I just recently got a new mower that has a kohler courage SV530 (17HP engine). I have to different basic questions:
1. I've scoured through both the engine and lawn mower manual and for the life of me i can't find them recommended an early (1st) oil changes like a lot of mowers do. The only recommendation for oil changes is 1 a season or every 100 hours. I know my Honda mower recommended its 1st oil change after 5 hours of use. Should i just do an early oil change anyways? I've searched for recommendations and they seem to be all over the place. If you are curious here is a link the engine manual:
http://www.kohlerengines.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/20_590_06.pdf
2. Kohler seems to slightly overcharge for their oil filters. So i was searching to see if there was an replacement with general automative oil filters and it seems like their is:
"Briggs/Kohler type" 3/4" X 16 threads 8-11 PSI Bypass Gasket 2.734"OD X2 .430"ID 0.226" thick
Length" Wix Purolator Hastings Kohler B&S Baldwin MotorCraft AC Walmart JD
2.3" 57035 NA LF503 2805001 492932 B7165 NA NA? NA ?
2.7" 51056 L35310 LF302 1205001 492056 B1410 NA PF2210 NA AM125424
3.4" 51348 L10241 LF157 5205002 491056 BT223 FL793 PF53 ST3614 AM101207
4.8" 51516 L20195 LF134 NA NA B243 FL400A PFL400A ST3600 ?
I measured the length of my oil filter and it seems to be 3''. I have PLENTY of clearance in front of the oil filter. According to what i found the L35310 seems to be a direct replacement. The problem is that it seems to be as much or more in some cases then the kohler filter. I think i'm just going to get the L10241 which is MUCH cheaper but .7'' longer or maybe L20195. I should be fine right just as long as i have plenty of clearance?
I think maybe either the stores that sell these filter or the manufacturers has found out people are replacing kohler filters with theirs and priced them accordingly. The direct replacements (2.7'') at both amazon & advanced auto parts were much highter
