Is motor oil for cars and lawnmowers interchangable if viscosity is the same?

For the most part, yes. Just be sure that the motor oil meets the API designation of the engine you are putting it into. The API spec is a two letter designation, ie SE, SL CI, etc.Is motor oil for cars and lawnmowers interchangable if viscosity is the same?
Oil is oil no matter what engine you put it in, most lawnmowers require just plain 30 weight oil.Is motor oil for cars and lawnmowers interchangable if viscosity is the same?
motor oil is motor oil
All engines need some kind of a detergent oil..(usually the most widely used for small engines is HD-30, high detergent 30 weight)


Doesn't matter if it has a oil filter or not...don't use detergent oil in a small engine, you'll get sludge even if it doesn't have a filter..


Yes detergent oil holds filth in suspension (dirt, carbon, etc).. why would you want it to settle to the bottom in a small engine?





Yes its pretty much interchangeable.. just don't use ND-30 (non detergent 30 weight) and I'd shy away from 5w-30 conventional in a small engine as it can shear and burn off very easily..


If its a warm climate most of the time.. I'd recommend hd-30 or 15w-40.....(CF and SF rated) oil... change every 25 hours


OR 5w-30 or 10w-30 synthetic all year round.. same 25 hour interval.. be sure to check it often!
Viscosity is one thing. Detergent factor is another. Because lawnmowers do not have oil filters, they usually do not use a detergent motor oil. Detergent is made to pickup and hold contaminants in solution until it can be cleaned through a filter medium. Lawnmowers usually don't go to all the trouble of an oil filter due to the specific service life and duty requirements of their engines. If you were to run a non-detergent oil in your automobile engine, you'd wind up with sludge-clogged oil passages and hydraulic valve lifters in the long run. Bad news.





So, the short answer is ';probably not';

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