Question: Should I add oil each time I use my four-cycle lawnmower?
Answer: No. The proper procedure is as follows for four-cycle engines (also called "4-stroke engines"):
Check the level of your lawnmower's oil before you start the lawnmower. To do so, extract the dipstick, wipe it with a clean rag, insert it back in, and check its reading. If the oil appears clean but the reading is low, add oil.
If the your lawnmower's oil appears dirty, however, you'll have to take a different tack. If the reading is not low, go ahead and do your mowing. When done mowing, drain out the lawnmower's oil -- it will come out easily, since the engine is warm at this point. Once the old oil has drained out, replace it with new oil.
If you have both dirty oil and a low reading, add a little oil before mowing, then follow the steps laid out in the prior paragraph. Sure, this way, you'll be draining out a bit of new oil along with the old; but wasting a little oil is far preferable to taking any chance that your lawnmower will run out of oil while you're mowing.
In lawnmower maintenance for two-cycle engines, see the next question.
Check the level of your lawnmower's oil before you start the lawnmower. To do so, extract the dipstick, wipe it with a clean rag, insert it back in, and check its reading. If the oil appears clean but the reading is low, add oil.
If the your lawnmower's oil appears dirty, however, you'll have to take a different tack. If the reading is not low, go ahead and do your mowing. When done mowing, drain out the lawnmower's oil -- it will come out easily, since the engine is warm at this point. Once the old oil has drained out, replace it with new oil.
If you have both dirty oil and a low reading, add a little oil before mowing, then follow the steps laid out in the prior paragraph. Sure, this way, you'll be draining out a bit of new oil along with the old; but wasting a little oil is far preferable to taking any chance that your lawnmower will run out of oil while you're mowing.
In lawnmower maintenance for two-cycle engines, see the next question.
Back to > Lawn Mower Maintenance FAQ Index
Research the various types of lawn movers on Consumer Search.
