Additives for an engine burning oil

550Doug · Jul 9, 2019

My Honda rototiller is starting to burn oil and I'm wondering if anything like the old STP would help, or anything else. The crankcase only holds a liter of oil and I'm using 15w-40. Any suggestions?

Texasmark1 · Jul 9, 2019

We used to use STP or Motor Honey. Lots of "high mileage" oils offered today, don't know anything about them. Castrol makes a 20w-50 racing oil that
might be some help available at the buy all store.

jimg.allentown · Jul 9, 2019

Heavier oils might help some for a while, but the handwriting is on the wall. You need to replace the rings.

Additives like STP, Motor honey, and CD-2 are simply viscosity enhancers. The thicken your oil. The engine will consume less oil with a heavier viscosity, but even that will only be of limited help.

David G · Jul 9, 2019

Some of these engines have gasket or head issues causing oil burning, might not be rings.

K-Mo · Jul 9, 2019

Don't know the oil recommendations for Honda, but others like Briggs & Stratton recommend 30W for temps above 40?. They further state, to expect oil consumption with use of multi weight oil.

mozark · Jul 9, 2019

Using a multiviscosity synthetic has worked for me to reduce oil consumption in air cooled engines that are worked hard.

Duner Wi · Jul 9, 2019

If the mfg says 30 Wt is acceptable I would try that.

SVcummins · Jul 9, 2019

Here ya go . for a little motor like engine like that
probably limp it along for quite awhile

Lucas

rustyfarmall · Jul 9, 2019

8 horsepower Briggs on a rear engine Snapper mower. Burned as much oil as gasoline. I mixed 30 weight oil and STP 50/50. Made absolutely NO difference. I bought a new engine.

oldtanker · Jul 9, 2019

Best additive I know of for an oil burning engine is at a minimum new rings. Maybe bored and a new piston........

Rick

Steve@Advance · Jul 9, 2019

If it's not excessively fouling the plug, and you are the only one using it, I would just keep adding oil until it won't go any further.

Honda engines are not really practical to repair, at least they didn't use to be, there may be aftermarket parts out now.

Or replace it with a Predator engine.

ss55 · Jul 9, 2019

30W oil would be your best bet. New rings in a worn tapered sleeve is only a temporary fix. A replacement engine may be in your future.

How many hours do you put on the machine per year? Most people only use rototillers for about 2 hours every year, less than snow blowers and far less than lawn mowers. Running it as-is and adding oil for another 50 hours might last you 20+ years.

Rich'sToys · Jul 9, 2019

(quoted from post at 09:50:14 07/09/19)
8 horsepower Briggs on a rear engine Snapper mower. Burned as much oil as gasoline. I mixed 30 weight oil and STP 50/50. Made absolutely NO difference. I bought a new engine.

Did you upgrade the engine when you replaced it? One of my old Snappers has a 11 hp Briggs on it with a 30" deck. There's just about nothing that thing can't handle! I think you could chop corn stalks with it if you had to!

Sprint 6 · Jul 9, 2019

In my experience, 15w40 oil makes a small
air cooled engine use oil. I use 30W in
all my flat head air cooled, except my M18
Kohler that has pressure lube and filter.
It gets 10w30 Kohler oil.

steve_in_mo · Jul 9, 2019

High mileage oils have a few more additives than other oils,
but those additives fail at 4,000 miles +/-. BTDT

Ellis Kinney · Jul 9, 2019

Amsoil makes a small engine synthetic oil. I use it is all the push mowers, The walk behind and rototiller and small chipper. I like it. Ellis

dhermesc · Jul 9, 2019

Best additive is to just keep adding oil. As long as it has good power and isn't fouling the plug that would be my solution. If it smokes during use it might keep the bugs down. Adding "oil honey" reduces lubrication and adds wear to the engine.

Gary Mitchell · Jul 9, 2019

I got our Craftsman mower with the B/S engine hot a couple of years ago and it used oil badly after that. I thought maybe the rings were fried but someone down in the small engine section suggested head gasket. Sure enuf it was a little "seepy." I cleaned the head and block up good, gave the valves a little TLC with "fine grind" and the lapper, torqued it back together with a new gasket, and it hasn't used a drop in 2 years. I always use 30 wt. in everything but cars and trucks. gm

buickanddeere · Jul 9, 2019

Straight weight 40 or 50. Check the air filtration and intake system for leaks allowing dirt into the engine .

oldtanker · Jul 9, 2019

(quoted from post at 08:02:29 07/09/19) If it's not excessively fouling the plug, and you are the only one using it, I would just keep adding oil until it won't go any further.

Honda engines are not really practical to repair, at least they didn't use to be, there may be aftermarket parts out now.

Or replace it with a Predator engine.

Heck Steve, ain't hardly any of those small engines practical to repair anymore. Bout the only reason I can see is on a collectible item being restored.

And here the bore sin't that big a deal. Local guy here will sleeve one if you want to rebuild it bad enough.

Rick

rustyfarmall · Jul 9, 2019

(quoted from post at 08:34:05 07/09/19)

(quoted from post at 09:50:14 07/09/19)
8 horsepower Briggs on a rear engine Snapper mower. Burned as much oil as gasoline. I mixed 30 weight oil and STP 50/50. Made absolutely NO difference. I bought a new engine.

Click to expand...

Did you upgrade the engine when you replaced it? One of my old Snappers has a 11 hp Briggs on it with a 30" deck. There's just about nothing that thing can't handle! I think you could chop corn stalks with it if you had to!

Original engine on that Snapper was a Briggs 7 horse. Wore it plumb out, replaced with a slightly used 8 horse. Wore it out, so I bought a brand new 8 horse. It too began using oil after many years, but by then the rest of the mower was pretty much just junk. I gave it away.

Geo-TH,In · Jul 9, 2019

Is a straight weight recommended if engine has hydraulic lifters like my 20 hp kohler command?
Don't think there is any snake oil to stop a worn out engine from burning oil

rustyfarmall · Jul 9, 2019

(quoted from post at 13:22:22 07/09/19) Is a straight weight recommended if engine has hydraulic lifters like my 20 hp kohler command?
Don't think there is any snake oil to stop a worn out engine from burning oil

Use what is recommended by Kohler. Mine calls for 10w-30.

504 · Jul 9, 2019

Lucas,Seafoam or Marvel Mystery oil. Check the book for your motor and run the heaviest oil you can. Chang brands
of oil too,any brand name just different than what you are using now. I have seen bad oil usage drop, by just
changing brands of oil.

Additives for an engine burning oil

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