The Basics of Lawn Mower Maintenance

How do I check my lawn mower's oil?

Before you rev up your lawn mower, you should always check its oil level. Keeping to this routine will always ensure you know exactly where the oil level sits in the engine. Plus, doing this when your lawn mower's engine is cold will help to provide a more accurate reading of its oil level since most of the engine's oil will still be in its crankcase.

To check your lawn mower's oil, you first need to locate the oil fill cap. The location of the oil fill cap will depend on your machine, but you will want to keep an eye out for a cap that is either labeled "oil" or "fill." Once the oil fill cap is found, you want to clean around it to ensure no dust, dirt or debris will fall inside the crankcase.

Open the oil fill cap and use the attached dipstick to check the oil level by removing it from the crankcase, wiping it with a clean cloth, reinserting it and then removing it again for an accurate reading. If the oil level is good, you will be good to start mowing. If the oil level is low, you will want to add more or change it.

How do I change my lawn mower's oil?

Having fresh and clean oil in your lawn mower is essential to it running smoothly all year round. Continuing to use old, black oil that contains debris in your machine puts the lawn mower at risk of incurring costly repairs.

Guidelines state it is best to replace your push lawn mower's oil annually or after 50 hours of regular use, whichever comes first. Those stats are different if you are dealing with a riding lawn mower. With the riding machines, you will want to change the oil every 100 hours of regular use or annually, depending on how often you ride it. But when it comes time to change the oil in either your push or riding lawn mower, there are some steps you will want to follow.

First, make sure that the lawn mower is off and not running. Then you will want to remove the spark plug from the motor. Once that is removed, pull the drain plug that can be found on the underside of your lawn mower. Be sure to have an oil-safe container under the drain plug because the oil will start to flow out of the machine as soon as the plug is out.

In the instance that your lawn mower lacks a drain plug, you will want to use an oil extractor kit during this part of the process. Once the oil has been drained from the lawn mower, replace the drain plug and then add new small engine oil to your crankcase. Be sure to only fill to the dipstick line. All that will be left to do is to recycle the old oil, and then you will be ready to start mowing.

How do I replace my lawn mower's filter?

An essential element in helping to ensure your lawn mower runs smoothly is a consistently clean filter. Check your filter often to ensure it is free of dirt, dust and debris. If your filter requires replacing, there are some steps you can follow to make the process easier.

The first thing you will need to do is to find out if your lawn mower has a paper or foam filter. If your lawn mower requires a pre-cleaner, you should then follow the steps in the owner's manual of your lawn mower. With that information, you can now get started on replacing the filter.

Ensure your lawn mower is off and the spark plug is removed. All that’s needed for paper filters is to swap out the old one for a new one. On foam filter models, remove the filter from the lawn mower, wash it with warm, soapy water and then let it air dry. Once dried, use two tablespoons of mower oil to coat the top of the filter and then place the filter back onto the machine. Close up the housing, replace the spark plug and you will be ready to go.

How do I maintain my lawn mower's blade?

It could be argued that one of the most critical elements of a lawn mower is its blade since it does all the grass cutting. Therefore, you want to ensure your mower's blade is constantly sharp and ready to create clean and even cuts. Here are some quick and easy tips to help you keep up with proper lawn mower blade maintenance.

The first thing you will want to do is to make it a habit to clean off the blade after each use. The simple task of brushing off excess grass and debris can help extend the life of your lawn mower blade.

The other thing you should do is sharpen your lawn mower's blade regularly. There are a few ways you can do this. The first option is to use a file or grindstone to do the sharpening by hand. Another way a lawn mower blade can be sharpened is by using a bench grinder.

If you aren’t comfortable sharpening the blade yourself, remove it and bring it into a certified shop for sharpening. But no matter which way you sharpen the blade, be sure that you remove the spark plug from your lawn mower before any work is attempted on the blade.

How do I clean my lawn mower?

A clean lawn mower is a lawn mower that keeps running smoothly all year round. Therefore, you should take the time to clean yours after a few uses, at the very least.

To clean your lawn mower, you will want to make sure yours is completely empty of gas so you can work safely. Once drained of gas, turn the lawn mower on its side to allow easy access to the bottom of the mower.

You will then want to remove any significant amounts of debris that could be piled up around the blade and underside. Then, use a hose to wash away dirt, grass and smaller debris.

Finally, scrub the parts of the bottom of the mower with a soapy brush and give it one final wash before letting it dry. Once dried, your lawn mower will be ready to be placed in storage.

How do I winterize my lawn mower?

If the region you live in experiences snowy winters, your lawn mower can spend those months in storage. But before you pack away your lawn mower, you will want to ensure you take the proper steps to winterize it.

You first want to make sure the gas tank is empty and stays empty all winter long. Not only do you want the gas tank empty, but you will also want to make sure your lawn mower is drained of old oil, as well. Follow the steps above when you are going to change your lawn mower's oil.

If your mower lacks an oil drain plug, you will then want to remove the oil fill cap and let the excess oil drain into a container after turning your mower on its side. You then want to replace the engine's oil reservoir according to your lawn mower's instructions for storing it.

Now that your lawn mower is ready for storage, be sure to keep it in a dry place while avoiding water heaters and furnaces.

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