OIL SHORTAGE???

[GrincheyOne]

For the last two days, I have spent an obsessive amount of time online and phone, trying to find motor oil, for my machines. Most of the sites have very poor search engines. EG Wal-Mart; ask for "conventual SAE 30W engine oil", and you get any thing that has a "30W" iin it on their database for a result of 193 items. Looked at Auto Zone, and they only have one 30W product @ $9.00 a quart. (That's 2 gallons of milk out here). NAPA was not showing anything. Finally found an off brand at TSC.Don't know the API class of the oil? Ask the associate on the phone, and get the answer of the day; "EH?" I hate to drive 32 miles round trip to check it out, that's another $5 in gas (bestcase,depending on traffic).Yet, I would hate to damage any of my 6 B&S engines! I even had one Wal-Mart manager try to sell me 30W bar-chain oil! Yeah right, BUddy!! "in you dreams!"Are any of you out there the same kind of problems, finding the proper oil.?Briggs recommendation:At air temps above 40 deg. F Use a high quality detergent oil "for service SF, SG, SH, SJ" or higherid="Arial">id="size2">id="navy">

[dhoadley]

Wayne, My local general store has a straight 30 weight and its cheaper than the auto/multi weight oil, by about .50 per. It's a no name brand, but I don't worry overly much about brand. It is out there though. Good luck in your search. Dave

[acken]

I am still able to get straight 30 from our local Fleet Farm in their brand. I believe it is bottled by Citgo.

[JimDk]

Wayne,

I have used the 30 w from Walmart for years. They have quarts & gallons, but the gallons are no bargain, price wise. I have never done any research, just buy it because it's handy. My theory, right or wrong, is that the worst of today's motor oil is better than the best oil when these old engines were developed. I have never had any oil related problem using the Walmart brand. Look for the blue bottle with a green insert on the front & SAE HD-30 printed in the insert label.

Good luck, Jim

[BLT]

Blain's Farm-Fleet has been advertising SAE 30 @ 1.89-2.19 per qt.

[fishnwiz]

Auto Zone also carries what you are looking for but any tractor/farm store will have it.

[SmilinSam]

Whole shelf full of 2 gal jugs of sae30 at Walmart last weekend...

[Brettw]

Does anyone know, are there any straight 30 weight oils in synthetic? Amsoil? Royal Purple?

[GregB]

Wayne,

Check out link below.

http://www.petroleumservicecompany.com/coastal-premium-hd-30.html

Bought a case of Kendall full synthetic Euro spec oil, got it in a hurry and was well prepared for the shipment.

They are in Wilkesbarre PA and they ship.

I'm pretty sure the coastal brand is also at Autozone.

[briggsetc]

Notice how 10W40 is not on the "Caution" label? That is probably because Briggs recommended it in their repair manuals up to at least 1984 "If SAE 30W was not available".

I have been using 10W40, with no problems, in my 64 LL since I got it in 2004. It got new rings at that time. I actually just changed to 30W yesterday, only 20W50 in the garage.

This should be a good experiment for me as you do get that puff of smoke on acceleration on the old 23D as Briggs says may happen with multi grade oil.

Gary

[ss74nova]

Wayne, I use the same oil Jim recommended Walmart's "Super Tech HD30" motor oil for the summer months. It states on the bottle "API SERVICE SN, SM, SL", so I believe it has a higher rating than the SF, SG, SH, SJ. I also believe it's a detergent oil even though it doesn't state it on the bottle because it states on the back of the bottle "Meets or exceeds North American warranty requirements for domestic & foreign car manufacturers' gasoline engines in passenger cars & light trucks including fuel injected & turbocharged, where API Service SN, SM OR SL oils are specified". I think I remember the older bottles saying they were a detergent oil but they have to be anyways if they exceed warranty requirements in cars. Here's a link to Walmart's Super Tech HD30 page.

Tim

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pennzoil-SuperTech-HD30-Motor-Oil-1-Quart/16565394

[stevenj]

Last year I bought Castrol 30W at Tractor Supply at a lower price than I found it at Advance Auto Parts.

[427435]

First----------------there is no such thing as 30w oil. There is, however, 30 weight oil. The "w" means a winter rating and that stops at 25w.

The reason that air-cooled engine manufactures recommended 30 weight oil rather than a multi-vis oil is that a multi-vis 10w-30 DINO oil will degrade to a 10w-20 oil (or lighter) with use.

On the other hand, a synthetic oil won't do that. I use 15w-50 or 5w-40 Mobil 1 oils in all my air cooled engines (and have for years). It only takes a couple of quarts so the cost difference doesn't amount to much--------but insuring good engine life is worth a lot!!

[toomanytractors]

Amsoil manufactures a 10w30/30wt small engine formula that covers the specs of both grades. Around 9.00 per qt but compared to the prices of dino oil today I consider it a bargain..My two 3410's spin over in cold weather just like they do in summer.

[GrincheyOne]

Thanks guys, I finally found two stores in a reasonable drive from here, well really one. The Wal-Mart, where the TLE service tech knew what I was looking for, and knew his inventory (strange at Wally-World). 2 gallon jugs only @ $24.72. A call to TSC The service desk said they had 2 gallon jugs, both detergent and non-detergent @ $19.95. The $5 saving is not worth the extra drive to TSC on a beautiful Sunday afternoon ,traffic laden, 8 mile mile drive.

The only Fleet Farm suppliers in this area of the state are suppliers of grains, feeds, and nursery products. There are no Rural Kings or Meynards in Pennsylvania.

I am trying to satisfy oil requirements across two generations of Simplicity equipment between 1968 and 1990 B&S engines. I was surprised the other day to find my 2010 Subaru takes 5w-30.

Again thanks again for jumping in, and the additional advise from experience. the "kids" in this orphanage are of all ages, and HPs.

Cheers,

Wayne