Mower oil.

If it's a good mower I wouldn't risk it. I use an electric mower now since the petrol one that was about 30 year old kicked the bucket, but you did remind me that I had a bottle of 4-stroke oil under the sink along with a bunch of other useless chemicals :D it is indeed SAE30, never used anything else.

Is it near time to think about mowing? I was lazy about the 'final cut' last year so our lawn is a bit hairy, was thinking on it last few days because the sun has begun to appear, I usually wait for someone else to kick start mow-season because once you start ....
 
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The mower is about 15 yrs old and in good order I just looked on the Briggs and Straton site and temp range for the SAE30 is 4 - 38'C the racing oil is -7 - 49'C + . Is that it or is there more to mower oil than SAE numbers?
My lawn was left fairly long last year and seems to be growing sice the cold snap is now over.
 
plloydie said:
The mower is about 15 yrs old and in good order I just looked on the Briggs and Straton site and temp range for the SAE30 is 4 - 38'C the racing oil is -7 - 49'C + . Is that it or is there more to mower oil than SAE numbers?
My lawn was left fairly long last year and seems to be growing sice the cold snap is now over.
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That's about the extent of what I know, it's all down to the temps, at where the oil is most effective. The racing oil probably is less effective at lower temps and could lead to wear or damage I reckon, it'll probably be fine but I'd wait for someone in the know to give the go ahead j.i.c. 15yr old means it's been reliable and probably a decent mower. I looked at the prices of petrol mowers couple year back when our old one died and was never paying €400 for the little square patch we got. Bought an €80 leccy one from Argos and it's doing the job, couple more strides up and down and the cable is annoying ut it cuts nicely. Have to leg it when the rain comes though too :D

I don't mind doing the lawn, we've only a small front and back it's the hedge I dread doing and they go hand in hand.
 
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I have a laurel hedge running up the side of my garden, it separates me from the road there is a brick wall on my side of the hedge but it's not high enough to stop people nosing. The problem with my hedge is that's it's about 80ft long 8ft deep and 10ft+ high and needs cutting. My neighbour had a similar size hedge with a similar brick wall. He decided to rip the hedge out but found it was actually supporting the wall..
 
If it were me I'd stick the racing oil in and not worry about it, the mower engines are not likely to be highly stressed high performance engines, and the 15 grade should get things lubricated at the lower temperatures better. But having said that, for the sake of a tenner or so, if you are concerned, buy some proper rated stuff. I've used all sorts over the years, but now I always use the recommended stuff in my cars due to the extended service intervals. For mowers I'd not worry myself but YMMV.
 
Your motorcycle oil far exceeds what is needed for a mower so you will be fine.
 
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