Never change the oil ? Lawn mower.

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Broo

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2 years ago I bought a brand new 4 stroke MTD lawn mower. On the engine cover is a sticker :

"Never change the oil ! Just check and add."

MTD provided a small oil bottle that contained the exact quantity for this engine, so that's what I put in.

I guessed that by design, this engine burns a little oil and if you add some oil sometimes you eventually replace it all.

My concern is that I check the oil every week before starting it, but in 2 years it didn't drop a bit.

Can this oil get too old/dirty at some point ? It has no oil filter. Should I change it sometime ? It has no drain, so I'd have to flip it upside down.
 
It is just a gimmick to get customers to think the mower requires less maintenance by saying it never needs an oil change.

You can still change the oil by flipping it on its side and letting the oil drain through the fill hole. I do this on most push mowers anyway.
 
Filled for life oil will last exactly the life of the engine. But on small equipment running in dirty conditions with a small oil capacity and no oil filtration and sometimes questionable air filtration can almost always benefit from routine maintenance. For the small cost of servicing the oil once per year in a small engine I think its money well spent.

However on an inexpensive mower the engine may well outlast the deck and other components anyway even without oil changes so it's up to you.
 
I have a 10+ year old Craftsman mower with a Honda engine. I usually change the oil once a year, but with last year's move and no real end to the mowing season out here, it went 2 years this last time. Changed it a few days ago. It was actually pretty dirty.

I'd change that oil once a year. My Honda engine only takes about 400 mL (around 1/2 a quart) - ie pretty cheap insurance.
 
Depends how long you want it to last I guess, however, about 8 years ago my neighbor put a mower on the curb with a "free" sign. He couldn't get it to start. I took the carb apart and blew all the junk out of it, cleaned the tank and changed the oil.

It's been running fine ever since. I use it as a brush mower on my half acre lot. I run the heck out of it, load it up until it stalls, over and over again. Doesn't burn a drop of oil, still haven't changed the oil in 8 years, although it's had the carb cleaned out a few times.

I think I put delo 5w40 synthetic in it if I remember correctly. It's a briggs engine, don't remember what size. I thought about changing the oil recently, but I think it would be more fun to see how long it will last without ever changing it. Haha
 
Originally Posted By: Seventh
Depends how long you want it to last I guess, however, about 8 years ago my neighbor put a mower on the curb with a "free" sign. He couldn't get it to start. I took the carb apart and blew all the junk out of it, cleaned the tank and changed the oil.

It's been running fine ever since. I use it as a brush mower on my half acre lot. I run the heck out of it, load it up until it stalls, over and over again. Doesn't burn a drop of oil, still haven't changed the oil in 8 years, although it's had the carb cleaned out a few times.

I think I put delo 5w40 synthetic in it if I remember correctly. It's a briggs engine, don't remember what size. I thought about changing the oil recently, but I think it would be more fun to see how long it will last without ever changing it. Haha


Just changed my oil in riding lawn mower with a briggs engine. I bought it 10 years ago, and never change or check the oil in that time frame.
 
"MTD provided a small oil bottle that contained the exact quantity for this engine, so that's what I put in.

I guessed that by design, this engine burns a little oil and if you add some oil sometimes you eventually replace it all.

My concern is that I check the oil every week before starting it, but in 2 years it didn't drop a bit." I really don't know why they would make it burn a little oil. You will never replace it all, because the dirt will remain in there. There is a good chance the original oil is full synthetic and will last a long time.

"Can this oil get too old/dirty at some point ?" Yes

"It has no oil filter. Should I change it sometime ?" That is up to you. If you feel your in line with how the manufacturer think you going to use the mower(mow an hour a week during mowing season, in 5 to 10 years your mower break down, you get another new one rather than fix old one) then you probably be OK just topping off. Otherwise, if it makes you feel good can keep it going for a long time, I would change it.

It has no drain, so I'd have to flip it upside down.
 
I have the same engine. After breaking in I put Mobil 10W30 in it. It stays very clean. I didn't bother changing it for this season of cutting. It doesn't use any oil.
 
The fuel systems on most small, consumer-grade OPE become nearly unserviceable long before lubrication goes critical. But if you use the right fuel and store it properly during off seasons then the mower may well last long enough (more than 2-3 seasons) to warrant changing the oil.
 
Our new Troy Built mower has had the oil changed twice already. Both at 5 hr intervals. The rest will stay in for the season. Overkill, yes. But as posted above it is cheap insurance, and is relaxing.

At our family's lakehouse we found junk mowers and repaired them to either use or sell to neighbors. The one mower was Meijer branded and it never had oil in it. Most people who used it never would have thought to check (teens). That thing ran so [censored] well, you would never expect it. First pull everytime. These little engines seem to take abuse. There is a channel devoted to abusing mowers on YouTube.
 
Originally Posted By: NH73
"...how the manufacturer think you going to use the mower(mow an hour a week during mowing season, in 5 to 10 years your mower break down, you get another new one rather than fix old one)


I'll bet they did a survey, and found most people would be willing to buy a new mower every 5-6 years.

That's how long the oil will last easily - 5 or 6 years.

Then they sell you a new mower. It's all about marketing strategy.
 
I change my car's oil so infrequently, the hood latch froze up. True story!

I'm here on BITOG!

Once I got my free mower running after one or two mows, I changed the oil in it. It may even be a sealed for life unit. No dipstick but says it takes 20 oz of oil.
 
Originally Posted By: Mainia
Some of you who don't change your lawnmower oil AND you are on a geek oil site "How Sacrilegious"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


grin2.gif


I know right.

I at least check the oil level every couple years tho! Haha

It would be different if I had paid any money for it
 
Originally Posted By: FlyNavyP3
Filled for life oil will last exactly the life of the engine. .

Which may not be all that long without an oil change now and then...

Probably the mfns are looking to get people to accept as normal shorter lifespans from their OPE.

As with home appliances like front load washers that last 10 years or so. Then it needs a repair that could be half the price or more of a new machine and to the curb it goes.
coffee2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Linctex
I'll bet they did a survey, and found most people would be willing to buy a new mower every 5-6 years.

That's how long the oil will last easily - 5 or 6 years.

Then they sell you a new mower. It's all about marketing strategy.



I'd kill for 5 yrs on my cheapo push mowers. Where do I sign up?

With 4-5 mowers over the past 15-20 yrs, only one has lasted past 3 yrs, and that one to the 5 yr point with the engine still running ok but the wheel mounts very rusty. 2 yrs on the current one and rust will not be an issue on this one. No guarantees on the engine though.
 
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