In order for a petrol-powered lawn mower to run like clockwork, the engine cannot do without fresh oil. Choosing the right type of oil is just as important as the procedure. This guide explains how to properly top up the oil in your lawnmower.

Refilling the lawnmower oil tank is not complicated

2-stroke or 4-stroke engine? - Tips on the right lawn mower oil

Modern lawn mower models usually have a 4-stroke engine. Here the gasoline is burned while the oil remains in the engine to lubricate various components. Lawn mowers with 2-stroke engines are rarely found. In these types, petrol and oil burn together, with the engine oil being mixed with the petrol via a separate tank. With 2-stroke engines it is sometimes necessary to fill the engine oil directly into the petrol tank.

Choosing the right engine oil therefore depends on which engine drives your lawnmower. You can top up a 2-stroke engine with any commercially available 2-stroke oil. For 4-stroke lawnmowers, you should ideally use special lawnmower oil with the SAE 30 classification.

Topping up the oil in the lawnmower - this is how it works

Check the oil level when the engine is cold for the most accurate reading. Since fresh oil does not have to be topped up before every lawn mowing, determine the actual requirement in advance. Too little engine oil is just as disadvantageous for your petrol mower as too high an oil level. How to do it right:

  • Locate the oil filler cap on the crankcase
  • Pull out the oil dipstick and wipe it off with a rag
  • Reinsert the dipstick and pull out to read the oil level
  • Using a funnel, top up with fresh oil to just below the maximum mark

Various lawnmower models do not have an integrated oil dipstick. In this case, unscrew the cap and take a look inside the tank. A refill line shows you how much engine oil needs to be refilled. It is important to note that the oil level is never below the minimum mark or above the maximum mark.

If you own a 2-stroke lawnmower with a single tank for the petrol/oil mixture, the operating instructions provide more information on the correct mixing ratio. At petrol stations there are separate petrol pumps with the option of adjusting the mixture, filling it up in a petrol can and filling it into the lawnmower at home.

tips

Gardeners often worry about how often the lawnmower oil needs to be changed. As a rule of thumb, it has proven useful in practice to change the oil at intervals of 25 operating hours. If you break in a new lawn mower, the first oil change is already on the agenda after 5 operating hours.

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Garden design