Push mower OCI question?

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I have a 22" Murray push mower (B&S engine). I am anal about my automotive oil changes. Probably run the oil too long in my mower. Is there a good formula that I can use to know when to change the oil. I was thinking something along the lines of changine the oil after x? number of tanks of gas? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I think my mower has a 25 hr interval or basically once per season unless you are commercial or have a large lawn.
 
I run amsoil ACD synthetic and do it once a year. Of course mowers with big yards or extreme conditions may need it twice or more a year.
 
I have a Craftsman mower with a Tecumseh engine and they recommend every 25 hours, which works out to about once a year, give or take. I basically change the oil in the spring and top off as needed. The lawn takes about an hour to mow and I've averaged 20-25 mows per season since I started keeping track.

They also recommend straight 30-weight oil and say that if xW-30 oil is used, the engine will tend to burn it, which is probably why I have to top off the oil.
 
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Once per season or every 50 hours, whichever comes first is what came with my B&S on my Toro. Typical season ends up being about 25 mows in my case at an hour or so a pop, so once per season seems fine...
 
Unless you're in a rural area with a huge property or mowing lots of other peoples lawns once a season is more than plenty. The average suburban yard, even a fairly large one won't overtax it. If you are putting a ton of hours on it, you need to go by hours. Usually 50hrs is recommended. No need for an hour meter although they are handy, just look at your watch and roughly keep track.

Plenty of folks (home use) never change their mowers oil and they run for years anyways. So no need to get too OCD about it, just change it once a year or roughly 50hrs and it will run until the deck rusts out.

One thing I have noticed is that 5w30 conventionals and even 10w30s burn off rapidly in every B&S motor I've had especially when ambient temps are hot, straight weight oils and synthetics virtually no consumpton. So keep an eye on the oil level, but being on BITOG, I don't have to tell you that :) We all cant keep our hands of our dipsticks here :)
 
just bought a litre of Mobil 1 5w30 for my Victa with qantum...$19.95. Ran GC for ages not knowing it was GC. Mobil 1 0W-40 is now run out.

will do 2 changes this season, as it's started early.

as to deck rusting out, I dismantled it this year, wire brushed the under deck, and killrust black epoxy enameled it.

outer upper was wire brushed, then rolled on thinned rust paint for 8 coats in red, then detail work in british racing green for Victa.
 
Originally Posted By: Shannow

as to deck rusting out, I dismantled it this year, wire brushed the under deck, and killrust black epoxy enameled it.

outer upper was wire brushed, then rolled on thinned rust paint for 8 coats in red, then detail work in british racing green for Victa.


OK you win.
cheers3.gif
 
Originally Posted By: tomcat27
I would change it in the fall at the end of the season. why allow the crud to settle out over the winter....


+1 I'd rather it sit through the winter with fresh clean oil, than change it in the spring after it sat a whole winter with dirty oil, moisture, etc. in it.

OP check the owners manual, for the suggested OCI. You can get an hour meter/tach pretty cheap, and they are easy to hook up. I bought mine from Northern Tool I think. I use one on my power washer it takes all the guess work out of when to change the oil.
 
Probably takes less than an hour to mow my yard. Pretty small, although the grass gets pretty tall before I cut it. I'm going to guess, based on the comments here, that I am probably safe changing once per year.
 
I change my 20 year old Honda self propelled mower at the start of the mowing season. I have a large lawn(1 hour to mow) so I put a lot of hours on the engine each year. I use Mobil 1 5w30 and the oil always looks very good when I drain it out.
 
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