Lawn Mower Oil Type: What Oil Each Engine Takes, and How Much

Key takeaways

• Briggs & Stratton lists SAE 30 above 40°F, 10W-30 for varying temperatures (with more oil use above 80°F) and synthetic 5W-30 for all temperatures.
• Honda’s GCV170 and GCV200 engines hold 13.5 oz (0.40 L) of SAE 10W-30 rated API SJ or later, and the Honda engine manual says to use 4-stroke automotive detergent oil.
• The walk-behind engines in our table hold 13.5 to 20 oz; riding engines hold 1.5 quarts (John Deere S100) to 2.2 quarts with a new filter (Kawasaki FR691V).
• Change the oil after the first 5 hours, then every 50 hours or once a year on Briggs & Stratton walk-behind engines (Briggs maintenance schedule); Kawasaki FR and Kohler 7000 riding engines run 100 hours between changes.
• A 2-cycle engine mixed at 50:1 needs 2.6 oz of 2-cycle oil per gallon of gasoline, and 4.0 oz at 32:1 (Briggs 2-cycle chart).
• API lists SF, SG and SH as obsolete; SQ, introduced in March 2025, is the newest gasoline category (API Motor Oil Guide, 2025).

What kind of oil does a lawn mower take?

A 4-stroke lawn mower takes detergent motor oil in the viscosity grade its engine maker lists for your mowing temperatures. Briggs & Stratton names SAE 30 for warm weather above 40°F, 10W-30 for varying temperatures and synthetic 5W-30 for all temperatures; Honda names 10W-30 for general use. A 2-stroke mower has no crankcase oil: its 2-cycle oil is mixed into the gasoline.

The grades below are the ones the five engine makers in this guide print in their manuals and oil charts. Anything outside these lists, such as a 0W-20 car oil, appears on none of the charts we checked, so buying a listed grade is the simplest way to stay inside the manual.

Oil grade	When engine makers list it	Watch for	Source
SAE 30	Warm weather: above 40°F on the Briggs & Stratton chart; from 50°F up on Kohler’s XT and 7000 charts	Below 40°F (4°C), SAE 30 “will result in hard starting”	Briggs & Stratton FAQ; Kohler XT manual
10W-30	Varying temperatures; Honda’s grade for general use; Kohler charts run it from 0°F up; Toro lists it beside SAE 30	Above 80°F (27°C) it may increase oil consumption, so check the level more often	Briggs & Stratton; Honda HRN216 manual
5W-30 (conventional)	Cold weather: 40°F and below on the Briggs chart; 32°F and below on Kohler’s charts	Not charted for summer mowing by Briggs or Kohler	Briggs & Stratton; Kohler 7000 manual
Synthetic 5W-30	All temperatures, with better cold starting and less oil consumption (Briggs)	Does not change Briggs’s 50-hour oil change interval	Briggs & Stratton
Synthetic 15W-50 (Vanguard)	Continuous commercial use and varying temperatures; charted from about 20°F up	Briggs names its own Vanguard product for this grade	Briggs & Stratton
10W-40	Kawasaki engines, including the FR series: recommended for most conditions	Kawasaki says 5W-20, 10W-30 and 10W-40 multigrades increase oil consumption	Kawasaki FR manual; Kawasaki FAQ
20W-50	Kawasaki engines in higher ambient temperatures	Kawasaki says it may reduce oil consumption in heat	Kawasaki FAQ
Kohler PRO 10W-50 synthetic	All seasons on Kohler 7000 engines	The 300-hour interval applies only with the Kohler PRO filter	Kohler 7000 manual

Where the SAE 30 line sits depends on the maker. Briggs & Stratton’s footnote says SAE 30 below 40°F (4°C) will result in hard starting, Kohler’s XT and 7000 charts start SAE 30 at 50°F, and Briggs flags 10W-30 above 80°F (27°C) for higher oil consumption. If the mower starts on cold spring or fall mornings, 10W-30 avoids the SAE 30 limit on both makers’ charts.

What oil does your mower’s engine call for?

The oil spec belongs to the engine, so read the engine maker’s name and model on the engine itself, not only the brand on the deck. Toro’s own 21-inch Recycler manuals show why: model 20349 holds 18.6 fl oz while models 21332 and 21352 hold 15 fl oz. The table below sets grade, API rating, capacity and oil change interval side by side for 10 engines and mowers.

Engine or mower	Type	Oil capacity	Grade the maker lists	API minimum	Oil change	Source
Honda GCV170 and GCV200 (HRN216 mower)	Walk-behind	13.5 oz (0.40 L); refill 12.0 to 13.5 oz	SAE 10W-30 for general use; SAE 30 in warm weather per chart	SJ or later	Every 6 months or 50 hours; 25 hours under heavy load or high heat	Honda HRN216VKA owner’s manual
Briggs & Stratton EXi625 (150 cc)	Walk-behind	15 oz	SAE 30 above 40°F; 10W-30; synthetic 5W-30	SF, SG, SH, SJ or higher	No oil change: Just Check & Add, top up as needed	Briggs & Stratton EXi Series specifications
Briggs & Stratton EXi725 (163 cc)	Walk-behind	15 oz	SAE 30 above 40°F; 10W-30; synthetic 5W-30	SF, SG, SH, SJ or higher	No oil change: Just Check & Add, top up as needed	Briggs & Stratton EXi Series specifications
Briggs & Stratton EXi875 (190 cc)	Walk-behind	18 oz	SAE 30 above 40°F; 10W-30; synthetic 5W-30	SF, SG, SH, SJ or higher	No oil change: Just Check & Add, top up as needed	Briggs & Stratton EXi Series specifications
Toro 21in Recycler model 20349	Walk-behind	18.6 fl oz (0.55 L)	SAE 30 or SAE 10W-30 detergent oil	SJ or higher	Yearly	Toro 20349 operator’s manual
Toro 21in Recycler models 21332 and 21352	Walk-behind	15 fl oz (0.44 L)	SAE 30 or SAE 10W-30 detergent oil	SJ or higher	Manual says changing the oil is not required; check level before each use	Toro 21332/21352 operator’s manual
Kohler XT-6, XT6.5, XT6.75, XT-7, XT775, XT8	Walk-behind	20 oz (0.6 L) refill	10W-30 from 0°F up; SAE 30 from 50°F up; 5W-30 at 32°F and below	SJ or higher	Every 50 hours or annually	Kohler XT service manual 14 690 01 Rev. G
John Deere S100 lawn tractor, 42-inch deck	Riding	1.5 qt (1.41 L)	Turf-Gard 10W-30	Not stated on sheet	Oil and filter every 50 hours	John Deere S100 maintenance reminder sheet
Kohler 7000 Series KT715 to KT745	Riding	2.0 qt (1.9 L) refill	10W-30 from 0°F up; SAE 30 from 50°F up; 5W-30 at 32°F and below; Kohler PRO 10W-50 all seasons	SJ or higher	Oil and filter every 100 hours; 300 hours only with Kohler PRO 10W-50 and PRO filter	Kohler 7000 Series service manual 32 690 03 Rev. M
Kawasaki FR651V, FR691V, FR730V	Riding / zero-turn	1.9 qt (1.8 L); 2.2 qt (2.1 L) with new filter	10W-40 for most conditions; 20W-50 in high heat	SF, SG, SH, SJ or SL	Every 100 hours or 1 year; filter every 200 hours	Kawasaki FR owner’s manual; FR691V spec page

1. Honda GCV17013.50
2. Briggs EXi625/72515
3. Toro 2133215
4. Briggs EXi87518
5. Toro 2034918.60
6. Kohler XT20
7. John Deere S10048
8. Kohler 700064
9. Kawasaki FR691V*70.40

Source: Honda, Briggs & Stratton, Toro, Kohler, John Deere and Kawasaki manuals and spec pages, accessed October 2026 *Kawasaki FR691V with a new oil filter; 60.8 fl oz without. Quarts converted at 32 fl oz.

Show the numbers

	Oil capacity (fl oz)
Honda GCV170	13.50
Briggs EXi625/725	15
Toro 21332	15
Briggs EXi875	18
Toro 20349	18.60
Kohler XT	20
John Deere S100	48
Kohler 7000	64
Kawasaki FR691V*	70.40

Two engine families in the table have no scheduled oil change. Briggs & Stratton says its EXi engines’ Just Check & Add design keeps the oil clean, eliminating the need for an oil change, and Toro’s manual for Recycler models 21332 and 21352 says changing the engine oil is not required. Both still call for a dipstick check before each use and a top-up with SAE 30 or 10W-30.

Those Recycler engines also start with no primer and no choke, and our model-by-model Toro starting guide shows which older Toros still need 3 to 5 primer pushes.

For Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet or any other deck brand, the rule is the same: find the engine maker and model number on the engine, then use that maker’s chart. Briggs & Stratton’s manual finder pulls up the operator’s manual, with its oil table, from the model, type and code numbers stamped on the engine.

How much oil does a lawn mower take?

Most walk-behind lawn mowers take 13.5 to 20 oz of oil, and riding mowers take 1.5 to 2.2 quarts, across the 10 engines in our table. Honda’s GCV170 holds 13.5 oz (0.40 L), Kohler’s XT series 20 oz (0.6 L), John Deere’s S100 tractor 1.5 quarts (1.41 L) and Kawasaki’s FR691V 2.2 quarts when the filter is changed. Pour less than the full figure first, because some old oil stays in the engine.

Engine	Maker’s figure	Arithmetic	What to pour first	Source
Honda GCV170 (HRN216)	Capacity 13.5 oz; refill 12.0 to 13.5 oz	13.5 oz capacity minus up to 1.5 oz left in the engine	12 oz, then check the dipstick	Honda HRN216 manual
Toro Recycler 20349	0.55 L (18.6 fl oz); pour about 3/4 of capacity first	18.6 × 0.75 = 13.95 oz	About 14 oz, wait 3 minutes, check	Toro 20349 manual
Toro Recycler 21332, 21352	0.44 L (15 fl oz); pour about 3/4 first	15 × 0.75 = 11.25 oz	About 11 oz, wait 3 minutes, check	Toro 21332 manual
John Deere S100	1.41 L (1.5 qt) Turf-Gard 10W-30	1.5 qt × 32 oz = 48 oz	One 32 oz quart, then top up	John Deere S100 sheet
Kohler 7000 KT715 to KT745	1.9 L (2.0 qt) refill	2.0 qt × 32 oz = 64 oz	Most of two quarts, then check	Kohler 7000 manual
Kawasaki FR691V	1.9 qt without filter change; 2.2 qt with new filter	1.9 × 32 = 60.8 oz; 2.2 × 32 = 70.4 oz	Fill to FULL, run briefly, recheck	Kawasaki FR manual; FR691V specs

Overfilling is the more common mistake than running low. Honda warns that excess oil may be pushed into the air cleaner housing and air filter, and Briggs & Stratton lists an overfilled crankcase as a cause of white or blue exhaust smoke. Briggs’s oil FAQ says to add a few ounces at a time until the level sits between the dipstick’s full and add marks.

Nearly every posted shop tune-up includes this oil change along with a plug, filter and blade service. If you would rather pay for it, our lawn mower repair cost guide lists what 26 shops charge.

Can you use car oil in a lawn mower?

Yes, if it matches the grade and rating your engine maker lists. Honda’s GCV170 and GCV200 manual says to use 4-stroke automotive detergent oil rated API SJ or later, and Briggs & Stratton accepts detergent oils classified SF, SG, SH, SJ or higher. What to avoid is non-detergent oil, 2-stroke oil and any grade your engine’s chart does not list.

Oil you already have	Use it in a 4-stroke mower?	Why (source)
10W-30 passenger car oil, API SP or SQ	Yes for Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kohler and Toro engines	All four list 10W-30, and API says the latest gasoline category covers earlier ones (API)
Conventional 5W-30	Only for cold-weather use on Briggs and Kohler engines	Briggs charts it at 40°F and below; Kohler at 32°F and below (Briggs)
Full synthetic 5W-30	Yes, at all temperatures on Briggs engines	Briggs lists synthetic 5W-30 for all temperature ranges (Briggs)
10W-40	Yes on Kawasaki engines; not charted by Briggs, Honda, Kohler or Toro	Kawasaki recommends 10W-40 for most conditions (Kawasaki)
0W-20 or 0W-16 car oil	No listed use	None of the five makers’ charts checked includes a 0W grade
15W-40 diesel oil (API C category only)	Not on any mower chart checked	API says C-category oils are formulated primarily for diesel engines (API guide)
Non-detergent SAE 30	No	Honda says non-detergent oil can shorten engine life (Honda HRN216 manual)
2-stroke oil	No, not in a 4-stroke crankcase	Honda says 2-stroke oil can damage the engine

Older guides sometimes say mower engines need single-grade oil. The current manuals do not: Honda recommends multigrade 10W-30 for general use, Kohler charts 10W-30 from 0°F upward, and Kawasaki recommends 10W-40. The one maker-specific limit is Briggs & Stratton’s note that 10W-30 can burn faster above 80°F.

What do the API letters on the oil bottle mean?

The API service symbol, called the donut in the API Motor Oil Guide, shows the service category in its top half and the SAE viscosity grade in the center. Gasoline categories start with S. Honda, Kohler and Toro ask for SJ or later, and API says each newer gasoline category includes the performance of the earlier ones, so a bottle marked SP or SQ meets an SJ requirement.

API category	Status	Written for	Meets an “SJ or later” spec?	Source
SQ	Current	Introduced March 2025; newest gasoline category	Yes	API Motor Oil Guide, 2025
SP	Current	2025 and older automotive engines (introduced May 2020)	Yes	API oil categories
SN	Current	2020 and older automotive engines	Yes	API
SM	Current	2010 and older automotive engines	Yes	API
SL	Current	2004 and older automotive engines	Yes	API
SJ	Current	2001 and older automotive engines	Yes (the minimum)	API
SH	Obsolete	Not suitable for most automotive engines built after 1996	No	API
SG	Obsolete	Not suitable for most automotive engines built after 1993	No	API
SF	Obsolete	Not suitable for most automotive engines built after 1988	No	API

Two mower makers still print the old letters. Briggs & Stratton accepts oils classified SF, SG, SH, SJ or higher, and Kawasaki’s FR manual lists SF, SG, SH, SJ or SL. API now lists SF, SG and SH as obsolete, so in practice any bottle labeled SJ through SQ satisfies all five engine makers in this guide.

How often should you change lawn mower oil?

Change lawn mower oil after the first 5 hours on a new engine, then every 50 hours or once a season on most walk-behind engines. Briggs & Stratton and Kohler’s XT series use 50 hours or annually, Honda 50 hours or 6 months, dropping to 25 hours under heavy load or high heat. Kawasaki FR and Kohler 7000 riding engines go 100 hours.

Engine	First change	Then	Change sooner when	Source
Briggs & Stratton walk-behind	After the first 5 hours	Every 50 hours or annually	Wet grass, heavy dust, high heat, rough or hilly ground	Briggs schedule; Briggs oil FAQ
Briggs & Stratton EXi	Not required	Check and add only	Level drops below the add mark	Briggs EXi page
Honda GCV170, GCV200	First month or 5 hours	Every 6 months or 50 hours	Heavy load or high outside temperature: every 25 hours	Honda HRN216 manual
Kohler XT series	After 3 to 5 hours	Every 50 hours or annually	Not stated for oil	Kohler XT manual
Toro Recycler 20349	After the first 5 hours	Yearly	Not stated	Toro 20349 manual
John Deere S100	Not stated on the sheet	Oil and filter every 50 hours	Not stated	John Deere S100 sheet
Kohler 7000 KT715 to KT745	Not listed	Oil and filter every 100 hours (300 hours with Kohler PRO 10W-50 and PRO filter)	Severe, dusty or dirty conditions	Kohler 7000 manual
Kawasaki FR651V, FR691V, FR730V	After 5 to 8 hours	Every 100 hours or 1 year; filter every 200 hours	Commercial or dusty use	Kawasaki FR manual; Kawasaki guide

The break-in change matters most. Briggs & Stratton says the first change removes metal particles worn from bearings and the cylinder wall during break-in, and that standard oil is fine for it. For a typical home lawn, University of Illinois Extension notes oil is usually changed once a year; heavy users should follow the maker’s hour count.

How many oil changes does a season take?

Multiply your mowing hours by the maker’s interval and round down; the annual rule catches anything left over. The inputs below are illustrations, not survey data: 1 hour a week for a homeowner and 30 hours a week for a commercial zero-turn, over a 30-week season. Put in your own hour meter reading.

Scenario (illustration inputs)	Hours per season	Maker interval	Oil changes	Oil used
Homeowner, Briggs & Stratton walk-behind, 18 oz engine	1 × 30 = 30	50 hours or annually	30 ÷ 50 = 0.6, so the annual rule: 1	About 18 oz
Homeowner, Honda GCV170, mowing in summer heat	1 × 30 = 30	25 hours (heavy load or high heat)	30 ÷ 25 = 1.2, so 1 in season plus the next at 50 hours	12.0 to 13.5 oz per change
Commercial, Kawasaki FR691V zero-turn	30 × 30 = 900	100 hours; filter every 200	900 ÷ 100 = 9 (4 with a new filter)	4 × 2.2 qt + 5 × 1.9 qt = 18.3 qt
Commercial, Kohler 7000 KT725, standard oil	30 × 30 = 900	100 hours with filter	900 ÷ 100 = 9	9 × 2.0 qt = 18 qt
Commercial, Kohler 7000 KT725, Kohler PRO 10W-50 and PRO filter	30 × 30 = 900	300 hours with filter	900 ÷ 300 = 3	3 × 2.0 qt = 6 qt

For an operator, the 18.3 quarts a season in the Kawasaki example is one line in the per-hour equipment cost behind our lawn mowing cost figures. The same oil and filter count belongs in the equipment budget for anyone starting a lawn care business.

How do you change the oil in a lawn mower?

Warm the engine, stop it and disconnect the spark plug wire, then drain the old oil through the filler neck, a drain plug or an extractor, and refill in steps to the dipstick’s full mark. Tilt only the way your maker says: Briggs & Stratton says air filter or spark plug side up, and Honda says tilt the HRN216 on its right side.

1. Warm the oil. Briggs & Stratton says to run the engine for 15 minutes (Briggs oil change FAQ); Honda says warm oil drains quickly and completely.
2. Stop the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire so it cannot start. On a Honda HRN216, also turn the fuel valve off.
3. Keep fuel out of the way. Briggs suggests draining the gas or sealing the tank with a plastic sandwich bag under the cap; Toro says to run the tank dry or use a hand pump before tipping.
4. Clean around the oil fill cap and drain plug so dirt does not fall into the crankcase, then remove the dipstick.
5. Drain the oil: tip the mower with the filler neck down over a pan, remove the drain plug with a 3/8-inch drive socket wrench and extension (Briggs), or pump it out through the dipstick tube with an extractor. On Kohler XT engines with a crankcase plug, reinstall it with thread sealant at 120 in-lb (13.6 N·m).
6. Replace the filter on riding engines that have one. Briggs says to oil the new gasket, turn the filter by hand until the gasket touches, then tighten 1/2 to 3/4 turn more.
7. Refill in steps: about 3/4 of capacity first on Toro Recyclers (14 oz on model 20349), wait 3 minutes, then check. Honda’s refill is 12.0 to 13.5 oz. On Honda and Kawasaki engines, rest the dipstick in the tube without screwing it in when you read it; Toro varies by model (the 20349 rests it in the tube, the 21332 and 21352 manuals say screw it in, then remove and read).
8. Run the engine briefly, stop it and recheck the level, as Kawasaki’s guide says, then reconnect the plug wire.
9. Recycle the old oil. The EPA says used oil from one oil change can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water; Honda says not to put it in the trash, on the ground or down a drain.

Which side faces up when you tip the mower matters. Tipping the wrong way can let oil escape the crankcase, which Briggs & Stratton lists as a cause of white or blue smoke on the next start; it says to keep the spark plug up or the muffler side down.

Each engine’s drain route, tip side, first pour and dipstick rule are set side by side in our guide on how to change oil in a lawn mower.

Engine or mower	Tip it with	Drain route	Source
Briggs & Stratton walk-behind	Air filter or spark plug side up (or muffler side down)	Drain plug, dipstick tube extractor or filler neck	Briggs how-to; Briggs smoke FAQ
Honda HRN216 (GCV170)	Mower on its right side, over cardboard	Filler neck	Honda HRN216 manual
Toro 21in Recycler	Air filter up, dipstick down	Oil-fill tube	Toro 20349 manual
Kohler XT series	Air cleaner facing up	Dipstick tube, or crankcase plug	Kohler XT manual
Kawasaki FR riding engines	Engine level (no tipping)	Drain plug, then new filter	Kawasaki guide

The blade comes off with the mower tipped the same way, air filter side up on a Briggs & Stratton or Toro walk-behind, so both jobs fit one session. Our guide to sharpening a lawn mower blade covers the bolt torque and the balance check.

What oil goes in a 2-stroke lawn mower?

A 2-stroke (2-cycle) engine burns its oil with the fuel, so you mix 2-cycle oil into the gasoline at the ratio in the operator’s manual instead of filling a crankcase. Briggs & Stratton says a single fill port for oil and gas marks a 2-cycle engine, while two ports, often with a yellow oil cap, mark a 4-cycle engine. Never add oil to a 4-cycle engine’s fuel.

The gasoline in that mix has its own limits, including an 89-octane floor on some trimmers, which our guide to what kind of gas a lawn mower takes lists by maker.

The arithmetic is one line: ounces of oil = gallons of gasoline × 128 ÷ the ratio, since a US gallon is 128 fl oz. At 50:1 that is 128 ÷ 50 = 2.56 oz per gallon, which Briggs rounds to 2.6 oz. Briggs also says to mix only in an approved fuel can, never in the engine’s tank.

Gasoline	50:1 ratio	40:1 ratio	32:1 ratio
1 gallon	2.6 oz	3.2 oz	4.0 oz
2 gallons	5.1 oz	6.4 oz	8.0 oz
3 gallons	7.7 oz	9.6 oz	12.0 oz
4 gallons	10.2 oz	12.8 oz	16.0 oz
5 gallons	12.8 oz	16.0 oz	20.0 oz

What do common lawn mower oil guides get wrong?

Several high-ranking oil guides repeat claims the engine makers’ own documents do not support, from calling conventional 5W-30 an all-purpose grade to naming SN as the newest oil category. The table sets six common claims against the primary source that addresses each one; two of them come from inconsistencies between Briggs & Stratton’s own pages.

Common guide advice	What the primary source says	Source
SAE 5W-30 is an all-purpose mower oil	Briggs charts conventional 5W-30 for 40°F and below; only synthetic 5W-30 is listed for all temperatures	Briggs & Stratton oil chart
Synthetic 5W-30 is for very cold weather	Briggs says synthetic 5W-30 gives the best protection at all temperatures	Briggs & Stratton
API SN is the highest oil quality	SQ is current since March 2025 and SP since May 2020	API Motor Oil Guide
Car oil is not recommended for lawn mowers	Honda’s GCV170 and GCV200 manual says to use 4-stroke automotive detergent oil, API SJ or later	Honda GCV170/GCV200 manual
Riding mowers need an oil change every 100 hours	True for Kawasaki FR and Kohler 7000 engines; John Deere’s S100 sheet lists oil and filter every 50 hours	John Deere S100 sheet; Kohler 7000 manual
Briggs walk-behind oil: every 25 hours	Briggs’s tune-up guide says 25 hours, but its maintenance schedule and oil FAQ say 50 hours or annually; the engine’s operator’s manual settles it	Briggs tune-up guide; Briggs schedule

Which oil should you buy for your mower?

Buy the grade on your engine maker’s chart for the coldest temperature you mow in, with an API rating of SJ or later. For most Briggs & Stratton, Kohler and Toro walk-behinds that is SAE 30 in summer or 10W-30 year-round; Honda wants 10W-30, Kawasaki riders 10W-40. The decision table and the flowchart below carry the same logic.

If your situation is	Do this	Why (source)
Single fill port; fuel cap shows 2-cycle or a ratio	Mix 2-cycle oil into the gas: 2.6 oz per gallon at 50:1, 4.0 oz at 32:1	2-cycle identification and mix chart (Briggs & Stratton)
Briggs EXi engine (Just Check & Add) or Toro 21332/21352	No scheduled change; check before each use and top up with SAE 30 or 10W-30	No oil change needed (Briggs EXi; Toro manual)
Honda GCV170 or GCV200 engine	SAE 10W-30, API SJ or later, 12.0 to 13.5 oz	Honda’s general-use grade (Honda HRN216 manual)
Kawasaki FR-series riding engine	10W-40; 20W-50 in high heat; 2.2 qt with a new filter	Kawasaki’s recommended grade (Kawasaki FAQ; FR691V specs)
Briggs & Stratton engine above 40°F, or Kohler engine above 50°F	SAE 30 detergent oil	Where each maker charts SAE 30 (Briggs; Kohler XT)
Same engines, mowing or starting below those temperatures	10W-30 (Briggs or Kohler) or synthetic 5W-30 (Briggs)	SAE 30 below 40°F causes hard starting (Briggs); Kohler charts 10W-30 from 0°F
10W-30 in an engine run above 80°F	Keep 10W-30 but check the level more often, or switch to SAE 30	10W-30 may raise oil use above 80°F (Briggs)
Commercial rider on a Kohler 7000 engine	Kohler PRO 10W-50 with the PRO filter for 300-hour changes, or any SJ+ grade at 100 hours	Extended interval only with both PRO parts (Kohler 7000 manual)
Only 10W-40 or a 0W car oil on the shelf, non-Kawasaki engine	Buy a listed grade instead	Neither appears on the Briggs, Honda, Kohler or Toro charts

1. 1Does the engine have one fill port for gas and oil, or a ratio on the fuel cap?

   Yes2-cycle: mix 2-cycle oil into the gas at the manual's ratio, 2.6 oz per gallon at 50:1 (Briggs & Stratton).

   NoGo to the next question

2. 2Is it a Briggs EXi (Just Check & Add) engine or a Toro Recycler 21332 or 21352?

   YesNo scheduled change: check before each use and top up with SAE 30 or 10W-30.

   NoGo to the next question

3. 3Is it a Honda GCV170 or GCV200 engine?

   YesSAE 10W-30, API SJ or later, 12.0 to 13.5 oz (Honda).

   NoGo to the next question

4. 4Is it a Kawasaki FR-series riding engine?

   Yes10W-40, or 20W-50 in high heat; 2.2 qt with a new filter (Kawasaki).

   NoGo to the next question

5. 5Will you mow or start the engine below 40°F (50°F on a Kohler engine)?

   Yes10W-30, or synthetic 5W-30 on a Briggs & Stratton engine (Briggs & Stratton; Kohler charts).

   NoSAE 30 or 10W-30 detergent oil rated API SJ or later, in the amount on the engine's oil table.

Source: Briggs & Stratton oil and 2-cycle FAQs; Honda HRN216 manual; Kawasaki FR manual; Kohler XT and 7000 manuals; Toro manuals

This page compiles manufacturers’ published specifications. Your engine’s operator’s manual and warranty terms govern; if they differ from this page, follow the manual for your model and serial number.

The once-a-year oil change that Illinois Extension describes for most home mowers can be booked with the other seasonal jobs in our lawn care schedule. More lawn and equipment guides are in our Turf and Trees section.