With spring around the corner in Pennsylvania, homeowners are preparing all their lawn equipment for use. When preparing for spring, some homeowners may find that their equipment needs some maintenance after the winter, especially their lawnmowers. Environmental impact studies have found that a properly maintained lawn mower can reduce mower emissions by 50% and reduce fuel consumption by 30%. Conducting regular maintenance on your lawn mower will extend the engine’s life, therefore the engine is the most important part that needs to be well maintained. Repower Pros has been in the small engine industry for over 30 years, below we put together a guide on how to maintain a lawn mower engine.
Review the Owner’s Manual
The first thing we recommend doing is reviewing the owner’s manual. Different models of lawnmowers may have different maintenance requirements, which will all be laid out in the manual. Owner’s manuals exist to help your lawn mower run smoothly for as long as possible. If you are unsure of the detailed maintenance you need to do or don’t want to accidentally damage your lawn mower, check the manual to ensure you understand how to properly maintain it. Your manual will include instructions on how to properly conduct maintenance tasks, like changing the oil or filters.
Change the Engine Oil
A lawn mower engine must have proper lubrication for it to function properly. Having adequate oil levels in the engine allows for all the moving parts to be lubricated. When preparing your lawn mower for spring, remember to check the oil levels and change it if necessary. We find it best to change the oil before each mowing season, making spring the best time to do this. If the oil is old or damaged, drain it completely and refill it. Make sure you refill the oil tank to its designated amount, as too much or too little oil in the engine can have negative effects on the engine. Changing the engine oil is the best maintenance task to do to extend the engine’s life. When changing oil, remember to dispose of the old oil properly.
Clean the Filters
Air Filters
Air filters allow the engine to get the appropriate fuel-to-air ratio it needs for combustion. They trap dirt, dust, and debris from getting into the engine, and can get dirty and clogged over time. When the filter gets dirty, it can restrict the airflow to the engine and stop it from functioning properly. Cleaning or replacing air filters ensures proper air intake to the engine and helps lawnmowers work efficiently. We’ve found that you can clean air filters with a mild detergent, but if the filter is too dirty or worn down, it’s best to replace it.
Fuel Filters
Small lawn equipment generally doesn’t have fuel filters, but larger ones, like riding lawnmowers, have them to ensure there is clean fuel in the engine. Fuel filters clean the fuel that comes from the fuel tank as it passes through to the engine. The engine needs clean fuel in order to safely work. Make sure you check the fuel filters before every mowing season to determine if the filter is clean enough to properly filter the fuel. If not, replace the filter.
Replace the Spark Plugs
Critical for any engine, spark plugs work with fuel combustion and are the ignition source for the lawnmower. When doing any maintenance on your lawnmower, remove the spark plug first to ensure the engine is not started accidentally. Spark plugs generally need to be replaced after every 100 hours of use. We recommend replacing your spark plug in the spring before the mowing season starts. If you notice your engine is not working correctly, chances are the spark plug needs to be replaced. Before starting, check the spark plug for any wear or damage. If it has worn down, the engine will not ignite properly. Replacing the spark plug will ensure proper ignition for the lawnmower.
Additional Lawnmower Maintenance
Maintaining the engine is not the only maintenance you should be doing on the lawnmower. Make sure you are also checking the fuel tank levels, properly cleaning the deck, and sharpening the blades to ensure the mower is ready to use in the spring.
Get Replacement Engine Parts with Repower Pros
Sometimes when doing maintenance on your lawnmower engine, you realize that there are parts that need to be replaced. Repower Pros has all your engine replacement needs, offering small engine parts and replacement kits at a fair price. Our engine replacement kits are designed with the homeowner in mind, coming with hardware, adapters, and detailed instructions to ensure an easy installation. Our quality OEM parts will help you with your maintenance, as we provide air filters, oil seals, ignitors, and much more. To get started with replacing parts of your lawnmower engine, contact us today.