PSA: Change the oil in your lawnmower

[Via]

I didn't change it at all last year, so that makes it almost two years since it's been changed.

I was planning my first mow today, and I figured I better change it before that. Good thing I did.

There was almost nothing left in there, just a few tablespoons of thick, black goo. I don't know how that thing was running towards the end of last year; kudos to Toro/Briggs&Stratton. It sure runs like a new mower now.

Don't be a lazy ass like me and almost ruin your mower.

 

[lothar]

I know how to change the oil in my car(Honda Accord '09) and have done so twice.
I have absolutely no idea how to change oil in a lawnmower. I've had this Toro lawnmower for 2.5 years now.

 

[FoBoT]

yes, i remembered, this year

4-5 years ago i forgot and blew up a motor
$500

 

[DrPizza]

My lawn mowers don't require oil during the summer. Just water and lawn.

 

[BurnItDwn]

my old 1980s toro gets new oil every few years .... runs like a champ

 

[FoBoT]

My lawn mowers don't require oil during the summer. Just water and lawn.

yeah, i don't see a dipstick or oil pan drain

 

[Demo24]

Pretty regular thing for us, then again we have to add oil everytime we mow because it wasn't so well maintained for a period and now it uses an annoying amount. It runs pretty well though oil consumption aside, so I figure it's happy and I'll let it do it's thing until it dies

 

[BurnItDwn]

yeah, i don't see a dipstick or oil pan drain

When the dipstick goes into the oil pan, then several months later, he has a new lawn mower!

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

yeah, i don't see a dipstick or oil pan drain

Sounds like a good idea, until it's snowing in winter and you have to go feed your lawnmowers.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Got a 9 year old Honda push mower that's had the oil changed 3x and run without an air filter from day one. Still runs great.

 

[Printer Bandit]

all i need:

 

[BoomerD]

RTFM.

I change the oil in my mower every year.

 

[Drako]

LOL, I don't think I've changed the oil in mine in about 5 years. Thanks OP, something more to do this weekend

 

[Drako]

Oh, and change the air filter as well. Now I need to run to Lowes/HD this weekend as well

 

[Merad]

PSA: Change Check the oil in your lawnmower

FTFY

 

[Twista]

LMAO, im one of the people who hasn't ever. I change the oil in the mustang like clockwork. The lawn mower is over 4 years old and never gets serviced... just gas added. One time it did smoke like crazy, but it keeps on ticking. I might pour some lawn mower oil in there for craps and giggles.

 

[lupi]

forgot to once, mower shut off after I had started it, opened the cap and steam was coming out. Put some back in and started it but she was down a cylinder forever. since I only used the push mower for trimming close spots after doing the rest of the yard, kept using it for another year or so before getting a replacement.

 

[rh71]

haven't done it since like 4 years ago new. I check the oil level and it's been fine. Just have trouble starting it the 1st time every season but I prime it a few extra times and it eventually starts (with some black smoke). If it's black goo (which it doesn't appear to be), I'm in trouble. I've been looking for an excuse to get a self-propelled one anyway!

so it's not too late to do it right before the 1st mow is it? I know you're supposed to take the gas out of snowblower at the end of the season.

 

[SonicIce]

doesn't it have a dipstick

 

[sdifox]

My lawn mowers don't require oil during the summer. Just water and lawn.

and be wery quiet :biggrin:

 

[iamwiz82]

I keep abusing mine because I want to replace it with something that isnt crap, but I do change the oil. Year 6 with my Toro w/ Briggs and Stratton and the stupid thing just keeps running badly, but very consistently :/. It diesels and sputters, but always runs

 

[Fritzo]

I've had my lawnmower for 15 years now. Never changed the oil.

 

[PottedMeat]

i usually look at the oil once a season. i think i've changed the oil 2x or maybe 3x before.

bmw engines need a change every 40k right?

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1281659

 

[eplebnista]

First four years I followed the riding mower manual's recommendations and changed the oil before first use of the season and changed it again after about 5 mows. Since then, have just been changing it once a year before first use. It doesn't use any oil at all and still runs like new(stored in a metal building out of the weather).

 

[SandEagle]

change plugs and filter too.
need to do this on my mower, trimmer, power washer.......its been years. i even use left over gas from last summer. is that bad?