How to Change Oil in a Yard Machine
To keep push mowers, lawn tractors, snow throwers, log splitters and other yard machines running smoothly, you must change the oil after every 50 hours of use, or once a year. Oil lubricates, cleans and cools the engine; but with time, the heat, pressure and burning gas cause the oil to thicken and turn black. Changing the oil removes the particles and dirt from the engine and keeps the machine running well so it lasts longer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- High-quality SAE 30 weight motor oil
- Milk carton or can to collect the oil
- Paper towels to clean the dip stick
- Cinder blocks, if necessary
- Oil siphon
Instructions
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Run the engine for several minutes to warm up the oil, as this will help it drain better.
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Locate the oil plug. It can be on the top of the engine or at the bottom of the mower, near the blade.
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Drain the oil in one of two ways, either by tipping the machine on its side or by setting the yard machine on four cinder blocks and draining the oil from beneath.
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For big items such as log splitters, snow throwers or garden tillers, where tipping is not feasible, use an oil siphon. Place the intake hose into the dipstick tube, and place the discharge hose into either a milk carton or can. Begin hand pumping until you have removed all the oil from the engine.
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Allow ample time for the oil to drain. When it has drained, refill the engine with brand new oil.
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Dispose of the old oil by placing it into the container of the new oil and marking the bottle with either USED, DIRTY or OLD; this is so the old oil cannot be used as new. Take the used oil to a collection center, car dealership or local garage. The old oil is recycled into other products.
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Tips & Warnings
You can purchase oil siphons at most auto parts stores.
If you choose to tip the machine to drain the oil, make sure you never tip with the carburetor or spark plug facing down. This causes the oil to saturate the oil filter and causes the machine to start with difficulty or not at all. If the filter is accidentally contaminated with oil, it will need replacement.
