FIXING A LAWNMOWER THAT LEAKS OIL

Quick and Easy Fixes for Lawnmower Oil Leaks

Lawn mowing is an exciting hobby, but good lawn mowing is not easy when you are using a gasoline lawnmower. The combustion engine is always difficult, and oil is mandatory to keep your engine running.

Oil leaks are a common problem that every lawn mower owner faces. Are you experiencing that your mower is leaking oil into the deck?

Then this blog is for you,

Your mower is leaking oil for several reasons. You are facing this problem most probably due to the seals, which are deteriorated and damaged, and oil leaking from the crankcase and oil reservoir. Sometimes engine seals are also leaked due to overheating and expiry of life.

To address the oil leak issue,

You may closely inspect your mower to the origin where the oil leaks; after pointing out the point of leakage, you may address the issue easily.

MAJOR CAUSES OF OIL LEAKS IN LAWNMOWERS

There are multiple causes behind the oil leaks in lawn mowers, which vary according to usage and type of lawnmower. Many homeowners never care about the maintenance of their machines, which causes major trouble and creates many issues with your mower. The major causes of oil leaks in lawnmowers are as follows:

DETERIORATED / DAMAGED SEALS:

The first and main reason behind oil leaks is the deteriorated and damaged seals. Seals are used in engines to reduce friction as well as to cover the housings properly in the engine. After some time, these seals deteriorated and were damaged, and oil leaked from these small places. When you service your lawn mower, you must check the seals if you find any seal soiled or damaged, you immediately change it to avoid any problems in the near future.

REMEDIAL MEASURE:

In my mowing experience, if you are a person whose passion is to mow the garden regularly, then it is mandatory to service your lawnmower regularly. In servicing, you check all the essential parts, especially check the oil filter and all the seals in the engine, and keep the lawnmower up to date. If you do the servicing, it is not possible you left any seal damaged, and you changed it immediately to avoid the oil leak problem easily.

OIL CAPACITY

Many people think that overfilling of oil is suitable for lawnmowers, but it’s not a good idea if you fill the oil too much. Ultimately, it goes to the oil filter and also experiences oil leak from the oil cap, which creates a mess in your lawn. This is also a cause behind the oil leak in your mower.

REMEDIAL MEASURE

The oil capacity is clearly mentioned in the user manual of the mower. Secondly, you may check the oil level by the oil gauge. Generally, if you are using a gasoline mower, you have an idea about the oil capacity. Do not overfill the oil too much, and always fill the oil in the recommended quantity. This habit will surely save you from the oil leak problem.

CLOGGED OIL FILTER

The oil filter is an important component of a combustion engine. An oil filter is used to purify the oil and pass it into the engine. If the filter is clogged with dirt, the oil does not properly flow inside the engine, and it starts leaking. If you are not servicing the lawnmower, your oil filter is damaged and clogged, and the oil starts leaking.

REMEDIAL MEASURE

To avoid this, you need to check the oil filter accurately and also change it on time when you see it soiled. In my opinion, you change the oil filter when you servicing your mower. The oil filter is not much expensive, and you can buy it easily, but for sure, it will save you from a big problem with your mower engine

ANGLE OF PARKING

Another common reason behind the oil leak is the angle of the mower. People park the mower on slopes, where the mower is bent towards one side. In this scenario, oil starts leaking from the cap and other parts of the engine because of unbalanced parking.

REMEDIAL MEASURE

Always park the mower on a straight and smooth surface: In the long run, this habit will save you from many problems like an oil leak. Additionally also not bend the blades of your mower.

HOW TO DRAIN THE LAWNMOWER OIL

When you are facing an oil leak problem, the first step to recovering your mower is to drain the remaining oil. The quantity of oil is very low due to leaking, and you need to change or refill it when you are troubleshooting and addressing the issue. Therefore, it is very useful to drain the remaining oil and refill it with new oil. For this purpose, you follow these steps to drain it completely without any problem.

STEP 1: TOOLS REQUIRED TO DRAIN THE LAWNMOWER OIL

There are no particular tools used for an oil change. However, the following tools are essential to drain and refill the oil in lawn mowers.

  • Socket Wrench (To open and tighten the nuts)
  • Jack (for tilting the mower)
  • Gloves
  • Air blower

STEP 2: NOW LOCATE THE OIL DRAINING POINT

In this step, you can locate the oil draining point, which is probably below the engine, and it’s a screw you need to lose it using the socket wrench. When you locate the draining point, you must be careful while opening the screw and move the wrench always counterclockwise and don’t apply too much force to avoid any trouble.

STEP 3: DRAIN THE OIL

After opening the oil cap now, oil starts draining from the engine. When it’s completely drained, you may tilt the mower with the jack to drain the oil completely so that all the old oil is removed completely. Must ensure that the oil must be drained in the container and not in the deck because it may cause injury if someone is going from it, so always collect the old oil in the container.

OIL CHANGE IN THE LAWNMOWER

After emptying the old oil now, you need to refill the new oil in the lawn mower. For this purpose following steps are essential:

STEP 1: TIGHTEN THE OIL PLUG/SCREW

You need to tighten the nut/ oil plug before refilling the new oil. For this purpose, use the socket wrench and tighten the screw carefully. Do not apply too much force to the screw and apply force gently and tight the screw properly.

STEP 2: REFILL THE APPROPRIATE OIL IN THE LAWNMOWER

After tightening the screw /oil plug now, refill the recommended oil into the mower. For this purpose, see the manual to order the correct oil for your mower. Refill it carefully and recommended quantity.

FREQUENTLY ASK QUESTIONS (FAQs)

There are many reasons behind oil leaks. However, common problems are deteriorated or damaged seals. Due to overheating and expiry of life engine seals were damaged and responsible for oil leakage.

By inspecting and replacing the seals you can address the mower leakage issue. By reading this article you are able to resolve the oil leak issue on your own.

Yes, oil is necessary for any kind of combustion engine and without oil, the engine is seized. So always check and refill the oil in your mower.

If you pinpoint that your engine seals are damaged you need to contact the repair technician or the mower service center. Because to replace the seals you need to open the housing of your engine and it’s quite tricky if you do not handle it properly, may your mower engine generate a serious problem. So, be always careful while replacing the old seal of your lawnmower engine.

FINAL THOUGHTs:

Overall, every lawnmower owner faces an oil leak problem, and it can be solved by following the mentioned steps in this article. I also write the practical steps to drain the remaining oil in your mower and refill it with the new oil. If you are properly maintaining and servicing your lawnmower, replace all the necessary parts. Your mower never leaves you alone, and you can easily manage these kinds of problems at home.

Naveed Aanjum author

About Naveed A Hashmi

In my childhood, I used to see my parents while working in the land, for these reasons today I have been serving the same as our own tradition and culture. I thus love to stay in it, because I want to learn something advanced and new so that I may improve my farm’s contour and help others with my experience.

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