How Often To Change Lawn Mower Engine Oil? Our Guide Here

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Written By James
Updated July 26, 2021 by James

How Often To Change Lawn Mower Engine Oil? Our Guide Here

Whether you use gas or electric, your lawn mower will work best if you keep it well-maintained.

Regular maintenance will help you avoid costly repairs, extend the life of your mower, and keep your lawn looking great.

Most manufacturers recommend that you change your mower's oil every 25 hours of use. However, if the engine is going to be used in a heavy grass area, it may need to be changed more frequently.

Lawn mower engines need oil changes to function properly, and they're pretty simple to do yourself. However, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions to prevent damaging your engine.

Changing the oil every 25 hours of use is a good rule of thumb, but check your engine's manual for specific recommendations.

You should also clean out the air filter, spark plug, and carburetor if applicable between seasons.

Signs That it Might Be Time to Change Your Lawn Mower Oil

Keeping your mower in full working order is essential to make sure that your lawn gets the care that it needs. Mowers are a big investment, and if you want them to last there are a number of care steps that you should take.

The most important of these is to keep the oil changed on a regular basis. If you notice that your mower is not running as well as it used to, a change of oil might be just what it needs to get back in top shape.

While it may not be a top priority for most homeowners, it is important to change your lawn mower’s oil at regular intervals. This "engine oil" lubricates the engine and helps to keep it clean by trapping dirt and metal shavings.

When it’s left to sit, the oil breaks down and loses its ability to protect the engine. You can get a good idea of when your oil needs to be changed by checking the color and consistency of the oil.

Use the Dipstick to Check the Level

When you have a lawn mower, one of the most important things that you need to do on a regular basis is change the oil.

Oil is one of the most important things that you need to change out when you are working on a lawnmower engine, because getting the oil changed will help to keep the engine running at its best.

When you use the dipstick on a regular basis, you will be able to tell when the oil is ready to be changed and also when you need to address other things that are going on with the engine.

If you have a riding lawn mower it is important to change the oil every spring. If you are using a push mower, you still should change the oil, but it is a bit less critical.

If you would like to check your lawn mower oil level without any mechanical know-how, you can use a dipstick. The dipstick hooks right to the side of the tractor's oil reservoir.

Use the Dipstick to Check the Quality

Just like a fine automobile, a lawn mower can quickly turn from a tool of convenience into a maintenance nightmare if you do not change the oil regularly.

This will not only ensure your mower runs efficiently, it will also save you money in the long run. Changing the oil in your mower will not only help extend the life of your mower, it will also ensure it performs at top capacity.

Fortunately, it's easy to tell when your mower needs an oil change: just check the dipstick, and you'll know whether you need to consider changing your oil or just adding a little more.

Importance of Proper Oil Level

Oil plays an important role in your lawnmower's performance. Oil not only lubricates the engine, but also cools it and prevents rust and corrosion.

Not having the proper level of oil in your mower can result in the engine wearing out prematurely or seizing. That's why it's important to check the oil level before each mowing session, and more importantly, to change the oil when it gets low.

Step 1: Collect the needed supplies

Before you decide to change the oil in your lawn mower, be sure to stock up on the supplies you need to do the job right. The oil filter, and the oil itself, are especially important to making your mower fire up in the spring.

An uncleared oil can block oil flow to your lawn mower's engine, which can cause it to stall. Before you begin changing your oil, collect the needed supplies.

You'll need: a 5-quart bucket, a 3/8-inch wrench, 3/8-inch oil filter wrench, a funnel, a screwdriver, a rag and an oil-changing kit. Gather all your supplies together, and place them on a clean workbench.

Step 2: Prepare the mower

Preparing your mower before changing your lawn mower's oil is the most vital step of the entire process. Be sure to disconnect the spark plug wire before performing any work on your mower.

If you do not do this, you risk getting shocked and possibly seriously injured. The choice of oil to use is up to you. Most manufacturers recommend premium-grade petroleum oil. It is sold at automotive stores and some lawn and garden stores.

Step 3: Drain the oil

With the deadline for spring mowing fast approaching, it's time to check the oil and oil filter of your lawn mower. If you don't, you may face the dreaded "drain plug blowout," which is a scary, messy, and potentially costly repair.

Beyond that, it's a good idea to drain the old oil before replacing it with fresh oil. Why? The old oil is dirty and needs to be removed. If it's not, it may contaminate the new oil and increase the chances for future engine failure.

If you’ve recently emptied the old oil from your lawnmower, you’re likely wondering what is the right thing to do with it. Is it okay to throw it down the drain?

Does your city have a recycle program? Is the best option to throw it in your trash and let the garbage man take care of it?

Step 4: Refill the engine oil

Changing your engine oil is actually quite simple. All you need to do is find your lawnmower, get out your engine drain pan of choice, unscrew your oil cap (if you have one), drain out the old oil in a drain pan, and replace it with fresh new oil.

If you're using this method, make sure you use oil that's appropriate to your type of engine oil. If you are using a mower that uses gas, you'll want to use gasoline oil.

If you're using a mower that uses a lot of oil, you'll want to use heavy duty oil. Changing your oil is an important part of maintaining your mower. By doing this, you'll extend the life of your engine and your

Step 5: Restart the mower

If your lawn mower isn't running properly, the first thing to check is the amount of oil in the crankcase.

When you fill your lawn mower with oil, you should fill it to the top of the dipstick. If you don't, then you may not have enough oil.

Check the oil level before you start the mower and add more oil if necessary to bring the level to the full mark. The oil level should be checked again after the first five hours of use to ensure that you don't use any extra oil.

Last Words

Are you ready for the summer season and want to make sure your mower will keep you well groomed? Changing the oil for your lawn mower is a necessary but often overlooked task. It's important to remember, however, that your engine is only as good as the oil you put in it. Regularly changing the oil in your mower will keep it running smoothly and ensure that you can enjoy your summer without a lot of headaches.

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James

My father, and his father before him, and his father; for the past 3 generations, my family have always been into gardening. The green fingers is a gift passed down to me and I thoroughly enjoy it! I also have worked in the manufacturing department for Bosch and DeWalt so I like to think I know a thing or two about tools and such!
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