Knowing what type of oil to use in your lawn mower is essential when it comes to making the most of your petrol lawn mower and prolonging its lifespan.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!All lawn mower engines will need engine oil to run. The oil lubricates, cools, and cleans the engine as it runs, preventing overheating and subsequent damage. Ideally, the engine oil should be changed after every 50 hours of use, and the levels checked on a regular basis.
Types of Lawn Mower Oil
Lawn mower oil comes in different grades, which refers to the viscosity. The grade will impact how the oil’s effectiveness at different temperatures – as thinner oils flow faster than thicker oils at the same operating temperature.
Lawn mowers with a 4-stroke engine require oil to be added separately to the fuel. 2 stroke engines on the other hand, require the oil to be mixed with the fuel before being loaded into the fuel tank. As most lawn mowers have 4 stroke engines, there is no need to mix oil and fuel before use. Instead, the fuel and oil can be loaded into their separate compartments.
The oil you need will depend on the temperature outside, as well as the type of mower and engine you have.
Multigrade vs Single Grade
Lawn mower oil is either single or multigrade. Multigrade oil meets the requirements of multiple grades. They can be used year-round, and offer improved starting at low temperatures as well as high temperatures.
Multigrade oils are marked by a ‘W’, referring to ‘winter’. Once warm, multigrade oils change. They will help your mower start when the temperature is cold and flow through the mower quicker after the engine has started.
Whilst multigrade oil is more versatile than single grade, it tends to be more expensive.
Another thing to consider is synthetic oil vs conventional oil. Synthetic oil is usually preferred as it’s more refined which will help your engine to perform better. The oil has had any impurities removed, which makes it more consistent. Conventional oil on the other hand, has not had impurities removed. This can eventually lead to wear and tear of the engine.
Understanding the Numbers
You’re not alone if you find the numbers a little confusing! Each oil has a separate code containing numbers and letters. These indicate the oil’s performance under varied conditions.
SAE (or the Society of Automotive Engineers) have produced a scale that measures the various oil types. The lower the number in oil’s code, the better the oil flows in lower temperatures.
Multigrade oils, for instance, have the letter ‘W’ as well as two numbers. The number before the W refers to the viscosity of the oil at a low temperature, whilst the number after the W notes the viscosity at high temperature. As single grade oils have a constant viscosity, there is just one number.
SAE 30 is single grade oil suitable for most small, air-cooled engines. This oil can be used at warmer temperatures.
SAE 10W-30 is a multigrade engine oil that’s best suited to colder temperatures. If you struggle to start your lawn mower in cold temperatures, this engine oil may help.
SAE 5W-30 is another multigrade oil with a low viscosity. This allows it to flow better at colder temperatures, helping the engine to start in very cold weather.
Synthetic SAE 5W-30 is an artificial lawn mower oil suitable for a range of temperatures. This oil can be used both summer and winter, with good stability across a wider temperature range.
Vanguard 15W-30 is fully synthetic oil designed for commercial applications that operate at a wide temperature range.
Choosing the best oil for your lawn mower can be tricky, as it’s likely that there are a number of oils which will be suitable.
The best way to know which engine oil your lawn mower needs is to check the manufacturer’s recommendation in your user manual.
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