Mower Maintenance 101: How to Change the Oil

Regularly changing your lawn mower’s oil is one of the easiest and most effective ways to lengthen the life of your engine. However, this rule can go both ways. If you’ve been ignoring your mower’s engine oil as of late, it likely won't be long before it needs a serious repair. To avoid an expensive repair bill or a broken down mower, take a look at our helpful instructions below as we walk you through the steps of completing a lawn mower oil change.

Why It’s Important to Change Your Mower’s Oil

While your mower won’t need to have its oil changed as often as your car does, it’s still important to maintain it regularly. If you have a push mower, you’ll need to complete a full oil change after every 50 hours of use, and after 100 hours of use if you have a riding mower. Without regular oil changes, you’ll find your engine has a hard time running for long periods of time, as various components will become gummy and slow due to your thickening engine oil. This will not only decrease the efficiency of your mower, but it’ll also take years of use off your engine’s service life. As a result, you’ll find yourself at your local dealership much more often, either to have your mower repaired or—more likely— completely replaced.

How to Complete an Oil Change

To begin, you’ll first need to raise your mower onto a few cinder or wood blocks to allow yourself easy access to the drain plug. Using your owner’s manual, locate your mower’s drain plug and place a canister and a tarp down to catch the old oil as it drains out of your engine. Once your canister is in place, use a socket wrench to remove the plug and allow the oil to drain completely before reaching up to remove the bolt holding your old filter in place. Once this bolt is removed, you’ll be able to pull out both the old filter and the gasket. Using a rag and some fresh oil, lube up your gasket, bolts, and drain plug before inserting your new filter and reinstalling the various components into their rightful places. Once everything is back in place, go ahead and refill your reservoir with fresh oil. As you go, remember to check your dipstick regularly to avoid overfilling your mower. 

While it’s important to change your lawn mower’s oil after a certain number of operating hours, not everyone has the time or patience to complete the job themselves. Thankfully, we here at New South Tractor offer an amazing service center to help you with all of your equipment’s various maintenance needs. If you’re located nearby in Asheville, North Carolina, feel free to stop by our location here in Newton, North Carolina for your next oil change!