How to Change Your Oil On A Walk Behind Mower
Changing the oil regulary in your walk behind mower will help it run more efficiently and extend its life. Check your owners manual for the recommended oil change interval. The tools you will need to change your oil on a walk behind mower are : a drop cloth, work gloves, a piece of heavy duty plastic, container for used oil and of course the new oil.
The first thing to do is find a well ventilated work area. If your working in a garage, open the door for maxuim air circulation. Use the drop cloth to protect your floor from any spills. To get started you need to remove the grass catcher and brush off any grass clippings. Once you have done that you should start the mower and let the engine run about a minute. The oil will drain more quickly when its warm. When you shut off the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug to prevent the engine from accidently starting and its safe to work on. Since you will have to tip the mower on its side to drain the oil you should plug the gas tank. To do that, you will use the piece of heavy duty plastic to cover up the inlet then secure the gas cap back on tight. This should keep the fuel in the tank when you tip the mower over.
The oil keeps the engine lubricated and working properly. It should be changed after every season. To remove the oil you should have an oil pan, for the old oil, and some fresh oil to put back in. First you should remove the oil cap and dipstick. Tip the mower on its side to remove the old oil and empty the oil into an oil pan. Be careful to keep the oil off of the carburetor and gas tank. Always tip the mower either spark plug side up or dipstick side down. If you tip the mower incorrectly you can get fuel on the air filter and if this occurs the engine cant breather properly and will run rough or not start at all.
Now its time to add the new oil. Use only the oil type thats recommended by the manufacturer and do not overfil the crankcase. Too much oil causes problems when the engine is running so add the oil slowly and in small increments and check with the dip stick several times. This will insure that you’ve added the correct amount without overfilling. When you have the completed these steps safely and properly it will be time to get your engine running and cutting that grass.