You regularly change your car’s engine oil, why not do the same for your lawn mower? Their small engines also require their oil changed from time to time. As a matter of fact, some mower engine requires their oil changed after every 25-50 hours of operation. Changing the oil in your lawn mower helps it run smoother.
The mowers’ user manual usually indicates how to change oil in lawn mower. We recommend that you perform an oil change at least annually with seasonal maintenance.
What’s more, changing oil in lawn mower way simple and can be done within 10 minutes at most.. The oil change procedures may vary from one mower to another, but the basics are similar.
Importance of Changing Oil in Lawn Mower
- Maintains engine lubrication: Refer to the owner’s manual to ensure you use the recommended oil grade and ensure it is at the right fill volume.
- Oil cools the engine and its components:It’s the best solution against over-heating of the engine through prevention of excess friction.
- Removes any dirt particles within the engine wear:With continuous use of the lawn mower, dirt particles can accumulate into sludge. They thereafter cause corrosion and slowly kill the engine. Regular change of oil and its filters removes these dirt particles thus ensuring the engine continue to operate at its optimal condition.
- Promotes lawn mowers engine longevity: Simple routine maintenance such as oil change makes your lawn mower serve you longer.
- It protects other engine parts.
When to Change Oil in Lawn Mower
There is no common rule for this. It varies with the size of your lawn, age and type of your lawn mower and how often you mow. However, thanks to our vast experience, here are basic rules of thumb on when you should change oil in lawn mower.
- If you just bought the lawn mower, we recommend that you change the engine’s oil immediately after five hours of operation. You don’t know how long it has been sitting in the warehouse.
- At the end of every mowing season or after every 50 hours of operation.
- Undoubtedly, a mower who uses the lawn mower in harsh conditions such as rough terrain, wet grass, dust and high temperatures conditions will have to change oil more frequently than a less frequent user. Therefore, check and change the oil as necessary every time you use it.
- If you like in areas with warm temperatures throughout the year, we recommend you change oil in your lawn mower every three to four months.
How to Check Oil Level
First ensure that the engine is cold and most of the engine oil is in the crankcase. Checking during such a time increases the chances of getting the most accurate readings.
Use a dipstick to check the oil levels.
Safety Measures While Changing Oil in Lawn Mower
- Choose an open space. Oil can produce Carbon monoxide-an odorless, tasteless, colorless yet highly poisonous gas that can easily kill. As such, we advice that you run a lawn mower outdoors especially when warming it up in preparation for the oil change. If you’re changing the oil inside your garden shed , ensure the process takes short time. Also, let all doors and windows stay open to facilitate free flow of air.
- Disconnect the mower’s spark plug. Start by putting the lawn mower off and then remove the spark plug to ensure the engine doesn’t accidentally start while you’re working on it.
- Keep its gas far from sources of ignition to avert any accidental occurrence of fire.
How to Change Oil in Lawn Mower?
Just like changing diapers, changing oil in lawn mower is messy and smelly. However, it’s a task that ought to be done sooner rather than later considering that oil is the lifeblood of your mower’s engine.
Requirements :
- Engine oil
- Drain pan. It’s used to carry the oil after the oil change.
- Drain tube. It’s a little hose that helps you direct the mowers’ oil straight to the drain pan without messing up.
- Oil filter
- Work gloves
- Strap wrench. It’s used to loosen and tighten the oil filter before and after the oil change process.
- Cloths to mop any spillage.
- Plastic sheeting or newspapers to cover the floor surface.
- Pieces of two inches timber or bricks. These helps raise the mower slightly off the ground.
Steps for Changing Oil in Lawn Mowers :
Step 1. Prepare for the Oil Change
They say that ‘failure to plan is planning fail.’ As such, there a couple of plans and things that you need to do before draining any old oil from the lawn mower.
- Warm the mower’s engine. This is done by running it for about 15 minutes. This speeds up the process of oil change by making it flow more freely thus making it easier to remove all the old oil from the engine.
- Turn it off and remove the mower’s spark plug.
- Clean the oil fill area. Use a clean towel or an air compressor to do this.
- Prepare the oil drain pan to catch the old oil. A normal container can also be used for this. Position the drain pan on the side of the lawn mower that you’ll tip to drain the oil.
Step 2. Dump the Old Oil
After the above preparations, the mower is now set to have its oil drained.
- Raise the mower’s wheels onto slabs of timber to increase clearance so that your hands can reach under the mower. Take care not to hurt your hands in the process.
- Unfasten and get out the oil fill cap.
- Tip the mower on its side and extract all of its oil. Leave it in that position for a couple of minutes to ensures that all the old oil drip out.
Step 3. Replace the Filters
If your mower’s oil filters are dirty, replace them. Simply loosen it with a wrench. Be ready for oil spillage from the filter ports on the engine.
Wipe the mounting ring on the engine and the engine compartment. Dispose off the old filter and use oil to lubricate the gasket of the new filter. Screw the new filter on.
Once the gasket and the casing meet, hand-tighten the filter until they make solid contact.
Step 5. Refill the mower with new engine oil
Your mower is now ready to have its engine refilled. Check the user’s manual to determine that exact amount of oil that the mower needs.
In most cases, mowers require between two-third and three-quarter a quanta of oil. This oil level is normally between the two holes on the dipstick.
Step 5. Add engine oil slowly until it reaches the required level
Stop severally as you fill the oil and use the dipstick to check its levels. Ensure you don’t overfill it. Over-filling the oil on the mower’s engine is as bad as under-filling it.
Step 6. Replace the oil cap
Be keen not to over-tighten the drain plug. If it’s made of plastic, over-tightening can split it in two and if it’s metallic, you can damage the thread on the sump.
Reconnect the spark plug wire and you’re good to go. It’s that simple, your mower’s oil change is now effected.
Step 7. Recycle the Old Oil
You can take the container with the old oil to the nearest approved oil-recycling dealer for recycling. Never dump old oil onto the ground, lawn or down a drain since it’s a powerful pollutant and can cause untold damage to the ground water and streams.
Parting Shot…
We told you that changing oil in lawn mower is as easy as ABC, didn’t we? Honestly, there is no justification for letting old oil deter your mower’s engine from serving you for untold years in the unforeseeable future.
Finally, ensure you use the above guide along the instructions from the manufacturer while working on your mower. This ensures you get everything right from the beginning.
