Which oil should I use.... in a Z-Turn?
 

Nope .... didn't do a search :D

In a Z-Turn that needs the "good stuff" lacking in modern oils ... sorta like a 911...

What do you guys use? I'm gonna gather specs and bug Lubey ... but what say ye?

Both motor and trannies (Kawi and HydroGear 3100)... Brand and weights ... thanks!

Are my HG Made in China dinky tranny filters I have on hand OK .... I don't like 'em, but skeered to deviate.

My Super Z with a Kohler Command calls for 10w30 (IIRC) I buy whatever is cheapest honestly. I figure for the hours I put on my machine and the service interval (change it every spring) why go crazy spending more on oil? I use 20w50 for the Hydros since that's what Hustler recommends.

I use 10W30 Lawn Mower Oil from Walmart in my John Deere Commerical Z-Trak.

All of 'em have the HG hydros... either 2800 or 3100. Not much difference between the two, but their low oil capacity and high temps make me think REALLY good syn makes sense for those .... and $$$ doesn't matter to me. I have a 5 qt. Castril 20W50 on hand and two dinky China filters ... (HG branded) ... never used 'em on my baby Scag.

Motor Earl ... I'm thinking 20W50 from Mobil/Amsoil (with added ZDDP, etc.) or the syn Kawi stuff the dealer sells...

I'll get specs and info later and compare.

Need something designed for Z-Turn (air) verses auto earls....

Earl isn't earl no mo' :D

Thanks!

For my intended use ...

I could be TOTALLY over thinking this :D.

So what :)?

Bobistheoilguy.forum

I keed you not :D

Mebbe it's Kontak...

They nose stuff about these thingies... at least to me they do ...


https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/20w50-for-hydrogear-zt-3100s.331524/post-5516476

I used to run Lucas 15w-40 in my Dixie Chopper with Kohler engine. I switched this year to Rotella 15w-40 T6. I use the same oil in the Hydro tank.

My guess is that pretty much any modern oil in the appropriate viscosity will be more than adequate (although I do stick with name brands).
If you want to go Synthetic, then any name brand synthetic in the correct viscosity is likely to be overkill. So probably get the cheapest brand name synth in the right vis.

I have no thoughts/recommendations on the tranny.

This is the same reason I would buy the best oil.

I LOVE my zero turn with the MyRide 3 shock supported suspension ride deck for my 5 acres.

really really saves the body abuse.




https://www.toro.com/en/myride



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1728414231.jpg

IIRC Valvoline had the best Zinc added 20W50 back when i had my 2.4. Not easy to find but at the time it was the top choice of internet experts.

I try not to overthink oil. As long the oil meets the required specification, I buy whatever is the cheapest. Generally that means I go to Rural King and buy their store brand oil. I do tend to buy a better brand of oil filter as I think filtration is more important than oil brand.

geezus its oil, dead dinosaur juice with flavorings, and in a lawn mower...........send your oil out for micron metal wear testing yet.......in a lawn mower?


paralysis by analysis.

Yer in big trouble mister! I'm telling the guys in the 911 Tech section oil thread what you said. Yer callin down the thunder!! :D

Mobil 1 20W50 V- Twin seems to have it.

I was tempted by the Toros .... just not apporopriate for that property ... but they are Niiiice ;)

My buddy with a Hustler SuperZ discovered that the brand of earl doesn't matter nearly as much as having some.... or any :(.

He's an idjut .... smart and dumb .... $4K worth of dumb :D

Nick ... any personal experience with the Hustler Flex forks.... I still think they might work on this model ... but how MUCH do they help.... the Hustler dealer says they help more that seat suspensions, etc.

I might try 'em ... ' cause I can :)




Just because :D

The Hydro hydro guys seem to suggest that 20W50 is better for the trannys ...

Bob's forum that I linked was informative ...

Thanks all!

That's what I thought too ...

According to my "new" dealer ... regular auto oils (new formulas over the last decade or so) ... are just "no bueno"... either in the motor or trannys these days.

Earl is cheap ;)

I have the flex forks on my machine and my dad had them on his machine. I'm honestly not sure just how much they really improve the ride. What tire pressure are you running on your mower? I think my Hustler runs 10 in the front and 8 in the rear but I could have that reversed. I think air pressure would probably help as much as the flex forks. I can put a caliper on the outer tube that holds the forks and measure the length of the tube. Those two measurements might help determine if what you've got is similar.

I disagree that the flex forks help more than the seats with shocks or springs. My mower has flex forks and adjustable suspension seat (standard style not like pictured above). At full speed I can still bounce myself pretty good.

My next mower, if the Hustler ever decides to go, will probably be a Ferris with full suspension. Everyone I talk to about them says they're the smoothest ride going for a mower.

Thanks Nick! I just got my newest Scag yesterday .... haven't used it yet.

Does Elephant Racing do flex-fork mods :D?

Maybe we should start "Mods For Mowers" or something like that. I mean, if people pay out the nose to modify a golf cart, why not a mower?

I am an authorized Hydroguard repair center.. At the last Hydroguard training event I was at, the topic of oil came up. Most of the dealers there used the Rotella rather than Hydroguards branded oil.

I hope you have zero experience with the HG 3100s :D!

They are entry level commercial/homeowner ... not like the REAL commercial hydros... much more robust I'm sure.

What weight... 20W50?

Mobil 1 20-50 V-twin in my Walker Kohler Ti25 engine and Mobil SHC 630 in the hydrostatic pumps. It's a 5 year old, low-hour, summer only rig and probably over-maintained but so far, no problems. I'm religious about starting it only at idled throttle and when cold letting it run a minute or more before taking it to operating RPM. I'd rather not fix things that were ruined by being stupid.

20/50 is fine. The failure rate is pretty low if you just change the oil per recommended intervals, using whatever flavor oil you like. Most failures are from people using them to pull a trailer, or never changing the fluid.

ROFLMAO!

You can't handle the truth! <I need to watch that movie again>

Interesting. I'd love to know why.

Still possible to find "SAE 30" which was the mower recommendation WAY back in the day.

I think my ZT calls for more pressure in the front than the rear, so that would make sense for yours. I suspect they are all pretty similar with the most weight and biggest tires in the rear.

My wife would love something with better suspension, but I suspect she wouldn't like the bill to get it.

Yep ... that's what used for years. Per him ... the zinc & phosphorus were reduced in auto oils some years back. Like the 911s .... I still use Brad Penn, but have bottles of ZDDP from years ago too ;).

Seems to know his stuff ... Toro dealer for years .... I just discovered him.

"BT South" is his biz..... good web site that he did ....

He's a Toro man :)

His display cases full of Benchmades behind the counter don't have prices on them ....

I probably shouldn't go back :D

I like this "rabbit hole" I seem to have fallen into :D

Keep your eyes open for a homeowner owned mower. Sometimes they'll post on Marketplace trying to sell for a bit more or the same as trade in. I'd stay away from the mowing company owned machines. The farmer owned mower is a good one to get as well. They'll buy them and write them off as a farm expense then sell them every few years.

My buddy with the SuperZ .... purchased his from Kyle Petty's Victory Junction property with only 40 hours on it after some event years ago... got a deal. They had a few....

edited: How come my posts got funny looking fonts now.... what did I do ;)?

He's clearly a man of wealth and taste!

I've seen a few nicer mowers being sold by private sellers and thought, "we should upgrade."

Good to know about the company mowers. I'm assuming they get rode hard and put away wet? Kind of like buying an ex-rental car?

There are deals to be had if you watch out for them. My dad snagged his Super Z for 10K brand new buying a dealer hold over from the previous year.

I had no idea what this thread was about from the title and I have to say, after reading the OP and subsequent posts, I still don't. Lawnmowers? :confused:

Ride on, Zero Turn lawn mowers which are, IMO, the super cars of the lawn mower world. And like many/most riding lawn mowers, are a not inconsiderable investment. So you want to protect/maintain your investment.

Got it. I haven't been in a lawn mowing lifestyle since I moved to SoCal 42 years ago...no one here mows their own lawn, (or has one). I actually miss it from my youth.

I'm watching "Tulsa King" on streaming right now and Stallone plays a Brooklyn mobster who was just in prison for 25 years. He sees someone mowing their lawn and wistfully observes that he's never operated a lawn mower. Something tells me that if I keep up with the show, he will wind up doing it. :)

Zero turn mowers.
Huge rear tires, and so awesome they've got to have roll bars!

https://www.scag.com/wp-content/uplo...etahii-vid.jpg

Use what the OEM says to use.

That doesn't sound like the Mike I know .... you musta seen the sock thread :D

What if there are better options ;)....

I have what the dealer recommended, but for those hydros, I want the absolute best.... or better.

After break-in (100 or 50?) the 2 qts each will be in there a long time... I don't think I can go wrong with Mobil1 20W50 V-Twin .... motor (instead of Kawi branded) and the hydros get hot... so in them too :)

Fwiw .... I have a 5gal jug of Castrol GTX 20W50 for my first Scag with HG Hydros from 16 years ago. That was what HG used and recommended back then...

I don't have 'em here .... I'll get the specs. The HG China filters (same age) .... at least they aren't new China .... look dinky, but I will use them :)!

Thanks Mike!

Hey Denis....

1970 Beetle ---> 2024 911
1070 John Deere ---> 2024 Z-Turn

Hoot :)