All machines that have an engine must use a working fluid. In fact, they use more than one working fluid, and this also applies lawn mowers. These working fluid must be changed from time to time for the engine to perform better because they are exhaustible. In case, you are interested about how to change lawn mower oil, this post was designed specifically for you. While people who use battery powered, robotic or electric lawn mowers might need this post just for information’s sake, it’s definitely a must read for people who use gas powered lawn mowers.
You can change your lawn mower oil by locating and unscrewing the oil drain plug to let the oil sip out into an oil pan, and pour fresh oil into the oil tank after you have locked the oil drain or oil sump. Of course there are other things to do to make sure that this exercise is carried out successfully, and we will for sure get into the nitty gritty of that later on in this post.
The more you use your lawn mower, the more we recommend that you change the oil. Having good quality oil in your engine will make sure that your lawn mower works seamlessly. The moving mechanical parts of your lawn mower constantly needs lubrication to avoid friction and overheating. And this is exactly what leads to a noisy breakdown. Check here for lawn mower maintenance.
THINGS TO DO WHEN CHANGING LAWN MOWER OIL
You know it’s time to change the oil of your lawn mower engine when you notice it starts turning off by itself, its smoking uncontrollably or you simply just gauge it with the dipstick.
When you bring out the dip stick and the oil is black, rather than the new oil color, then it’s time to change it. So find below the steps to take to change the oil of your lawn mower successfully:
Prepare for the job
If used engine oil spills on the floor of your work area, it makes it really messy. So the first thing to do is to cover the floor area with old newspaper or cardboard paper.
If your lawn mower is not bulky, you can as well put it on a workbench where it would be easier for you to access the under part of the lawnmower. If you are using a riding lawnmower, you might first need a jack to lift up the mower so you can work easily.
Still, on the old oil, you will also need an oil pan in which the old oil can drain into, rather than letting it spill onto the floor. After all of these is set, you can turn on the lawn mower just to run on idle for about a minute. This will make all the oil that has circulated warm up a little so it can drain out faster.
After about a minute of running on idle, turn the lawn mower off. Make sure you disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug itself. This is a safety precaution you cannot afford to take for granted. And then use a dry rag to clean the area around the spark plug.
Remove the old oil
Now we are getting into business. To gain access to the drain plug screw, tilt the lawn mower in such a way that the spark plug is facing upward. This will stop gas from sipping out of the lawn mower. Now you can position the oil pan we talked about directly under the oil drain plug.
To remove the oil drain plug, use a wrench of the corresponding bolt size to unscrew it in a clockwise direction. Now let the oil drain out completely into the oil pan you have positioned underneath.
When you are satisfied that the oil has drained out, replace the oil plug screw and make sure it is tight enough so the new oil you put won’t leak out.
But it’s not time for the new oil yet. We still need to dispose the old oil properly. We do not want to make a mess of it. After draining the oil, you can put it into a container and seal it properly.
Do not pour the used oil on the floor or flush it down the drain. The guys who sell engine oil are also equipped to dispose it. So you can just take it there and they will handle the disposal for you.
Change the oil filter (if applicable)
We said if applicable because some lawn mowers do not come with an oil filter. In fact, if your lawn mower does not have an oil filter, it therefore means you have to change the oil more frequently than those who have.
This is because the oil filter helps to trap any dirt and debris from the oil before it is sent into the engine of the lawn mower.
So locate the position of the oil filter and then remove it by twisting it anti-clockwise with the help of an oil filter spanner. This is a very special tool designed to help unscrew oil filters.
Well, some people can use their bare hands to unscrew it. If you have an oil filter, we recommend you change it at least once in a year.
When the oil filter is off, use the rag to wipe off the metal rim that seals the oil filter against the engine. Please do this very carefully. On the new oil filter you are about to replace it with, you will find a rubber seal on it.
If this seal is dirty, clean it and then apply some oil on the seal before fitting it into the engine. First use your hands to tighten it until you can feel the rubber seal compressing the metal rim of the filter.
At this juncture, you can use the oil filter spanner to compete the job.
Top up the oil
The job is almost done now. With the oil filter and oil drain plug all replaced tightly, you can add some fresh, new, quality oil into the engine of the lawn mower. To do this, simply remove the oil fill plug and put a funnel inside the opening.
Pour the oil inside the engine carefully, making sure you do not over fill it. If unsure about the level, you can use your dipstick to gauge the oil level periodically when pouring.
Remember to wipe off the oil from the dipstick before reinsertion. When you have gotten to the desired level, replace the cap of the fill opening and clean off any oil that must have spilled unto the body of the lawn mower.
TOOLS REQUIRED FOR CHANGING LAWN MOWER OIL
To change the oil of your lawn mower successfully, especially using a DIY approach like we have explained earlier, there are some basic tools you need. These are:
- Spanner to screw and unscrew the drain plug nut.
- Spanner to screw and unscrew the spark plug.
- An oil pan in which the used oil will drain into.
- A dry rag to wipe of oil spills from the body of the lawn mower or the floor of the work area.
- Gloves (disposable or not!)
- Newspaper or cardboard paper to cover the floor of the work area.
- A workbench if you have to lift the lawn mower up.
- A motor jack if you are trying to drain oil from a riding lawn mower.
- Oil filter spanner. (learn more about fuel filter here)
WHICH OIL IS GOOD FOR LAWN MOWER
Since we have been writing about lawn mower servicing, we have always recommended that you use oil recommended by the manufacturer of the lawn mower.
This will help the lawn mower perform better and avoid issues like smoking and overheating as a result of friction. Pouring the oil in the right quantity is also very important.
If there are no specifics on the type of engine oil to use for your lawn mower, we recommend that you use an SAE 30 or 10W30 rated oil.
If you use maybe a riding lawnmower, you can use a 15W40 rated engine oil which tends to be more viscous when the temperature of the oil increases. For smaller or medium-sized lawn mowers, you need about 5 liters to 6 liters of oil to gauge it up properly.
GAUGE OIL WITH TECH
Nowadays, it is very possible to gauge the oil level of your lawn mower with the help of an App downloaded into your phone. If you acquire some state-of-the-art, high-end lawnmower you can connect it to your mobile device using Bluetooth technology.
These tools will help send notifications to your mobile when it is time for you to change your oil and oil filter. It can also remind you to top up if the engine is running low. They do these by keeping track of the number of hours your lawn mower has worked.
Conclusion
Changing the oil of your lawn mower is very important for its mechanical part. It makes the lawn mower function properly and increases its lifespan. Is your oil due for changing?
