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My mower cub cadet XT1 LT46 will exhaust some blue smoke and then stop. It happens when first started? Told that was normal? Told to use synthetic oil 20w50 outdoor power equipment ? Any commets. Thanks, Kim

Roadcadet said:

Told that was normal?

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Don't think new mowers do that. So normal, would say no.

Roadcadet said:

Told to use synthetic oil 20w50 outdoor power equipment ?

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Sounds awful thick. Probably be fine in 100+ F temps. It's only a 20 grade thin oil. Follow what your engine manual states for oil.

Most likely it is oil seeping past the rings while setting overnight or longer. And then burns off on first startup. Shouldn't happen but is quite normal for a lot of engines.

My first question would be is the oil level hi? If so, does it smell like it has gas in the oil? Fuel will overthin the oil, raise the level and cause smoking.

I use Pennzoil 10W 30 year-round. Synthetic is a waste of money and not recommended on a new small engine. Synthetic can actually delay piston ring break-in.

A puff of smoke on a new engine at startup is not uncommon but should go away after the first 25 hours of break-in run time.

If it continues, there is a problem with the valve guides or the piston rings.

20W 50 is used in larger automotive engines and too thick for small engine.

My first question would be is the oil level hi? If so, does it smell like it has gas in the oil? Fuel will overthin the oil, raise the level and cause smoking.

I use Pennzoil 10W 30 year-round. Synthetic is a waste of money and not recommended on a new small engine. Synthetic can actually delay piston ring break-in.

A puff of smoke on a new engine at startup is not uncommon but should go away after the first 25 hours of break-in run time.

If it continues, there is a problem with the valve guides or the piston rings.

20W 50 is used in larger automotive engines and too thick for small engine.

Auto Doc's said:

I use Pennzoil 10W 30 year-round. Synthetic is a waste of money and not recommended on a new small engine. Synthetic can actually delay piston ring break-in.

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Old outdated information. This saying is not true and may of never been true. Most of the small engine manufacturers are not even offering dino oil as an option in their own branded oil. So synthetic oil in a new engine is fine.

Agree. The ol' don't use synthetic oil in a new engine is garbage. All oils are formulated to be "roughly" the same for specific vehicles. Also in the USA, printing synthetic on the bottle doesn't mean it's 100% synthetic. Might be ONE item in the add pack that is synthetic and they call the entire brew synthetic. Not true in Europe. Over there if the bottle says synthetic, it is true. Redline and Motul are synthetics. Anything that is not a group 4 or 5 is dino juice.

slomo said:

Agree. The ol' don't use synthetic oil in a new engine is garbage. All oils are formulated to be "roughly" the same for specific vehicles. Also in the USA, printing synthetic on the bottle doesn't mean it's 100% synthetic. Might be ONE item in the add pack that is synthetic and they call the entire brew synthetic. Not true in Europe. Over there if the bottle says synthetic, it is true. Redline and Motul are synthetics. Anything that is not a group 4 or 5 is dino juice.

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True. Dino oil with synthetic additives can be called synthetic oil.

Vette's and Porche's just to name 2 are factory filled with group 3 Mobile 1. They are "synthetic".

Ever notice how cheap Mobile 1 is at wallymart? Now price Redline or any real synthetic.

slomo said:

Agree. The ol' don't use synthetic oil in a new engine is garbage. All oils are formulated to be "roughly" the same for specific vehicles. Also in the USA, printing synthetic on the bottle doesn't mean it's 100% synthetic. Might be ONE item in the add pack that is synthetic and they call the entire brew synthetic. Not true in Europe. Over there if the bottle says synthetic, it is true. Redline and Motul are synthetics. Anything that is not a group 4 or 5 is dino juice.

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Conventional and Synthetic oil are both based on oil stock. Conventional oil is refined and the refinement process (cracking) produces different products at each stage (diesel fuel,gasoline,kerosene, oil stock for motor oils). The resulting lubricant molecules are not of consistent size.

Synthetic oil is created in the laboratory to create a more consistent molecule sized of lubricant to the desired specification.

Both have additives be it zinc or other additives.

You did not say what engine is on the mower. Kohler had that issue but it has been to long I don't remeber the fix.
Consider the cylinder lays flat, oil drains off the piston and cylinder and will seep past the piston rings especially if the ring gaps especially if the are on the bottom of the piston and especially if the are lined up.
It can also be caused by storing the mower with the engine leaning back which will cause oil to bypass the piston as oil will flow into the cylinder.
Unless it is excessive there is nothing to be concerned about, many new engines have that "problem".

Roadcadet said:

My mower cub cadet XT1 LT46 will exhaust some blue smoke and then stop. It happens when first started? Told that was normal? Told to use synthetic oil 20w50 outdoor power equipment ? Any commets. Thanks, Kim

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