Shops, Barns, Varmints, and Trucks - Engine Oil SAE Question

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Engine Oil SAE Question

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Other Topics
Forum Name: Shops, Barns, Varmints, and Trucks
Forum Description: anything you want to talk about except politics
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=201227
Printed Date: 07 Aug 2025 at 7:46pm
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Topic: Engine Oil SAE Question

Posted By: BuckSkin
Subject: Engine Oil SAE Question
Date Posted: 07 May 2024 at 12:10pm

I just found my favored small engine oil, Valvoline VR1 SAE-40, for a ridiculously low price of $38.20/6-qt-case; that's Dollar Store oil price around here.

They also had the same oil in SAE-50 for $38.27.

SAE-30, while still plenty bargain, was $59.11, making it cheaper than any of the other SAE-30 oils and VR1 no doubt the best regardless of price.

Of course, I hit Buy Now on the SAE-40 and got it on the way.

Then my ever-puzzling mind got in gear.

Let's say the situation had been reversed a little bit.

Let's say the SAE-40 and SAE-30 prices had been reversed, with SAE-30 and SAE-50 being $38 for six and SAE-40 being $60 for six.

My mind says, in that situation, for me to end up with the SAE-40 at the $38 price, I would just order a case of SAE-30 and a case of SAE-50 and mix them half-and-half to achieve my desired weight of SAE-40.

Same oil with same additives, SAE-30 mixed with SAE-50 should end up with the equivalent of SAE-40 ----- RIGHT ?

Actually, by getting a case of SAE-30 and SAE-50 and mixing them to achieve SAE-40; I would also have the option of SAE-30 or SAE-50 should either be required, with the added benefit of mixing them to achieve SAE-40.

RIGHT ?

Replies:

Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 07 May 2024 at 5:40pm

As long as all the oils are made by the same company and in the same CATAGORY (VR1) then i would assume they have very similar "addatives"... So i would agree with your theory that mixing 30wt and 50 wt would give you 40 wt oil...

I question why you use a straight weight oil in any engine.. and why such an expensive oil for what you call "small" engines ?

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Like them all, but love the "B"s.

Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 07 May 2024 at 7:31pm

I have been using multi weight oils in just about everything , been getting CITGO oils and have couple cases of 20/50 - racing oil I use in all my motorcycles , 10/30 in lawn and garden , and in truck 10/30 now .
In tractors I have been using Fleet Farm - Farm Rated - Diesel Oil
Most of the FF oils are packed by CITGO

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Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."

Posted By: Lars(wi)
Date Posted: 07 May 2024 at 10:36pm

All my air cooled engines get 30wt oil, ‘for gasoline engines’. The lawn mower, roto-tiller, and the onboard generator of the motor home all get 30wt.

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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.

Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 07 May 2024 at 11:01pm

I typically run 10W-30 oil in the car and pickup which are gasoline powered. SAE 30, or SAE 40 in the two stroke Detroit engines, and 15W-40 in the four stroke diesels.

Engine is original in my 1957 B-61 Mack and for years I ran SAE 20 in the winter, and SAE 30 in the warmer months changing the first week of October, and April each year. This was staying on the original owner's scheduled maintenance routines as it worked and I don't change what works very often.

Engine has never been apart except a water pump, rocker cover gaskets, and oil sump screen gasket since new.

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That's All Folks!