet.
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I use 10-30 in most stuff but Straight grade Rotella 30W in the smoky or hungry engines in the summer. Interestingly, I find it at Walmart now.
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