What Oil Do I Use for a John Deere Lawn Mower?

Plus-50

• Plus-50 Supreme is an engine oil brand created by John Deere. If your John Deere mower can support it, Plus-50 is available in 15W-40, 10W-30 and 0W-40. The Plus-50 oil is formulated to last longer than standard conventional engines, requiring fewer oil changes over time. Plus-50 is also sold in the United States and Canada. The multi-viscosity ratings indicate that Plus-50 is usable during both cold and warm weather operation.

Turf-Gard

• John Deere also sells Turf-Gard engine oil that’s designed specifically for lawn and garden tractors, push mowers and riding mowers. Turf-Gard is available in sizes from 20 oz. to 55-gallon drum, which is convenient if you own several John Deere yard machines. Turf-Gard also comes in 5W-30, 10W-30 and 10W-40 oil weights and also meets automotive oil quality standards. If you own a John Deere skid-steer loader, Turf-Gard can be used as transmission fluid for it.

Break In Oil

• If you have a John Deere mower with a new or rebuilt engine, consider using break-in oil. Engine parts, over time, create their own wear patterns as they operate, such as pistons within the combustion chamber. Sometimes parts wear away more than others and create irregular meeting surfaces, which can create metal flaking and damage the engine. Break-in oil is designed to focus on lubricating engine parts for better wear patterns and create optimum mating surfaces for engine parts.

Synthetic Oil

• Although John Deere mower owner’s manuals suggest using their brands for lubrication, you can use comparable brands as long as they meet the oil weight standards for your mower. Synthetic oil, for example, mimics many of the conventional oil qualities without extensive pollution risks. Synthetic oil tends to last longer than conventional oil. However, costs can be up to three times as much as conventional oil.