Lawnmowers are an integral part of landscaping. Cub Cadet has been a staple brand when it comes to these important tools. Like your everyday vehicles, you must maintain lawnmowers and change the oil regularly. So how do you know which engine oil to use? You have come to the right place. We have asked the experts to assist you on this particular topic.
The specific oil grade to be used for engines that are identified as Cub Cadet will depend on the climate. For summer, it is recommended that you use 10W30 motor oil. For winter, it is best to use 5W30 motor oil to get the best efficiency out of your Cub Cadet mower. Make sure to use SAE-certified engine oils, as these oils have been tested and proven under stringent standards.
Now that you know what type of motor oil you should use, you might be intrigued to learn why two kinds are recommended. Head over to the rest of the article as we discuss this and more about the best engine oil for your lawnmower.
Motor Oil Numbers, What Do They Mean?
You might notice that all motor oils are named using a set of numbers and the letter "W." These are not just made-up names by the manufacturer to look cool and appealing to customers. Those numbers indicate a property of that specific type of motor oil.
The governing body that helped establish this labeling system was the Society of Automotive Engineers or SAE. They made a system that would label or grade motor oils according to their characteristics.
Because temperature affects how viscous a fluid is, in this case, motor oil, manufacturers made it their mission to create motor oils that will work efficiently across various temperatures. They use additives and chemicals on the base engine oil to achieve this effect.
In short, the number you see beside the letter "W" will indicate the oil's viscosity at low temperatures. Meanwhile, the number after the letter "W" will indicate the oil's viscosity at average operating temperatures. As you might have guessed, the "W" here stands for winter.
How Many Kinds Of Engine Oils Are There?
Besides having a specific temperature range in which they will work efficiently, engine oils also have different classifications of the oil. These classifications are often under the three most common types: conventional, fully-synthetic, or synthetic blend.
Conventional Engine Oil
Conventional oil is the most basic of the three types of oil. Before the introduction of synthetic engine oils, people used traditional oil on every kind of engine. It comes from crude oil and is then refined into engine oils. Additives are added to improve the efficiency and engine protection qualities.
The biggest pro of using conventional engine oil is its price. Because it's made entirely from a naturally occurring material, it is cheaper than other engine oils. However, its biggest pro is also its biggest con. It is made entirely from naturally occurring material which tends to be less refined than other engine oil types making it hard to control its properties completely. It also offers a lower degree of engine protection than other oil types.
Fully-synthetic Engine Oil
Fully-synthetic engine oils, as the name suggests, are cooked up entirely inside a lab or a factory. Because of this, they have far more consistent properties than conventional engine oils. Manufacturers use these properties to produce engine oils that are efficient and with the highest level of engine protection.
All these improvements in performance and reliability come at a cost. Fully-synthetic engine oil prices are often 20% higher than conventional engine oil. However, this 20% increase in price also means that your engine oil will last much longer, giving you more savings down the road.
Synthetic Blend Engine Oil
This engine oil can be considered a hybrid mix of engine oil types. It takes all the favorable properties of conventional engine oil and gets mixed with the superior performance and consistency of fully-synthetic engine oils.
Your best bet is the synthetic blend when considering a middle-ground product among engine oils. They last longer than conventional oils and are cheaper than fully-synthetic engine oils. You get the best of both worlds.
Top 5 Best Engine Oil For Your Cub Cadet
When we want something to last, it's best to choose the best products for upkeep. This is especially true when selecting engine oil for your cub cadet engine. Here are some of the best engine oils currently available on the market.
Mobil 1™ 10W-30 Full-Synthetic Oil
Mobil will always be included in that discussion when debating the best engine oil manufacturer. The Mobil 1™ 10W-30 is often considered the benchmark in its specific category, with a mix of high-quality synthetic base and advanced additives.
Mobil flaunts that their 10W30 engine oil will keep your mower engine running like new, and because of the cleaning agent additive, it will prevent sludge build-up.
Click here to check out the Mobil 1™ 10W-30 Full-Synthetic Oil on Amazon.
Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 Full-Synthetic Oil
It would help if you made the right decision regarding your engine oil for extra-cold and wintery conditions. You want to have oil that provides efficient flow even in low temperatures. This is where the Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 comes in.
With its patented PurePlus Technology, you are guaranteed a high-quality product made from natural gas as its synthetic base, not crude oil. This ensures that your mower engine performs in extremely cold conditions without hiccups.
Another benefit of having natural gas as a synthetic base is eliminating unwanted impurities. Impurities are common in crude oil synthetic base motor oil; these impurities could cause engine clogging in the future.
Click here to check out the Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 Full-Synthetic Oil on Amazon.
Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 10W-30 Synthetic Blend Oil
Valvoline is a brand known to offer affordable but reliable engine oils. Their Daily Protection series is no exception to this. The Valvoline Daily Protection 10W-30 is formulated to reduce the necessity of costly engine repairs.
This keeps your lawn mower on the job longer with minimum service or repair. Another feature is optimized fuel efficiency which reduces costs and improves savings on your bank account.
With more than a century of excellence in the motor oil industry, you can never go wrong when you choose Valvoline.
Click here to check out the Valvoline Daily Protection SAE 10W-30 Synthetic Blend Oil on Amazon.
Royal Purple SAE 30 High-Performance Synthetic Oil
Royal Purple boasts that its High-Performance series of engine oils provide unparalleled engine performance in any weather. It's a fully synthetic engine oil formulated with high-quality additives that provide better engine efficiency than its peers.
Its increased protection against corrosion ensures that your mower's engine lasts much longer. A mower is ready for another day's work on your lawn.
Click here to check out the Royal Purple SAE 30 High-Performance Synthetic Oil on Amazon.
Briggs & Stratton SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Small Engine Oil
For small engines like a Cub Cadet mower, you might need the Briggs & Stratton Synthetic Small Engine Oil. It works perfectly in colder climates where temperatures could dip below -20 degrees.
It's an SAE-certified product for 4-cycle engines and other small engine equipment. Briggs & Stratton is a well-known brand among lawn mower owners as they are also an engine manufacturer for different brands of lawn mowers.
Click here to check out the Briggs & Stratton SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Small Engine Oil on Amazon.
To Sum It Up
Engine oils are an integral part of the operations of your Cub Cadet mower engine. Choosing the right engine oil could make or break your machine. There are many options in the market right now, and it is up to you to decide which is the best for your mower.
Cub Cadet mowers can last an entire lifetime, given they have been treated well and regularly maintained. Your lawn will never need a new one if you take good care of your current Cub Cadet.
If you found this post insightful, be sure to check out some of our other mower-related posts on the site:
How To Tell If Lawn Mower Engine Is Blown
Can You Use Car Motor Oil In A Lawn Mower?