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I received a hand me down lawn mower from the previous owners 2 years ago. It takes gas but I just found out every season the oil needs to be changed. I Googled it and it seems complicated. Is it really necessary? The potential for a spill on the driveway or on the grass seems high
I received a hand me down lawn mower from the previous owners 2 years ago. It takes gas but I just found out every season the oil needs to be changed. I Googled it and it seems complicated. Is it really necessary? The potential for a spill on the driveway or on the grass seems high
Is this a walk-behind mower or a lawn tractor?
Walk-behind is super easy - I try to do mine every season though that's probably only at about 15 hours of use, not the every 25 hours recommended. Here's a VERY easy video:
Yes, for maximum engine life, changing the oil is absolutely necessary!
However, if maximum engine life is not a concern, just add oil when necessary and run it until it dies.
I don't know about your area, but here there are a couple of businesses that will come to your house and service lawn and garden equipment. Usually, they don't drain the oil, they have a vacuum pump that allows them to suck the oil out of the engine, then they put new oil in.
Of course, you can do the same thing with what used to be known as a "rose gun". It looks like a grease gun, but it is a suction device. Suck the old oil out, squirt it into an empty gallon jug, then fill with fresh oil. Take the old oil someplace to be recycled. With reasonable caution, there will be little or no mess.
Good luck.
Good grief, yes it's important if you want to maintain your equipment.
Don't do it if you could care less about the mower and just "throw it away" (BTW, where is away?) when it dies.
If you're only worried about making a mess, get an oil extractor. I've been using a $30 Pela unit for more than a decade on cars, motorcycles, ATVs, lawn mowers (walk behind, tractor and zero turns), etc... The hose goes in the oil fill tube, you pump a handle a few times and the oil is sucked into a container that's easy to pour from. You'll need to know where you closest oil recycle container is (probably the corner auto shop, parts store or gas station), but that's no different than if you changed the oil on anything else.
You'll Also want to check the blade, the belt(s), cables, and probably change the air filter (and maybe the spark plug, if it runs I wouldn't bother).
It's about 5 min of work. At least with my lawnmower.
Open oil cap, tip mower to drain into oil catch pan. When done, put mower back on wheels and add correct amount of oil.
Any oil that spills, some kitty litter ground into it usually absorbs it up if you let it sit for a little bit. Any residue left will be baked away over time by the sun
My wife and I just changed the oil. Easy. 5 bucks for the motor oil and we dumped the oil out. Just keeping the old oil in a container until we know what to do with it.
My wife and I just changed the oil. Easy. 5 bucks for the motor oil and we dumped the oil out. Just keeping the old oil in a container until we know what to do with it.
Advance Auto, O'Reilly, AutoZone all have oil recycling programs.
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