OCI in Pressure Washer

[JerryBob]

I have a fairly nice Husky Pressure Washer that is about 4 years old. The 1st 4 years, I used it 4 or 5 times each summer, and then changed the oil before winter.

This year I didn't use it - no need for it. Since the oil that's in there is still unused, do I need to change it this year?

I am not worried about the cost of a quart of oil, or the time. But this model is stupidly designed in that the only way you can change the oil is to lean it on its side and spill it out. There is no drain plug. So it makes a total mess and gets all over the wheel.

 

[tig1]

On the drain plug. If it's a Briggs I betcha the plug is on the very bottom. Mine is, and it's hard to see. As for the oil, I use Mobil 1 10w30, and no more than what I use it, I change every 2 years.

 

[JerryBob]

It's a Honda engine. I looked high and low, and cannot find one. Been using the Home Depot Power Care brand. Should probably switch, though.

 

[Clevy]

I've got 14 or 15 5.5hp 160cc Honda engine that run air compressors. I've been changing the oil every 100 hours however they run roughly 10 hours a day which does evaporate some of the fuel that inevitably gets into the oil.
If you are only running it a couple hours at a time I would shorten the interval somewhat.
Because of fuel dilution I use rotella 15w40 conventional in 5 gallon pails from Walmart. I've found in the way we run them using a synthetic is just an added expense without any return because I don't extend the intervals.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: JerryBob
I have a fairly nice Husky Pressure Washer that is about 4 years old. The 1st 4 years, I used it 4 or 5 times each summer, and then changed the oil before winter.

This year I didn't use it - no need for it. Since the oil that's in there is still unused, do I need to change it this year?

I am not worried about the cost of a quart of oil, or the time. But this model is stupidly designed in that the only way you can change the oil is to lean it on its side and spill it out. There is no drain plug. So it makes a total mess and gets all over the wheel.


I would not bother. It really depends upon how many hours for the year. Its a splash lubrication with no filter so everything accumulates in the oil.

I would say the oil is good for 10-20 hours.

 

[Dean85]

Many OHV engines like Honda do not have a drain plug, so the oil has to be drained out of the fill tube, which is a PITA. I use a suction gun for these types of engines. Tilt the unit so the oil flows twords the fill tube and you will get 99% of the oil out with this suction gun. The suction gun can be found at an auto parts store or WalMart, under $20. I use Rotella T6 in my PW and change it once a year. I use it about 4-6 times a year. If you did not use it this year, I would not worry about changing it, but that is your decession.

 

[bubbatime]

I have 6 pressure washers (don't ask) I have to tip over the vertical shaft engines as the Honda's don't have drain plugs and the Briggs & Stratton drain plugs are inaccessibly covered by the pumps. I cut the bottom off a milk jug to use as a drain catch pan which prevents the oil from leaking all over the frame/wheels.

Pressure washers beat the snot out of the oil. I change once a year or every 25 hours personally. If you haven't used the oil this season, I see no reason to change it.

10W30 synthetic, SAE30, or 15W40 are the best oils for pressure washer use in my opinion. Regular 5w30 and 10w30 conventional shears down really quickly.