How to Change Small Engine Oil
For optimum performance, you should change the oil in your small engine after the first five hours of use and then annually, or every 50 hours of use...
Perform some simple seasonal storage and startup maintenance in the spring, fall or whenever you store your equipment for prolonged periods of time. Use our handy equipment storage checklist to help you store your equipment properly.
Equipment Storage Checklist
Fuel
- Top off the fuel tank before storing.
- Filling the tank helps prevent moisture from condensing in your fuel tank, and stops rust and scale before it starts.
Before you fill up, add an alcohol-free fuel stabilizer and ethanol treatment according to the package directions. After adding the treated fuel to the fuel tank, run your mower for a few minutes so the stabilized fuel circulates through the engine's fuel system.
Gas begins to degrade in as little as 30 days which can lead to your engine's fuel system clogging and your equipment not starting the following season. Using an alcohol-free fuel stabilizer and ethanol treatment eliminates the need to drain fuel prior to storage and ensures quick easy starts next season by preventing gum and varnish build-up within your engine's fuel system. Alcohol-free fuel stabilizer and ethanol treatment keeps fuel fresh for up to 24 months.
Oil
- While the engine is still warm, change the oil and the oil filter (if equipped).
- Briggs & Stratton 4-cycle motor oil is available in two sizes, 18 oz and 48 oz, and is available through your local dealer, retailer, or online.
Battery
- Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery terminal on units (if equipped).
- Remove the battery. Your battery should be stored in a cool, dry place.
- Clean the battery terminals using a terminal cleaner, and coat all terminals with a terminal protector. The terminal cleaner and protector can be found at your local Briggs & Stratton dealer, auto parts store or hardware store.
Cleaning Your Equipment
- Don't store your engine dirty. Clean the engine surface of debris, chaff or grass.
- With the spark plug lead removed from the engine, use a garden hose to wash away any residual grass clippings.
- Once the majority of the grass clippings have been removed, it will be easier to identify a clump of grass that may be interfering with blade motion.
- Using a wooden stick or other implement other than your hands and feet, remove the offending material and wash the deck thoroughly.
* Note: if you choose not to use the Briggs & Stratton Fuel Stabilizer, or if the engine is using fuel containing alcohol, such as gasohol, remove all fuel from the tank and run the engine until it stops from lack of fuel.
