Checking and replacing your riding lawn motor’s engine oil and filter is really important. This is a regular routine maintenance requirement you simply can’t ignore.
Especially when you want the thing to perform well for years. There’s no such way to keep your engine going except following schedule maintenance according to the included manual. And by doing so, you’ll just guarantee extended service life.
I’m here to talk about a basic maintenance issue today, and that’s how to change oil in riding lawn mower.
Changing Oil in Riding Lawn Mower: Everything You Need to Know!
It’s crucial after the first 5 hours of use to change the oil. This is usually referred to as the break-in period for an engine. You can follow the upcoming simple guide to changing the oil in a garden tractor.
But Before That!
Make sure you read the operator’s manual of your lawnmower. It’s important to know what type and amount of oil it’ll need.
For hotter climates, most riding lawn mower wants SAE 30 motor oil. To deal with winter weather, you should use SAE 10W-30 motor oil. These are great for changing temperature as well. Some users also go for SAE 5W-30 motor oil since it’s a great alternative for traditional ones.
Don’t take the chance of using the wrong weighted and type of oil. This will literally cause premature engine wear and sometimes damage the whole system. There should be guidelines about the right replacement manner as well. Make sure you check that before trying any method.
If you are riding a damaged riding mower due to hit or engine troubles, have it checked by a certified dealer for repair.
Also Read: 5 Best Garden Tractor to Buy [All Time, Heavy Duty]
Get Some Tools
- You’ll need a good pair of working gloves to keep your hands clean.
- Drain pan to catch all the old oil.
- Drain tube to transfer oil into the pan.
- Suitable engine oil for the system.
- Oil filter for the mower.
- Strap wrench to tighten or loosen the filter.
1. Settle in A Well-Ventilated Area
After all supplies are near you, let the mower run into a suitable area. It should be parked somewhere with proper ventilation. This way it’ll be easier to warm the oil and drain it better.
Make sure you park the ride on an even surface. There should be no ignition key with the proper parking brake set up.
2. Ensure No Sort of Connections
It’s time to lift the hood of your riding lawnmower. Simply get rid of any connections in spark plug wire.
Some engines may have more than one cylinder. Make sure you disconnect every wire in that case.
The dash cover has a fastener on lower right side. You need to detach it and carefully lift the cover.
Next release the locking tabs and detach cover. You need to get rid of the oil drain valve cap now.
3. Catching the Old Oil
Simply install the tube for oil drain in this step. You should put an oil pan beneath the tube while doing so. This will catch any oil drained out of the tube.
You can unlock the drain valve by pushing it counterclockwise. Simply pull the valve and it should open.
You need to get rid of the oil dipstick. There should be no dirt sitting over the opening, make sure of that.
Wait until all of the engine oil has drained out. Once you ensure that, simply push in the drain valve and lock it by turning clockwise.
You need to reattach the dash cover and fix it with previous fastener. You are done with draining the old oil out.
4. Replacing Oil Filter
Now if you want to change the oil filter, follow these steps. Get rid of the fastener from lower dash’s left corner.
Beneath the cover, you’ll discover oil filter. Let the drain pan stay right below this filter to catch any dripping oil.
Using the strap wrench, you can unlock oil filter by turning it counterclockwise. Detach the filter and make sure to wipe any spill offs from frame of mower.
Using a new oil coating simply grease the filter’s seal. Make sure you apply a thin layer of coating for this purpose.
Once you are done layering, put the new filter back in engine. Turn it clockwise and it will simply get locked in place.
Get rid of the drain pan and let dash cover come back to its place. Securely tighten the fastener and finish this process
5. Pouring New Oil into System
You need to drip new oil through the dipstick tube. Make sure to pause in between before fulling the specified amount.
Let the oil settle inside the engine sump. You should wait for around a minute to make that happen.
Use a shop rage and simply wipe the dipstick. Now push the dipstick into opening and lock it down.
You need to unlock the dipstick again and pull it out. See if oil is reaching the top mark of dipstick. If not then you need to add extra oil and wait for another minute.
Lock and unlock it once more to check if the oil level is right. Once you reach the full mark of oil level then finally reinsert dipstick to end this process.
6. Reprocessing Old Fuel
There are many oil recycling centers available in small and big towns. You can find one inside your locality and sell them the old fuel. They will certainly accept the old mower oils and dispose it in a proper manner.
Avoid dumping the old oil into sewer or ground. These are really dangerous if mixed with streams or ground water.
Conclusion
Finally, all you need to do is dust off any dirt from your hands. It’s time to admire your work and pat yourself for a great job. Your engine will be thanking you for the next ride. This minimal maintenance routine can give you a boost in efficiency and years of dependable service.