How to Change Oil in a Honda Lawnmower. With Helpful Tips

You might not be accustomed to your lawnmower’s oil changes if you haven’t done this before. Whether you own one for some time, or you’ve just purchased a brand-new unit from the renowned automotive giant Honda, after a decent amount of use, you’re wondering if your device needs an oil change or not. Furthermore, you are also looking at what type of oil suits the needs of your device. Well then, we have good news for you since this article covers all the information related to the subject. Besides, we also throw some light on some of the frequently asked questions about Honda lawnmowers and lawnmowers in general.

Oil changes are significant if you want your device to run long and avoid maintenance expenses time and again. Generally, it is recommended to change the oil after a maximum of 50 hours of use. If you’ve just started your device after a long season break, then it might be a high time for an oil change. Generally, when the oil appears black on the dipstick, it should be replenished soon.

How to Change Oil in a Honda Lawnmower:

1. Start your engine and warm it up so that the oil can flow easily during drainage.
2. Empty the used oil from the engine by selecting the right drainage method.
3. Fill the oil tank of your Honda lawnmower to the right level by checking the dipstick frequently.
4. Clean the work site frosh the spilled oil and allow the oil to settle in the engine

We recommend that you should stay tuned to this article as this information indeed comes in handy for you.

Steps to Change Oil in a Honda Lawnmower:

You should follow the steps below to supply you with a comprehensive method and the precautionary measures to make an oil change.

● 1. Pre-change steps:

Before carrying out an oil change in your Honda lawnmower, you should ensure that you take the appropriate precautionary measures:

– Step 1: Run the engine for some time:

Start the engine and keep it going for a while (preferably for 15 minutes). This heating up of your engine will, in turn, warm up the oil. As a result, the oil flows more smoothly, and the process of draining becomes simple.

– Step 2: Clean the oil filling area:

Often the oil cap gets much debris from the outside. Even the oily area around it also draws dirt from the atmosphere. Please use a towel to clean the area gently, along with a fuel cap to clear the debris.

– Step 3: Keep your toolkit ready:

Depending on the method of oil drainage, you should keep your equipment ready. You should keep the siphon pump available if you want to drain the oil using the Siphon process. In most situations, the oil is drained using the tilting method so that you can keep the drained oil in a container. It would help if you also bought the appropriate oil grade for your machine by referring to the user’s manual. Most lawnmowers use SAE 30 detergent oils from SAE. However, it would be best if you prefer using the one that’s mentioned by the manufacturer.

● 2. Draining the old oil:

The oil drainage can be conducted either by the siphon method or by the tilting method. However, before the oil is drained, you should first take the following safety precautions:

– Step 1: Detach the spark plug:

During this process, the spark plug needs to be disengaged. This move ensures that your safety is not compromised. The attached spark plug could unexpectedly cause the engine to start up (most probably when the blades are rotated. Hence, detaching the spark plug provides you with extra safety.

– Step 2: Secure the fuel cap as follows:

It is better to drain your gasoline thoroughly before changing the oil, particularly during the tilting process. If this is not feasible, it is also good to use a sandwich bag under your cap and then tighten it so that there is no oil risk coming out of the cap.

– Step 3: Carry out oil drainage:

Tilt Method: In this technique, you tilt the Honda lawnmower to the side so that the air filter faces upwards (this prevents the fuel from entering into the air filter). After that, you open the oil cap and allow all the oil to be drained into the pan. Ensure you don’t get in touch with the hot oil that can be harmful to your skin.

Using an oil drain plug: Not all lawn mowers are fitted with an oil drain plug. You can check the Honda’s user manual to determine the oil drain plug’s location in your machine. Generally, it is situated below the lawnmower deck. Again, it would help if you tilted the mower on its side to see the plug and clear any dirt around it. Then use a hand-held tool to open the cap (with your mower upright) and allow the oil to be drained into the container.

Siphon method: A siphon pump is used during this method. These pumps pump the oil into an in-built tank from which it can be recycled later. Manually, you should draw the oil out by pushing/pushing the piston. It is a much cleaner and more efficient way of draining the oil as it does not result in any oil spills in the workplace.

● 3. Adding fresh oil:

After you have bought the right kind of oil for your lawnmower, the next step is to add fresh oil to the oil tank. Place your mower in an upright position and keep adding oil in small quantities. It would be best if you kept checking your dipstick every time to analyze the oil level. Keep adding the oil until the desired level is reached.

● 4. Clean the work area:

After adding fresh oil, it is recommended to keep your mower upright for 5 minutes and let the oil settle down. Recheck the oil level and replace the oil dipstick. Then reconnect your spark plug and remove the sandwich bag around the fuel cap. Clean the oil that has been spilled on your floor. It’s advisable to take your dried oil to a disposal dealer.

You can refer to this video below to see a live example of this process:

Related Questions:

1. What happens if you do not change the oil in a lawnmower?

The engine’s wear rate increases if an oil change hasn’t been performed timely. Also, most lawnmowers do not have an oil filter. Resultantly, it takes very little time for the oil quality to deteriorate. Moreover, the oil is responsible for the cooling of the engine apart from the air-cooling. The engine’s service life does not meet its predicted lifespan by its manufacturer. Therefore, one should always pay heed to ensure timely oil changes in the machine.

2. Can you use car oil in a lawnmower?

SAE 30 motor oil is commonly used in a lawnmower. Some machines may use 10W-30 or 10W-40 oils as recommended by their user’s manual. These oil types are often used in vehicles. Hence, they can be used in lawnmowers.

3. What is an SAE 30 oil?

As rated by the Society of Automotive Engineers, SAE 30 is a motor oil with a 30 (SAE) viscosity value. Generally, these ratings are from 0 to 50. The viscosity relates to the oil’s thickness or its readiness to flow. Thinner oils give better performance in cold weather (with low viscosity). In comparison, when the temperatures are high, thick oils are used. SAE 30 is a single-grade oil that is thicker than lower grades. It is typically used in small engines that are air-cooled, such as lawnmowers and chainsaws. Most motor oils, i.e., they can perform in all seasons, are multi-grade.

4. Is SAE 30 the same as 10W-30?

When the engine is cold, 10W-30 indicates that the oil has a viscosity of 10W and 30 when it is hot. If you considered factors such as temperature while making this choice, it would help. SAE-30 is a single-grade oil suitable for conditions where its elevated temperature and variability are not significant. Whereas if your weather continues to vary, then you can use 10W-30. It also improves cold-starting at lower temperatures as compared to SAE-30. Therefore, if you live in moderate or milder climates, then the use of SAE 30 or 10W-30 does not make a significant difference in engine performance.

5. Is a lawnmower engine 2-stroke or 4-stroke?

Both designs, i.e., 2-stroke as well as 4-stroke, come with Lawnmower engines. The entire cycle of combustion and power in the crankshaft revolution is completed in a 2-stroke design. It takes two revolutions of the crankshaft in a 4-stroke for the whole cycle to complete.

Oil is mixed with gasoline in the case of 2-stroke engines since there is no separate reservoir. 4-stroke engines, in comparison, require an oil reservoir to grease the connecting rods and crankshafts fully.

Final Remarks:

Lubricant oils play a crucial role, ensuring that the engine components undergo minimum wear and maximum service life. The oil change should always be carried out at the start of the season for smooth operation. Sometimes due to excessive use, you might need to get another oil change towards the end of the season. It is recommended that you should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for choosing the right oil grade.