How to Re-Oil the Filter of a Lawnmower

Keep your lawn mower running smooth and out of the shop for repairs by maintaining the air filter. The mower's performance will last longer with this simple maintenance step. Air filters should be cleaned once every couple of months or at least at the beginning of the season. Whether you clean or replace your current foam filter, it needs to be oiled before it goes back into the lawn mower.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Lawn mower engine oil
• Plastic bag
• Liquid dish washing soap
• Paper towels

1. Take out the air filter by loosening the screw that holds the top cover. The type of filters that need to be oiled are the foam air filters. Most foam air filters do not need to be replaced, unless they are torn. So you'll first want to clean it. Use a little bit of dish washing liquid soap and then hose it off really well.

2. Leave a little of the oil while cleaning. Don't worry about getting it completely clean. The foam filters work because the oil grabs onto the dirt. If it was not oiled, the smaller particles would pass right through.

3. Dry the foam with a cloth or paper towels or leave it to dry in the air for a little while.

4. Put the air filter in a plastic bag. Pour in a little bit of lawn mower engine oil. You don't have to go real heavy with the oil. Close the bag and start squeezing the filter through the plastic, moving the oil around. The foam filter is re-oiled and can be put back into the lawn mower.