That's what Briggs & Stratton equipped lawn mowers are advertising. I'm old school and change the oil in mine every year. I can't see this as a good thing for the motor. Does anyone here have one that you've never changed the oil?
Yes I also use gas stabilizer year round. The same gas can fills lawnmowers and snowblowers, so I don't have to worry about old gas.I change the oil and after having to tear down and clean a carburetor I started using Stabil in my gasoline year round instead of just in the fall and over winter. In addition, even though the specifications say it is OK, I don't use ethanol gasoline blends either, just good old 100% gasoline. I was surprised to find that my new mower even has a screw on oil filter cartridge that gets replaced during oil changes. - Dave.
I think the new Briggs motors do have oil filters.Here's my story. In the mid70s I worked on a grease rack for a Chevrolet dealership. There was a customer that worked for an oil company that swore that oil didn't breakdown unless run hot. Every 3000 miles he'd change the filter and add a quart of oil to fill it back up. Never knew of him having issues. When I was working at an asphalt plant grease sales people said that oil based grease stood up above and beyond clay base grease. Since small gas engines don't have filters not sure how that would work. Now since I'm on the lazy side I rarely change the oil in my mower. I do check it and if it looks dirty or iffy I'll change it. I'm on my 3rd one in 35+ years and never had engine failure. The issues were mower deck or steering issues.
Unless the oil is something special...some kind of full synthetic I'd be uncomfortable not changing oil.That's what Briggs & Stratton equipped lawn mowers are advertising. I'm old school and change the oil in mine every year. I can't see this as a good thing for the motor. Does anyone here have one that you've never changed the oil?
Me too.Oil also collects micro bits of metal as the engine runs. That is the purpose of the oil filter. Ask yourself this question: Why does the motor vehicle manufacturers say to change the oil and filter every XXXX miles?
Something from a car magazine: "Change oil every XXXX miles." Internal combustion engines as on bulldozers, farm tractors, etc. use the hours spent in operation. Car: Change 3,000 miles. Average speed of 30 mph is 100 hours. Average speed of 50 mph is 60 hours. Which one has the most wear and tear?
I'll err on the side of caution.
I was an aircraft mechanic with a firebombing company and we had DC6s among others. Four R2800 P&W 18 cylinder radials of 2000hp Some of the high time engines would be burning 5 or 6 gallons of oil an hour.When I was in the Navy I trained in a T28 which had a 1425 radial horsepower engine. The plane was built in the early 1950s and I trained in the early 1970s so the planes had seen a lot of service. We used to asks the maintenance crew when we brought it back from a flight to check the gas and fill it up with oil.
Cars are different animals than lawn mowers and weed wackers and things like that. A car is under more extreme conditions. Tranny fluid should be changed every 60,000 miles. Then there is changing transfer case oil and differential oils and that is why car makers offer plans for those changes. Another factor is how were the miles put on a car? There are hard miles which are city miles and easy miles which are highway. But still wear and tear breaks down oils.When I bought an air compressor years ago .. the service person said more important than changing the oil was maintaining the proper level. My friends/neighbors ..neither the hubby or wife understood maintenance. Neither took their car in for service. One day while crossing a bridge the motor smoked and locked up. Fortunately Ford replaced the engine under warranty. Yes experience is the best teacher.
I had my Mini Cooper serviced last week. I asked about trans fluid change… was told it's permanent. Maybe some oils/fluids are that good.
My John Deere has that type of drain plug too, works well. Now if I could figure out how to get the oil filter off without making a mess, I'd be happier. I use a funnel that is moldable, but I still make a mess.With my Cub Cadet lawn mower the engineers made the oil change a very easy and clean process with a twist and pull drain plug that is designed to have a short piece of hose attached - virtually painless except for getting the used oil taken to our the recycling center. - Dave
That is the way EVERY ICE tool should be designed, but it seems that some of those tools/engines are purposely designed and configured to make oil changes be such a nuisance factor that it discourages the routine preventive maintenance. Begs the question: WHY? Also, encourages me to pay attention at the point of purchase, and avoid such items.With my Cub Cadet lawn mower the engineers made the oil change a very easy and clean process with a twist and pull drain plug that is designed to have a short piece of hose attached - virtually painless except for getting the used oil taken to our the recycling center. - Dave
The Mercedes i have owned all had cartridge-type filters mounted at the top of the engine (300D, 560SEL, C240). I used a vacuum pump (Mi-T-Vac i think) to suck oil out and the filter mostly drained itself at the same time. More than once i went home for lunch, started the vac, ate, went back out and changed the filter and filled the oil--all in a shirt & tie. All was accessible enough that you didn't even rub the fenders/bumper with your dress slacks. Loved my wife's Scion XB, but the oil filter was mounted vertically at the bottom of the engine--couldn't change that from the garage floor without getting oil from fingertips to elbow!!How about suction/vacuum devices to extract the oil. I used one on a Vortec blower on a Mustang. I realize there will some residue on the botton on the pan. I hated oil changes on the Toro snow blower.
My old cub cadet didn't have this. Was a pain as it drained on to the frame. Sold it a few months ago and bought a new one. It has the setup you mention. Haven't changed the oil on it yet (only mowed 3 times with it as of now), but will be much easier. I also hate taking the decks off these things. Bought a HF lift so now I can clean, change/sharpen blades without taking the deck off. Soo much easier. LolWith my Cub Cadet lawn mower the engineers made the oil change a very easy and clean process with a twist and pull drain plug that is designed to have a short piece of hose attached - virtually painless except for getting the used oil taken to our the recycling center. - Dave
Any reason a filter can't be changed every other oil chance or are they not meant to last that longThe Mercedes i have owned all had cartridge-type filters mounted at the top of the engine (300D, 560SEL, C240). I used a vacuum pump (Mi-T-Vac i think) to suck oil out and the filter mostly drained itself at the same time. More than once i went home for lunch, started the vac, ate, went back out and changed the filter and filled the oil--all in a shirt & tie. All was accessible enough that you didn't even rub the fenders/bumper with your dress slacks. Loved my wife's Scion XB, but the oil filter was mounted vertically at the bottom of the engine--couldn't change that from the garage floor without getting oil from fingertips to elbow!!
Filling oil after vacuum extraction probably left a small amount of oil in the crankcase, but it always took the fill amount to put oil back in. May have to start doing my own changes again--not a bad job except for the filter change in most cars!!
So glad to hear about the lift. I was debating on buying one, but now I'm sold. - Thanks, DaveMy old cub cadet didn't have this. Was a pain as it drained on to the frame. Sold it a few months ago and bought a new one. It has the setup you mention. Haven't changed the oil on it yet (only mowed 3 times with it as of now), but will be much easier. I also hate taking the decks off these things. Bought a HF lift so now I can clean, change/sharpen blades without taking the deck off. Soo much easier. Lol
I got the red heavy duty one! Works great.So glad to hear about the lift. I was debating on buying one, but now I'm sold. - Thanks, Dave
Really doesn't take up a whole bunch of room. The wide lift arm and tire racks come right off. The front of the lift drops down low enough to roll under a bench.Lift would be good but no place to store it. Should have got a bigger storage building.
I have the same lift Bobby. Works great and saves my back and knees ( both knees are Titanium but it still hurts to kneel on them). When I'm under it I use jack stands as an added safety feature.My old cub cadet didn't have this. Was a pain as it drained on to the frame. Sold it a few months ago and bought a new one. It has the setup you mention. Haven't changed the oil on it yet (only mowed 3 times with it as of now), but will be much easier. I also hate taking the decks off these things. Bought a HF lift so now I can clean, change/sharpen blades without taking the deck off. Soo much easier. Lol
I hear ya Tom. I should've bought one years ago. Don't know how many times I've cussed out my lawnmower removing and replacing the deck. LolI have the same lift Bobby. Works great and saves my back and knees ( both knees are Titanium but it still hurts to kneel on them). When I'm under it I use jack stands as an added safety feature.