Briggs stratton mower oil. Briggs And Stratton Oil Capacity Guide

The Tool Yard

How to fix, maintain be safe with chainsaws, lawn mowers, engines DIY tools and kits. Maybe some beer talk.

How to choose the best oil for your lawn mower

Just as you should regularly change the oil in your car or truck or chainsaw, the same should be done for your lawnmower. If you want to have the best looking lawns in the street, you’ll need your lawnmower to have a sharp blade and to be filled with the best oil so that while you are pushing the damn thing, the engine operates well and gives a long lifetime of service. You could be tempted to think of your lawnmower as being ‘just a lawnmower’ so any kind of automotive car oil will do but that could mean the difference between extending the life of your lawn mower or causing it to clog and become inoperable. This is especially so if your mower doesn’t get used very often. So if you want the ‘good oil’ on what to put in your grass cutter, read on.

What kind of oil do I need to use in my lawnmower?

The temperature of the climate in which you will operate the lawnmower will have an influence on your oil needs.

Lawnmower engine experts Briggs and Stratton advise that Engines on most outdoor power equipment operate well with 5W30 Synthetic oil.

For equipment operated in hot temperatures, Vanguard 15W50 Synthetic oil provides the best protection.

What that means for you as the oil user is that you need to check what range your engine will run on. The easiest way to do this is to check your engine’s user manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation. If you have lost the manual or never had one, then use a search engine to find a PDF of it.

A general rule of thumb though is that engines on most outdoor power equipment operate well with 5W30 Synthetic oil.

Once you have found the right kind of oil, it’s now time to consider what brand of oil you want to use.

We typically recommend you avoid the cheapest range of any tool or safety gear or oil and most certainly do the same with lawnmower oil. we suggest you used tried and trusted brands. because these oils have been road-tested in many machines being pushed many thousands of miles.

If those brands didn’t cut it, they wouldn’t survive in the market. If you don’t believe me, read this tale of how the Slitz company turned a quality beer into a joke and ran their brand into the ground. One rule of thumb to bear in mind is that the older your engine is, it’s more likely that it will suit the traditional SAE30 oil ranges.

Recommended oil: Briggs and Stratton Small Engine 30W

Briggs and Stratton is arguably the biggest named player in the lawnmower engine market (Husqvarna is probably second). Their engines are known for ‘going and going’ so much so that several other ‘big name brands’ simply use the Briggs and Stratton engine on their own branded push machines as a selling point.

So, the biggest name in lawnmower technology is sure to have a quality oil product for their machines and their version of 30W for small engines is most likely what your engine would benefit from.

Bought a brand new lawnmower, and didn’t want hubs to blow this one up too because he forgot to put oil in it.

Classic and it’s always worth a reminder that if buying a new lawnmower, you need to add oil before you use it or you will destroy the engine.

Can I use synthetic oil in my lawnmower?

Yes, you can use synthetic oil in a lawnmower. Oils like Amsoil are designed for more modern engines. Synthetic oil is a small engine lubricant full of chemical compounds that are artificially made using chemically modified petroleum components. The benefit of using synthetic oil is they tend to offer better viscosity, wear and deposit control, and low-temperature fluidity. This means that if you regularly use synthetic oil in your lawnmower (over the long term) then you greatly increase the chances of long service life and reduce the need to replace your lawnmower at year 6 instead of year 10 (excuse the hyperbole!). So the regular use of synthetic oils in your engine reduces the chances of it failing and thus in the process, extends its service life. The only real downside to using this kind of oil is that it is usually priced significantly higher than standard oils. Check out this example from Pennzoil for example, their 530-30 Full Synthetic can price over 50 bucks!

Using Toro Synthetic oil with a lawnmower

Designed to work across a range of extreme conditions, Toro synthetic oil will handle the heat and the cold to help you get your lawns cut.

Toro is a massive brand worldwide, in addition, to push lawn mowers they produce golf cars, ride-on mowers, spray equipment, diggers, bunk rakes, and top dressers. So they know engines and they know oil so you can be sure the oil is engineered and tested to meet the needs of their machines. This means due to its quality, Toro oil will do most lawn mowers a favor in terms of engine performance. It certainly meets the performance requirements of brands such as Briggs Stratton, Kohler, Honda, Tecumseh, and Craftsman!

How often should I replace my lawnmower oil?

Many car owners change their car’s oil once a year as part of an annual tune-up up. It lengthens the life of the engine as its parts are protected from wear.

For smaller engines, the comparison is the same. many lawnmowers will change their oil once a year in the spring when the grass starts to grow long and the mower is used more regularly.

This is tied to the use of the mower. your mower can have varying needs depending on use hours. A lawn that’s mown for half an hour once a month, may only need a change once a year but a weekly mower of a larger lawn may require two changes.

A ride on mower is probably more likely to benefit from a change at 100 hours of run time and annually.

If you feel your engine isn’t performing well, a change of oil may help. As we always recommend, your user instruction manual should be able to give you advice. and it will be good advice too because the dudes and dudettes who made the engine have tested it to the ground in the lab so they will know how their machine works under so many conditions.

Changing Your Engine’s Oil

How to remove old oil from a lawnmower

When it comes to changing lawn mower oil, there are certainly a few tips and tricks that you can do to make sure you have an oil splash free transfer. So now you’ve understood the reasons why you need to regularly change your engine’s oil, the next question might be how! Items you may need to change the oil:

briggs, stratton, mower, capacity
  • A pan or contain to catch the old oil
  • some old rags or cloths
  • A wrench with appropriate socket size for the oil drain nu
  • Engine oil that suits your needs
  • Funnel
  • Siphon or oil kit system if you are going to siphon rather than drain

Location of the oil change

The first thing to do is consider the location where you will drain the oil already inside the mower. Naturally, you’ll want to avoid doing this operation on your grass lawn or near your garden in case of spillage. To that end, a concrete surface such as a driveway is ideal. You’ll, of course, want to lay down newspaper or cardboard to catch any oil drops that may collect to avoid staining the concrete.

Warm the engine before you drain the oil

It is best to have turned the lawnmower’s engine over for a few minutes before you drain the oil. This is because particles that have collected will be floating around in the old oil. Take care that when draining the oil that the engine parts are not too hot. you may need to use gloves if you have run the engine for a while. It’s also now time to disconnect the spark plug to prevent any accidental ignition of the engine.

Locate the oil drain plug on the underside of the push mower

Clean the general area with an old cloth to prevent any external debris from falling into the crankcase when you open the drain plug. Tilt the mower deck and then position some newspaper and an oil pan or jug beneath the mower. Then take a socket wrench to run the plug counterclockwise. This allows the oil to drain into your collection device. Once the oil has fully drained, secure the drain plug by twisting clockwise and tightening gently with the wrench. If your mower has an oil filter, it’s the opportune time to replace it as well.

Removing the engine oil with a siphon kit

If your preference is to siphon via the oil entry point rather than drain, a siphon kit might be just the ticket. Once you have your siphon at the ready, place one end of its tube into the oil fill hole and make sure it has reached the bottom of the reservoir. The other end of the tubing needs to be placed into a container that will not knock over during the process. Engage your siphon and do your best to empty as much of the used oil as you can. Tilting the engine on its side slightly can help pool the last of the oil and the tube can be manipulated into a position to collect the last of the oil. These kits can also be used to transfer fuel from your car or fuel container directly into the lawn mower’s fuel pump. A handy way to make an efficient transfer! Once you have completed the siphoning, you are ready to add some new oil. And what could you use?

Briggs And Stratton Oil Capacity Guide

Briggs and Stratton are a major supplier of mower engines besides making some of the best riding mowers you can find. While you may not think a mower takes much abuse cutting the grass for one or two hours at a time, they take their fair share of abuse.

As part of your routine maintenance, you need to change your oil and thus would need to know the recommended Briggs and Stratton lawn mower oil capacity for the mower you have.

In our guide, you can learn the oil type your mower uses and how much you need to add for your Briggs Stratton small engine to perform at its optimum.

By the end, you can learn how much oil you need and how to carry out oil changes without needing to search further for motor oil types.

Can I Use 10W30 Instead of SAE 30 in My Lawn Mower?

It isn’t possible to use SAE 10W30 rather than SAE 10W as it is different in viscosity or thickness. At lower temperatures, the oil has a thickness comparable to SAE 10W and an SAE 30 viscosity when running at higher temperatures.

The W denotes ‘Winter,’ and in temperatures below 40°F (4°C), the use of SAE 30 results in hard starting of mower engines. It is recommended to use SAE 30 for warmer climates of 40° F and higher. (Find the Best Riding Snow Blower)

Recommendations for Small Engine Oil Types

  • Use SAE 10W-30 for a temperature range of 0 to 100° F as it improves cold-weather starting. It can, however, increase oil consumption in temperatures over 80° F
  • Synthetic oil Briggs, Stratton 5W-30 is best for cold temperatures of.20 and up to 120° F. It delivers the best protection at all temperatures with better starting and lower oil consumption. Synthetic oils don’t change the engine service levels.
  • It would help if you used SAE 5W-30 in extremely cold temperatures that reach 40° F and below.
  • If you have any machine in continuous use, like commercial lawn mowing, use Vanguard 15W-50 Oil for temperatures of 20°F to 130°F.

How Much Oil Does a 22 Horse Briggs Stratton Hold?

On this lawn mower engine, you can find two Briggs and Stratton oil capacities. These vary slightly based on mower engines having an oil filter or not.

  • Oil Capacity 60 fl. oz. (1.8 L) w/o filter
  • Oil Capacity 64 fl. oz. (1.9 L) the engine is equipped with oil filter

If you have a Briggs Stratton 40H700 Series Engine, then note, two bottles are required to meet your engine oil capacity. It is also a recommendation to use 100% Synthetic Briggs, Stratton SAE 5W-30. 18 oz. for the Classic.

briggs, stratton, mower, capacity

How Much Oil Does a 10 HP Briggs and Stratton Take?

With being a smaller engine series, you can find that your mowers need less oil to run. On a Briggs Stratton 204400 Series Engine, you will need an oil capacity of 28 fl. oz. Using the right oil and you get protection for longer engine life, and you will skip by your engine warranty easily.

Horsepower Vertical Shaft Engines Oil Capacity Horizontal Shaft Engines Oil Capacity
3.5-3.75 HP 20 fl oz (.59 l)
4.0-4.75 HP 20 fl oz (.59 l)
5-6 HP 22 fl oz (.65 l)
5-6.5 HP 20 fl oz (.59 l)
6-6.75 HP 22 fl oz (.65 l)
8-11 HP 36 fl oz (1.06 l) 28 fl oz (.77 l) OHV
9-13.5 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l)
12-14 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l) (Single Cylinder)
15-16 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l)
13.5-17.5 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l)
15.5-17.5 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l)
18-20 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l)
16-23 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l) 48 fl oz (1.42 l)
22-26 HP 60 fl oz (1.77 l)
2.4 HP 13.5 fl oz (.4 l)
3.5 HP 20 fl oz (.59 l)
5-7 HP 16 fl oz (.47 l) Intek Snow
5.5-6.5 HP 20 fl oz (.59 l)
6 HP 24 fl oz (.71 l)
7.5 HP 20 fl oz (.59 l)
8-10 HP 30 fl oz (.90 l)
8-11 HP 44 fl oz (1.3 l)
9-11 HP 32 fl oz (1.2 l)
11-12 HP 32 fl oz (1.5 l)
11-13 HP 28 fl oz (.77 l)
16-23 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l)
18-19 HP 48 fl oz (1.42 l)
.75-1 HP 3.0 fl oz (80ml)

What Kind of Oil Does a Briggs Stratton Engine Take?

Use Briggs, Stratton SAE 30W Oil when over 40°F for any series of mower engines, including the 12.HP Briggs and Stratton engine.

To maintain optimum performance, oil is required to be changed following the first five hours of use. Once you do this, you can then do so each year or following 50 hours of use based on which comes first. (Read our Briggs and Stratton Snow Blower Reviews)

Here you can find the steps to change your oil.

Check oil-level regularly according to the lawn mower manufacturer. (You will discover air-cooled engines may burn around an ounce of oil in each cylinder, in every hour of operation)

Only meet your oil capacity and fill to the dipstick mark and make sure not to overfill.

Changing Lawn Mower Oil

  • Start your mower so the engine will run warm.
  • Stop the engine and disconnect the spark plug cable and hold it away from the plug.
  • Clean the area around the oil fill and drain plug sections to stop dirt from accessing the crankcase
  • Remove your dipstick if your engine has one

Draining Your Oil

  • Tilt your mower, so the air filter or spark plug side faces upward.
  • Place newspaper and an oil pan beneath the mower
  • Use a 3/8-inch drive socket wrench and extension. Turn the plug counter-clockwise, so the old oil drains.
  • Replace the drain plug with a clockwise twist, and then tighten. (If your mower engine has no oil filter, skip this step)

Oil Filters

  • For any engine with an oil filter, it is advisable to replace it once per season.
  • Replace your oil filter by twisting counterclockwise with a filter wrench.
  • Check the sealing surface on your oil filter adapter and clean if required.
  • Lightly oil your filter gasket using fresh engine oil. Install the new filter by screwing by hand and tighten another 1/2 to 3/4 turn.

Add New Oil

Once you replace the oil filter, add approximately 4 oz to the dipstick mark. If there are two oil fill plugs (yellow or white) on either side of your engine, either can be used to fill the oil. (Read Does Gold Tarnish)

Walk-behind mowers:

  • Oil capacity is typically 15oz or 18oz.
  • Change engine oil every 50 hours of operation or once per year, whichever comes first.

Riding mowers:

  • Oil capacity is usually 48oz 48 fl oz. (1.42 l) or 64 oz.
  • Change engine oil every 100 hours of operation or annually, whichever comes first.

Never overfill the engine with oil. Effects of excess detergent oil in your lawnmower engine would generate more heat than it normally does. Excess oil in a lawnmower engine affects the crankcase, and if oil drowns the crankcase, you will have to remove it quickly. (Read Briggs and Stratton Won’t Start When Hot)

briggs, stratton, mower, capacity

Small engines use SAE 30 single-weight detergent motor oil service-rated SG or higher. Although some use multi-viscosity oils like 10W-30 or 10W-40

How to change the oil in the Briggs and Stratton Lawnmower, step by step

An oil change is one of the most fundamental steps as far as engine maintenance is concerned. People tend to ignore oil changes for small engines such as those on lawnmowers. However, changing your oil at regular intervals can undoubtedly enhance your engine’s life and prevent you from unwanted engine problems such as an engine seizure. If you’re just wondering how to do an oil change for your Briggs and Stratton lawnmower, this blog post will help you with a clear step-by-step approach.

How to change the oil in the Briggs and Stratton Lawnmower, step by step:

  • Step 1. Prepare your Lawnmower
  • Step 2. Disconnect the spark plug cable
  • Step 3. Tilt the mower and set it up
  • Step 4.Drain the oil
  • Step 5. Replace the oil filter
  • Step 6. Check all the connections
  • Step 7. Add the new oil and test the engine

Gas Lawnmowers have relatively small engines compared with cars. Most recent models use a four-stroke internal combustion engine with a separate oil tank. This oil lubricates the engine’s moving parts, such as the pistons or the crankshaft. The lubrication ensures that the parts’ wear rate is minimized, thus enhancing the engine’s overall life. As a general guideline, oil changes should be performed at the start or end of every season. For walk-behind mowers, oil changes should be carried out after 50 hours of use, whereas for riding lawnmowers, you should change the oil after every 100 hours of use.

In more detail, I will explain the procedure for changing the oil on a Briggs and Stratton lawnmower.

  • 1 Replacing the oil in your Briggs and Stratton Lawnmower:
  • 1.1 Step 1: Prepare your Lawn Mower for the Oil Change
  • 1.2 Step 2: Disconnect the spark plug cable
  • 1.3 Step 3: Tilt the mower and set it up
  • 1.4 Step 4: Drain the oil
  • 1.5 Step 5: Replace the oil filter
  • 1.6 Step 6: Check all the connections
  • 1.7 Step 7: Add in new oil and start the engine
  • 1.7.1 Additional concerns:
  • 2.1 1. Which oil is best for lawnmowers?
  • 2.2 2. Where is the drain plug located?
  • 2.3 3. Is SAE 30 the same as 10w30?

Replacing the oil in your Briggs and Stratton Lawnmower:

Before replacing the engine oil, check your Lawnmower’s user manual. It should contain information about your mower’s various parts, including the oil drain plug’s location and the preferred oil and oil filter. Also, the typical oil quantities (48 ounces or 64 ounces / 0.35-0.4 L) will be mentioned. Briggs and Stratton lawnmower manuals are usually quite detailed and contain a lot of information that can help you.

Step 1: Prepare your Lawn Mower for the Oil Change

Ensure that you have the needed tools and products for the oil change, like new oil and a new oil filter. The tools you need are an oil pan, a screwdriver, a strap wrench, a simple wrench, some scrubs, and hand gloves.

Turn the engine on and let it run. A few minutes should be sufficient. This will raise the oil flow by warming it to a suitable temperature. Oil’s viscosity decreases with temperature, so removing it will get more comfortable. Avoiding this step will make it difficult to drain the engine’s oil, and the left oil residue may mix with the new one.

Step 2: Disconnect the spark plug cable

Always disconnect the spark plug cables when working on a gas engine. This is a safety step to ensure that the engine may not start unintentionally. Turn off the ignition, separate the pull cord, and apply the parking brakes before you begin. Park your Lawnmower on an even hard surface that can deal with oil spills.

Step 3: Tilt the mower and set it up

The next step is to tilt the mower. All lawnmowers have their oil drain at the base, while some have an oil dipstick at the top. So tilt the mower with support or lift it high enough using a lawnmower lift. Don’t forget to wear some safety gloves, as the oil can be hot.

Step 4: Drain the oil

If your mower is one of those types with a dipstick, remove the dipstick before loosening the oil drain nut. This develops an air channel that will make draining the oil more efficient. Turning the blades and pulley to a side would be best before loosening the oil drain nut. Carefully remove the oil drain plug. You can use some rugs to protect you from sharp lawnmower blades. Turn the oil drain plug nut anticlockwise to open it. Ensure the drain pan is situated beneath the mower to collect the oil.

Always use safety gloves to keep your hands from getting messy from the crude oil and protect them from the hot oil. If you own an air pump, you can use this as an additional step to ensure that all the oil is drained. Use the pump to blow in the oil tank from the top. The air pressure will wipe away any oil residues left.

Step 5: Replace the oil filter

Some of the more recent lawnmowers have an oil filter. Some older models do not. It is recommended to replace the oil filter when you change your engine oil. If your Lawnmower does not have one, you can skip this step. Start with loosening the oil filter with the help of a strap wrench. When you are done loosening it, you can plug it out. The oil filter may hold some oil, so drain all the oil drops from it too. You can use the same drain pan to gather the trickling oil from the filter. Take a new oil filter and put on some oil on the top. This will make assembling the new oil filter easier. Fit the new oil filter, and make sure the oil filter seal remains intact.

Step 6: Check all the connections

Check all the various parts for tight ensuring tight connections. The oil drain plug should be tightened properly. Remove the pieces of rug from the mower blades. Put the dipstick in your mower and remove the mower from the platform.

Step 7: Add in new oil and start the engine

According to the Briggs and Stratton lawn mower user manual, the refilled oil amount is typically 48 ounces or 64 ounces. The type of oil suggested for everyday usage is SAE 10W-30. Depending on your Lawnmower’s size, it may have two oil fill plugs (ordinarily yellow or white) on each side of the engine; either one can be used to fill the engine with oil to the correct level. Next, engage the spark plug and turn on the ignition. Let the mower breathe fresh air as the new oil circulates its engine. This will help it normalize.

While changing the oil, you must keep in mind your mower engine’s condition. Older and weaker mowers generally need thicker and more viscous oils like SAE 20W-50. If you are not sure, consult an expert.

The used oil should be disposed of according to local regulations.

Additional concerns:

To increase the lifetime of your Lawnmower and to ensure that the machine will start without problems, some precautionary measures are suggested:

  • Replace after 30-40 hours: Replace engine oil after 30-40 hours of use or usage in the first month.
  • Never use a non-detergent oil: A non-detergent oil can shorten the engine’s service life and hinder the machine’s functionality.
  • Do not use 2-stroke oil: Avoid using oil suitable for a different engine type, like 2-stroke oil. It can damage the engine and cause a stalling issue. You must always use a good quality and brand-specific oil with no compromise.
  • Flat surface: Whenever changing the engine oil, bring the Lawnmower to a flat surface. It will contribute to easing the task of oil changing.
  • Use Gloves: Use gloves while doing your maintenance work. It will prevent any personal damage from sensitive components or hot oil.
  • Disconnect the battery: Disconnect the battery’s power cable to avoid unwanted accidents like a short circuit.
  • Screwdrivers: Operate the screwdrivers carefully so that no wear and tear of screws occur.

Frequently asked questions:

Which oil is best for lawnmowers?

The type of soil depends on the engine condition of your Lawnmower. It also depends on the working environment. In warmer climates for outdoor kinds of machinery, SAE 30 is your best option. In colder areas, you should stick with SAE 5W-30 motor oil. If you are in a place where the temperature fluctuates between 0° and 100° Fahrenheit, you should use an SAE 10W-30 motor oil.

Where is the drain plug located?

Look at the bottom of the engine body. Around the bottom, you should see a single bolt. That is your oil drain plug. However, the oil drain plug is located beneath the engine block near the crankshaft on vertical shaft engines. You will require a standard size 3/8″ ratchet and extension (no socket) to remove the square plug. A simple way to track the drain plug is to follow the oil tank and its curvatures to its bottom.

Is SAE 30 the same as 10w30?

No, SAE 30 is a single-viscosity oil. 10w30 is multiple viscosity. Recommended engine oil viscosity changes with temperature because natural oils change viscosity with temperature. An SAE 30 oil will thin out at higher temperatures.

Final remarks:

Replacing your engine oil can increase the lifespan and durability of your Briggs and Stratton lawnmower. It is suggested to check the quality of engine oil regularly. Old oil will increase the wear and tear of your engine and eventually even damage the engine. Changing the oil in a lawnmower is not a complicated job, and it should not take you more than 30 minutes. If you change the oil, always replace the oil filter if your Lawnmower has one. Hopefully, this blog gave you the user guidelines for changing the Briggs and Stratton Lawnmower oil.

What type of oil for Briggs Stratton lawnmower

Photo by Matthias Cooper from Pexels

We hope you love the products we recommend and just so you know that as an Amazon Associate JP Cycles affiliate, MyEngineNeeds may earn from qualifying purchases.

It is time to give you lawn a fresh look and you need to start using your Briggs Stratton small engine lawnmower. An oil change is required and you are now wondering which way out. It can be a little confusing when there are so many brands in the market and too much information being thrown around. An oil change gives your machine extended life and it will move smoothly are you work on the lawn.

Lawn Mower Oil Guide: What Type of Lawn Mower Oil Should I Use? | eReplacementParts.com

Prior to changing the oil on a small engine, you need to understand the type of oil and engine capacity so that you are able to get the best service out of the machine. Your machine type, the engine, the temperature in your locality and the cost of the oil are some of the factors you need to consider before making the oil change.

Oil Type Recommendations for Briggs Briggs Stratton lawnmower

There are different types of oils that you may have encountered and they are all built to work for a certain type of temperatures. While this article will FOCUS more on the winter oil, we shall also enlighten you on how to differentiate the oils as per the weather conditions.

Due to oil viscosity, there are oils each weather conditions have a time when they are required but this does not apply to synthetic oil which has additives that make it all weather kind of oil.

5w30-It is best for all types of temperatures

10w30-It can work with different temperatures. It helps your Briggs Briggs Stratton lawnmower start well during cold weather but you may notice a higher than normal oil consumption.

15w30-It offers the best protection for your engine at all temperatures and it improves the starting and does not consume a lot of oil 15w50-It works well with different temperature ranges and it is best if you use your Briggs Briggs Stratton lawnmower continuously for commercial use.

We recommend the use of synthetic oil because it serves your small engine for a longer duration and does not require change during changes in weather. Conventional oils require changes or additives during winter to increase their viscosity.

However, with synthetic oil, you do not need to add any additives because it is not made from crude oil. Synthetic oil is made from highly refined materials that are smooth and soft on your engine.

Capacity of your small engine

If you are using a walk-behind mower, its engine capacity is 15oz or 18oz. It requires a change either annually or 50 hours of work, whichever comes first. If your engine is a riding mower, it will probably have a capacity of 48oz or 64oz. Such an engine will require an oil change every 100 hours or annually whichever comes first.

Typically oil change is done depending on the use of the engine and the duration it will be running. The more the hours the sooner you will need to change the oil. You must change the oil when it is due for a change otherwise, your machine may not last long if you do not adhere to these requirements.

The most appropriate oil for your small engine is the 5w30 synthetic oil for all temperature ranges. We also recommend for you to use the Briggs Stratton Synthetic Oil. The use of this oil is recommended by the company and their warranty conditions are that you should use this oil. If you use other oils, it will affect your warranty claims when the time comes.

While this synthetic oil does not require changes and works in all weather conditions, you must keep on checking it and knowing when it should be changed. When checking the oil, you will be mostly being interested in its color and the darker it is the closer it is for a change. It is darkened by impurities.

Steps to checking your small engine level

  • Carefully Remove the dipstick cap, put some pressure and twist to open (anti-clockwise).
  • Carefully remove the dipstick and clean its rag to get the most accurate reading.
  • Return the dipstick to its former position after adding add marks.
  • Remove the dipstick again and read the level of oil at the bottom of the dipstick blade.
  • You will see the oil level between the full and add marks.
  • If the oil level is low, you can add a few ounces up to the required level.
  • Run the engine for about 5 minutes before repeating the process again.

You should repeat this procedure as often as possible especially if the machine has not been in use for a while. The reason that could make oil levels go down is numerous and running the small engine with low levels of oil will lead to engine damage.

You should also check the oil color during this maintenance routine. Oil darkens after continued use because of impurities in the engine system including dirt. If the oil completely darkens before the oil change date, you may consider changing it early at 30 hours for a small one and 70 hours for a bigger machine.

If you notice the oil darkening faster than expected, you can reach out to a Briggs Stratton machine dealer near you for consultation. It could be a sign of something amiss in your machine which you should immediately change.

Conclusion

The guide above will help you take good care of your Briggs Stratton small engine lawnmower. You can never go wrong with using synthetic oil on it. While using other oils may work, they are not reliable and will only work for a little while before creating problems for your engine. Keep in mind that it is the recommended oil on this machine.

The manufacturer knows best for the machines he manufactures and in this case, it is no different. Keep use this 5w30 synthetic oil on your machine and you will be assured of a claim against your warranty in case the small machine has a manufacturer problem.

Finally, we wish you a great experience using the recommended synthetic oil.