• Lubrication specifications for Kohler engines are similar for most of the products they produce.Man mowing image by xymm from Fotolia.com
  
  Kohler company makes a variety of small engines such as the Aegis, Courage and Command series, that find their way into everything from lawnmowers to arc welders. However, the oil specifications for nearly all of these engines are extremely similar; a single set of figures covers about 90 percent of their gasoline-powered line.
  
  

Service Classes

• Kohler engines should be lubricated with detergent oil of American Petroleum Institute (API) service class SG, SH, SJ, or higher. These service classes are rated for gasoline engines in cars and light trucks.
  
  

SAE Viscosity Grades

• Kohler recommends the use of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 10W-30 oil for operating temperatures above 0 degrees F. For cold-weather operation at 32 degrees F and lower, 5W-20 and 5W-30 oils may be used. Kohler states that synthetic oils may provide better engine starting at extremely low temperatures (below 23 degrees F).
  
  

Synthetic Oils

• While synthetic oils with the proper SAE classification are acceptable for use in Kohler engines, the company recommends that new engines and rebuilt engines should be run for at least 50 hours with standard petroleum-based oils. This helps the piston rings seat properly.