what kind of motor oil should i put in my lawn mower?

hey all, last time i used my lawn mower (it's a Toro recycler with a Briggs & Stratton engine), near the end of my cutting session, white smoke started coming out of the engine, and i think that's due to it being low on motor oil. i've looked on Toro's website but i can't remember which specific mower i bought, and i don't remember where i put the owner's manual (stupid, i know).

anyways, it came with some motor oil. i have 2 containers of motor oil in my garage, but i don't know if one of those is the one it came with, or if they are just ones we already had. they are 5w-30 and 20w-50. i'm thinking the 20w-50 is the one i should use, but i want to make sure.

^ SAE 30 sounds familiar, i was unaware it was the same as 5w30

Cherry Slushy.

It always greases my works, if you know what I mean :wink:

Motor oil that is taxed by the government.

^ SAE 30 sounds familiar, i was unaware it was the same as 5w30

z4twenny

hmmm alright thanks guy. the reason i didn't think 5w-30 was the correct one is because i think my car takes 10w-30, and if 5w-30 and 10w-30 are pretty much the same, how can a lawn mower and car use the same oil? :?

If your engine is low on oil it will seize up, and wont start. But, check you're oil anyway and see if you need to add more. It doesn't matter so much for what you put in it, its a 2 stroke so it burns it up quick. As for the weight of the oil, it depends on your climate. warmer climate needs a higher weight, colder need lower any where between 30-40 is fine. I personally would use the 5w-30, but its just a lawn mower, either one woule be fine and wont hurt it.GTA_dude

thanks guys :)