Question for those with OHV/OHC Honda Pushmowers

[burnout]

I made a startling discovery on my Honda mower at the beginning of last mowing season (2005). I finally looked at the picture on the red shroud for oil checking, and it said to not thread in the dipstick.

For maybe 3-4 years, I had been threading in the dipstick to get the correct oil level. Once the crosshatch on the stick was covered, I would just screw it back in and run low on oil. Exactly how low was this mower being ran? I REALLY hope I didn't ruin anything inside this mower... Its gotta last another 20 years!

The picture states that you are supposed to use the dipstick by unscrewing it, then just pushing it onto the top threads. No threading involved if you are just CHECKING the oil. Anybody with my mower, or a similar one will know what I'm talking about. I just started doing this a year ago.

Sometimes my mower smells like burning oil, and the normal "puff" at startup definitely does not smell like gas.

What kind of oil should I use to 'repair' any excessive wear that may have been done... OR...

Does anybody know if that was a significant enough amount of oil to even make a difference? I think it might be, but one of you out there might think different.
I might try Rotella 15w-40 or delo, whatever comes in a quart jug. Would a high moly oil do any good?

EDIT: Bror Jace, where are you? I KNOW you'll have something good to contribute

 

[Rickey]

Probably didn't hurt it. How long are the threads? How much oil for an incorrect fill? Does it consume oil? I've seen several small engines ran to almost empty of oil with no damage over the years. Some people don't even bother to check or change the oil! I do remember one damaged Briggs that was probably ran almost empty, locked up, piston seized. We pulled the head and with the help of a large hammer, a piece of wood,and some sandpaper we dislodged the piston,smothed the bore somewhat, and made it run again. Smoked badly even with a lot of STP in it but my friend mowed his yard several more seasons with it. The 15W40 should serve you well. Any brand in my opinion. Sorry for rambling on even though I don't own one of these. Good luck. Rickey.

 

[Master ACiD]

i just looked in my honda gc160 overhead cam manual and it shows a corss section of the engine with a picture of the oil level at the threadded hole. the oil is level with the bottom of the opening. under this picture it says to fill the engine up to the point that the oil is level with the opening.
basically what the manual is saying is fill that sucker untill the oil starts comming out and no more will go in, and thats the proper level.

the low oil level should be way down there. almost at the end of the threads. you can run the engine as long as it is somewhere inbetween these 2 places.

i doubt you did any damage. you probably just has the engine filled up to the low level. nothing to worry about.

i just realised that my manual is for the horizontal shaft engine. sence you have a push mower with a vertical shaft, you probably have a different oil filling procedure than mine.

 

[JTK]

You'll be fine. That difference is probably 2 ounces of oil I'm going on 7yrs with my honda harmony pushmower w/ the OHC engine (cheapy steel deck, single spd self prop, no bagger). Always starts within 1-2 pulls, A tank of gas lasts forever and AWESOME power over a flathead briggs or tecumseh. Very quiet as well.

Joel

 

[burnout]

Alright, you guys have made me feel a lot better about it.

I'm sure that during the first few years of incorrect filling, if I DID check it the correct way, it would have been at least to the bottom of the crosshatch on the dipstick.

 

[tom slick]

you're ok. you were just keeping the oil at the minimum level when you thought you were at the maximum level. honda has checked the oil that same way for at least 20 years. it seems confusing but is actually easier.

 

[Ray]

If your engine has the "low oil monitor", it will be protected against damage (hopefully).

 

[burnout]

Mine doesn't, I've only seen the low oil switch on honda powered generators.

 

[Crashbox]

I actually did the very same thing on my Harmony mower the first season (or was it two?) I had it. Still runs like new. I do use synthetic oil in it FWIW.

I'm thinking about an ARX treatment and also running LC20 and FP60 in it too.

IMO, Honda engines have to be some of the very best ones made, period.

 

[burnout]

I wish the picture actually had words on it that said something about the threading, and how to check it properly. Looking at the sticker-picture, I just assumed they meant to screw it in, not leave the dipstick at the brim of the spout.

Now that I know what I'm doing however, I like it.

15w40 this season!

When I did some routine maintenance on the mower in january, I started it up with the Rotella T in it.... Oh man, that starter rope was HARD to pull. It was about 30 degrees in my garage. Maybe less.

 

[1999nick]

Well, I've been threading the dipstick in all the way since I bought it back in 2000. Its a Honda OHC on a Sears Craftsman mower. Up until last year, I always used Mobil 1 5w30, changed once a year, with never any usage. Last March, I happened to have a quart of M1 0w30, so I put that in. It is still in right now, 64 hours on it, and no usage yet. I'll change it this March. I use it all winter to clean up leaves, at least once every 2 weeks.

It has done so good for several years on the M1 5w30 and now the 0w30 that I am considering trying 5w20, just to see if it would burn any of that. By the way, I have an hour meter on it, so I know how many hours it has on it. It has been getting used 65 or 70 hours a year. I have already had to put a new full set of wheels on this mower as the rears split apart and the front (drive) wheels were worn smooth and had no traction.

 

[JHZR2]

OT for all of you honda mower guys... is there such a thing as a honda (preferably honda made) engine pushmower that is not self propelled, and only about 4-4.5 hp (id even consider 3 or 3.5 for my needs!)?????

Thanks,

JMH

 

[gfcrane]

I have a Honda that will be 18 yrs old this summer. For the first 15 yrs I did the same, check after screwing in dipstick. It's mowed a lot of grass in several States and still runs quite well. Smokes a little when starting but I have never, ever had to add any oil. I seriously doubt you can hurt one of these engines that easily.

 

[Tim_Z]

How about this:
Honda HRS216PDA

Tim

 

[RTexasF]

quote:

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Originally posted by JHZR2:
OT for all of you honda mower guys... is there such a thing as a honda (preferably honda made) engine pushmower that is not self propelled, and only about 4-4.5 hp (id even consider 3 or 3.5 for my needs!)?????

Thanks,

JMH

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I picked up a 21" 5.5HP Craftsman with Honda engine & bagger for $229 a month ago.
maybe that would work for you......