John Deere riding mowers have gasoline-powered engines and are intended for residential mowing. The company refers to its larger mowers — which may be used for residential or commercial applications — as lawn tractors. These units have either gasoline or diesel engines. John Deere recommends consulting your riding mower owner's manual for the exact type of recommended oil. A knowledge of oil viscosity can help guide you, however.
AdvertisementJohn Deere prefers that 10W-30 be used in all its gasoline-powered engines, including those on riding mowers. The "W" indicates that the oil was tested at low air temperatures. A 10W-30 weight engine oil is viscous even at temperatures as low as negative 4 degrees Fahrenheit. For climates where temperatures do not plunge below zero, John Deere says that 15W-40 oil "provides the best engine performance and protection" for temperatures that do not go below 5 degrees Fahrenheit. For those people living in colder climates, 5W-30 oil works well in weather between negative 22 degrees and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
