Oil helps lubricate and cool the engine and needs periodical changes to maintain engine performance and life. Too little or too much oil is unhealthy for a lawn mower engine. So, how much oil does a lawn mower take?
Walk-behind or push lawnmowers with small engines have oil capacities ranging from 15oz to 24 oz. Riding lawnmowers, on the other hand, take 48 oz. to 64 oz. of engine oil.
How Much Oil Does a Lawn Mower Take?
A regular change of lawn mower oil helps enhance engine power and lifespan. Oil in small engines (2-stroke) should be changed at the start of the mowing season or after every 20 to 50 hours of operation. In large or 4-stroke engines, oil should be changed annually or after 100 hours of operation.
The amount of oil a lawn mower will take depends on various factors, including the engine size, mower model, and oil quality already available in the crankcase. To know the exact amount of oil your lawn mower takes, you must go through the manufacturer’s user manual.
Usually, a dipstick is provided to help check or determine the amount of oil needed by your lawn mower. If you know how to use it, then there is no need to scratch your head wanting to know how much oil your lawn mower will take.
Unless you are topping up or adding oil to a brand new lawn mower, you must drain the old oil from your lawn mower before adding a new one. You can do this by tipping the lawn mower to drain the oil through the dipstick tube, the oil drain plug, or using an oil extractor pump.
Once you have figured out the right oil for your lawn mower, as directed in the user manual, use a dipstick to determine the right amount of oil to add. Wipe the dipstick with a clean rug to take accurate readings.
The dipstick has two marks on it – one for the minimum oil level and the other for the maximum level. The oil should always be between the marks but closer to the maximum than the minimum.
Once you have reinstalled and tightened the oil drain plug, level up your lawn mower on flat ground. Gently add oil slowly into the crankcase as you use the dipstick to check the level of oil you have added.
There is no harm in purchasing extra oil bottles as you will always use them the next time.
How to Check Oil Level in a Lawn Mower
Apart from changing your lawn mower oil, you should also check if the available oil is enough. As said, the oil should always be closer to the maximum level marking on the dipstick. With a little oil, your lawn mower engine will likely overheat and prematurely wear out due to friction in its components.
There is no way to check the oil level in your engine other than using a dipstick. Here is how to do it:
- Turn off your lawn mower engine and let it cool for 15 to 30 minutes
- Disconnect the plug wire to prevent the engine from accidentally starting
- Remove the dipstick by twisting the cap in a counterclockwise direction.
- Wipe the dipstick with a clean rug to remove oil for accurate reading
- Reinsert the dipstick into its tube and ensure it has completely locked
- Remove the dipstick again and view the oil level on the markings.
- Add some oil if it’s close to or below the minimum level until its almost to the fill mark on the dipstick.
- Let the oil settle for 10 minutes before checking its level again using the dipstick.
- Once satisfied, fit the dipstick back on the engine and wipe any oil spills on the engine using a rug.
- Reconnect the plugs back and start your lawn mower engine. Any oil spills on the engine may burn off as blue or white smoke.
Effects of Excess oil on a lawn mower
Without using a dipstick to check the amount of oil you add, you will likely overfill the mower crankcase with oil. As too little oil is bad for the engine, too much oil is also a problem. The excess oil can cause your engine to overheat, resulting in blown gaskets, seal damage, or engine locking up.
As a result of broken seals and gaskets, the excess oil will move in any direction, including on the cylinders, spark, and air filters. This is one reason your lawn mower is smoking, not starting well, performing poorly, and producing unusual sounds in the engine.
How to remove excess oil from a lawn mower
If you overfilled your lawn mower engine with oil, you must remove the excess as soon as possible. The process is almost similar to that of draining oil from a lawn mower, but this time you need to do it diligently to avoid draining too much oil from the mower.
There are several methods for draining oil from a lawn mower:
- Through drain plug: If your lawn mower has a drain plug – usually underneath the mowing deck, place a drain pan under it and gently remove the plug for a second to drain the excess oil. You may lift up the mower or flip it to access it underneath the deck.
- Through fill hole: You can flip your lawn mower to drain the excess oil through a separate fill hole or the dipstick tube. Ensure the air filter and plugs face up as the fill hole nears the ground to the drain pan.
- Using an oil extractor pump: This is the easiest and most effective way of removing excess oil from your lawn mower. You simply open the dipstick tube or the fill hole and insert the tube, then pump the oil into the attached container.
Tip: Keep checking the level of oil in your lawn mower using a dipstick as you drain out the excess oil. This will prevent you from also removing more oil than required.
After removing the excess oil from your lawn mower, consider cleaning the oil-soaked air filters, spark plugs, and lawn mower carburetor. Oil deposits will typically impair these parts’ performance, which can be prevented by cleaning them.
Final Thought
Knowing the amount of oil your lawn mower take can be helpful in planning and budgeting for an oil change. However, this is not very concerning if you know how to use a dipstick provided on your lawn mower engine. Always use it to check the amount of oil needed or available in your lawn mower engine.