Mineral Or Synthetic Oil?

[guitardude081]

As most Klotz customer do, I use it in everything I own. I got into a conversation at a local shop when buying parts and it lead to me purchasing mineral oil with a feline logo on it. Some Deere tech manuals indicate that a tank of mineral oil needs to be run once in a while to "clean up" the engine. I consider myself tech savvy and I would like to know everyone's opinion about modern synthetics in both cast and chrome bores. Obviously running a power valve oil is overkill for modern machines but they do have good lubricating properties but does it actually harm vintage motors? I've never had issues but have heard some stories.

I will be running 2 mid-mounts this winter. The last mid-mount I owned was a ratty X6 that ran an oil that didn't come close to the quality of Klotz. It pretty much ate all my old yellow shop gas too. Nowadays, I cut my vintage gas with a small amount of 110 to kill some of the water and ethanol that is prevalent in the tanks at our local stations. I mix it with Klotz or run Klotz in the injection.

Jack

[sledder670]

I was always told once you run synthetic you always have to. That maybe for newer autos and stuff. I personally think any of the new oils are made better than what they had 30 years ago and it doesn't matter. No way do I dump my skidoo oil in my vintage sled. The cheap stuff works just fine. If it's going to seize up that expensive oil won't stop it. The old sleds are smaller bore so piston chatter isn't like the big 800s. Oil injected machines just be sure the oil flows at low temperatures. I'm sure I'm wrong with something I typed but this is just from my years experience. I'm no engineer to inspect a crank bearing failure based on the type of oil.

[guitardude081]

That's always been my stance. I run Klotz in absolutely everything including the Kombi trimmer. I've never had problems. The guy at the dealership really got me thinking. It is hard to sway my opinion on most things involving snowmobiles because I've been around them my whole life and have more useless knowledge about them than Clifford C. Clavin. Score one for the guy at the dealer for making me second guess Klotz.

Jack

[AirborneX4Special]

Buy a few quarts of various TCW-3 spec oils and compare how they flow at low temps. As Brad says, the cheap stuff will be just fine.