Kohler oil-change

Chuck White · September 23, 2014, 07:13:45 PM

I put the first 100 hours on the new Kohler engine and changed the oil and filter yesterday!

I was surprised that it only took 2 quarts of oil.

The only thing I dislike about the engine is that the oil filter is on the inboard side. Really have to be carful when removing the filter!

POSTON WIDEHEAD · September 23, 2014, 07:45:13 PM

Mine is the same way Chuck. Mine also takes 2 quarts.

With the filter....I hand tighten only......and don't over hand tighten.
I am able now to unscrew the filter with my hand.
I wear a glove when the engine is HOT though. ;D

When I got my new engine, I changed mine after 50 hours and now every 100.

bandmiller2 · September 23, 2014, 08:00:04 PM

With a two quart change theirs no excuse not to use the very best oil. After break in I would go to synthetic, and you should be broken in by now. A little synthetic chainsaw mix in the gas is good for the top end. Frank C.

StimW · September 23, 2014, 10:26:15 PM

I rebuilt a 20hp Kohler a month ago on a Grasshopper Zero Turn Mower that had 3100 hours on it.
It ate a valve when it overheated and valve stuck open with clogged cooling fins!
When I checked the Crank Journal with a micrometer it was STILL PERFECT!
Kohler is doing something right with this series of engines!
No idea what oil was running in it, mower was given to me by a customer to get rid of it after a tenant left it behind.

Brucer · September 24, 2014, 12:54:57 AM

Quote from: Chuck White on September 23, 2014, 07:13:45 PM
... The only thing I dislike about the engine is that the oil filter is on the inboard side....

It's annoying, and hard to remove the filter without spilling some oil. I use an old rag about 16" square, put a rectangular pile of sawdust in the center about 1/2" thick, and fold the edges of the rag over the top of the sawdust. That makes a nice, oil-absorbing pad, which I place under the oil filter before removing it.

dgdrls · September 24, 2014, 06:13:26 AM

Chuck, gentlemen

what do you run for the Oil filter on your Kohler's?

DGDrls

Chuck White · September 24, 2014, 06:33:58 AM

Dan, I use 15W-40 oil

Before I removed the oil filter, I folded up a couple of shop-rags and laid them below the filter, no mess!

woodworker9 · September 24, 2014, 09:17:01 AM

Quote from: bandmiller2 on September 23, 2014, 08:00:04 PM
With a two quart change theirs no excuse not to use the very best oil. After break in I would go to synthetic, and you should be broken in by now. A little synthetic chainsaw mix in the gas is good for the top end. Frank C.

Truer words have never been spoken. ;) I've owned my own mudjacking business for 24 years, and all the equipment is run with gas operated motors, just like a sawmill. They are in heavy duty use, and when I switched to synthetic oil about 15 years ago, my motors now last twice as long. The synthetic oil pays for itself with ease.

Just sayin......and that's all I ever use in everything I own. My Dodge Ram has 156,000 miles on it, and it doesn't burn a single drop of oil. Right on the line every time just before I drain it.

Al_Smith · September 24, 2014, 09:28:38 AM

I don't know if this is pertinant or not .I have a brand new zero turn Toro .The dealer suggested after 10 hours to change the oil but to use petro based oil the first change and run it 20 hours .After that I could go to synthetic if I wanted to .50 hours after that with synthetic ,20 with petro .It's a 23HP Kawasaki .Only holds 1 quart .

Pshaw I won't have 40 hours on it all season mowing 2.5 acres .Fine with me as mowing grass is not my favorite past time .

Dewey · September 25, 2014, 07:03:43 AM

I just replaced my Kohler..... I ran Mobil One 10-30 synthetic in the last one... got 6500 hours on it.... then it blew head gasket.... It still runs great and doesn't burn oil.. But I figured with that many hours it wouldn't be worth repairing and would make a good parts engine. I changed the oil and filter every 100 hours

dgdrls · September 25, 2014, 05:23:43 PM

What oil filters are folks running. I use the Napa Gold series.

DGDrls

Brucer · September 25, 2014, 08:06:15 PM

I buy Kohler oil filters from my sawmill dealer.

Chuck White · September 25, 2014, 08:08:06 PM

I still had a couple of Purolators that I had bought for the Onan and they are the same base-size, so I used one of those!

Jim H · September 25, 2014, 09:37:01 PM

When I remove my oil filter I put a quart oil bottle cut off to about 3" tall under the filter to catch the oil. I can usually do it without spilling any. The Kohler is a great motor, but the onan was easier to do oil changes on. I use whatever filter is on sale usually purolater or fram.

sawguy21 · September 25, 2014, 10:03:37 PM

Breaking in on dino oil then switching was common advice for years but many don't believe it is necessary now. However, I have never had new engines so I really can't compare notes. ;D I have always recommended changing oil after the first five hours the every 25 after that using conventional oil. Some guys change synthetic after two filters but not sure I agree with that.

ScottAR · September 25, 2014, 11:57:15 PM

I run Oem or Wix on just about everything... Napa Gold= wix in a different box.

Compensation · September 26, 2014, 01:14:09 AM

For my zeros I have been buying bulk filters from stens. I change the oil and filter every 25 hours. Napa is having their October filter sale coming up, so I will get 12 of everything. I do like the fact their gold is made by wix. I think the sale is something like 70% off any filter. They gave me a paper to fill out my order.

dgdrls · September 26, 2014, 06:06:59 AM

Quote from: Compensation on September 26, 2014, 01:14:09 AM
For my zeros I have been buying bulk filters from stens. I change the oil and filter every 25 hours. Napa is having their October filter sale coming up, so I will get 12 of everything. I do like the fact their gold is made by wix. I think the sale is something like 70% off any filter. They gave me a paper to fill out my order.

I will look for the NAPA sale, good advise Thanks

DGDrls

bandmiller2 · September 26, 2014, 07:53:58 AM

You can start off a new engine on synthetic but it will take longer for the rings to seat. Frank C.

Al_Smith · September 26, 2014, 08:38:00 AM

That info is exactly what the Toro dealer told me .

Bluejay27 · September 26, 2014, 03:58:19 PM

On my brother's 28hp Kohler, I've been using Amsoil synthetic and changing every 150-200hrs. We'd originally been doing it every 50hrs on dino oil for at least the first 800hrs. I finally smartened up and have run synthetic to 1600hrs currently. At 2qt, the filter was costing as much as the oil before I switched. I use Wix/Napa filters since I can get them cheaper in bulk.

I was concerned at first running longer OCIs, but the oil still looks okay after 200hrs, not too dark from oxidizing, and probably cleaner than the dino oil at 50 hrs. I was concerned about plugging the filter, but the one I took apart looked good enough for another run (not that I would, although my Honda Civic supposedly can).

Compensation · September 26, 2014, 05:25:39 PM

Just talked to the guy at Napa. He said its all month long for October and 70% off. I asked if its nation wide and he said the 5 stores in his chain are all having the sale but that's all he knows. Don't know what shipping would be but if your store isn't having the sale I would help make the transaction and mail it.

bandmiller2 · September 26, 2014, 07:55:00 PM

Residual benefit of the synthetic is easier winter starts, especially helps diesels that depend on cranking at a decent speed to start. I use it in my log splitter and little Kubota "touring" tractor. Frank C.