Not Sure Which Oil To Use In Your Lawn Mower?
MILWAUKEE. March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/.- Briggs Stratton Corporation’s new interactive oil finder tool is making it easier for lawn mower owners to know which oil and how much to use to keep their mower running well.
“Our research indicates that 97 percent of people have at least added oil to their mower engine at some point and 91 percent report doing an oil change at some point 1 ,” said Carissa Gingras. director of marketing, global support, Briggs Stratton. “But we also know that these DIYers often don’t know which oil to use in their mower, making it the number one question asked of our customer support team.”
The interactive oil finder (briggsandstratton.com/oilfinder) allows mower owners to quickly determine their small engine oil type and capacity by asking only a handful of questions, including the temperature where the mower is being operated. There is no need to input an engine model number, making it even easier for owners to use the tool as they shop for oil at retailers or dealers. The tool is designed to help small engine owners take better care of their lawn mowers and avoid common mistakes such as using automotive oil instead of small engine oil.
Based on consumer research, 43 percent of consumers typically shop for mower oil in the automotive section, and 48 percent of consumers who buy automotive oil for their mower believe automotive oil and small engine oil are the same 2.
“Oil is vital for engine health. So, it’s important to use an oil created specifically for outdoor power equipment because it includes anti-wear agents that keep equipment clean and running effortlessly,” said Gingras. “Changing the oil as part of an annual tune up in the spring will help ensure your mower starts and runs smoothly all year-round.”
Briggs Stratton EXI Engine Series features Just Check Add TM and never requires an oil change, but adding oil and regular scheduled maintenance is still a must. Before performing any maintenance on outdoor power equipment, consult your operator’s manual for details and safety precautions 3.
About Briggs Stratton Corporation:Briggs Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. is focused on providing power to get work done and make people’s lives better. Briggs Stratton is the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of power generation, pressure washer, lawn and garden, turf care and job site products through its Briggs Stratton Simplicity Snapper Ferris Vanguard Allmand Billy Goat Murray Branco and Victa brands. Briggs Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents. For additional information, please visit www.basco.com and www.briggsandstratton.com.
1 Online Mower Maintenance Behavior survey for Briggs Stratton of 336 walk mower owners with maintenance responsibility, February 2018. 2 Oil Labeling research for Briggs Stratton, online survey of 500 mower owners, February 2018. 3 To learn more, go to www.justcheckandadd.com or see complete details in the Operator’s Manual. Briggs Stratton standard warranty terms and conditions apply. Just Check Add does not extend the warranty period.
Jul 20, 2020 How to Check the Oil in Your Lawn Mower
It is best to check the oil in your lawn mower before each use.
Park your lawn mower on a level flat surface and allow it to sit for a few minutes to let the oil settle.
Find your mower’s oil cap. Unlike your car, where the oil cap and dipstick are in separate places on the engine, your mower’s oil cap and dipstick are together. Make sure to look for the oil symbol and do not mistake it for the gas symbol. Most mowers will either say oil or have the oil symbol on the oil cap. It should be on the top or near the top of the engine.
Unscrew the oil cap and pull out the dipstick. Wipe the dipstick off with a clean cloth and insert it back into the oil tank. Screw the cap back on. Unscrew the cap again and pull the dipstick out. Look at the level of the oil on the dipstick. The level should be between the full and add marks. Depending on the brand of mower you have, the marks may look different. There may only be two holes to indicate full and add. You want the level to be between the two holes. As close to the full side as possible without going over.
If you do overfill the oil, your engine will smoke and it can cause damage. It should take around ½ quart to fill the oil. If your oil is just a little low, add oil in small increments until it reaches the full level.
Check your owner’s manual to find out what kind of oil your mower takes. If you no longer have the manual, you can look it up on the manufacturer’s website.
Need help with your lawn mower engine? We do small engine repairs of all types. Check it out here!
Murray lawn mower oil
That’s the promise Briggs Stratton makes with the new EXi engine with Just Check Add /strong> technology, which is being rolled out on select walk-behind mowers this spring.
See it in action now on the Toro 20353 AWD Recycler »
Briggs Stratton EXi engine with Just Check Add technology
Of course, you’re thinking: No way. I can’t blame you, it’s a bold statement. You have to change the oil, right.
Well, Briggs noticed that while most people understand the importance of an oil change. that doesn’t necessarily mean it gets done.
Since most engines don’t have a drain plug anymore, changing your oil can be frustrating and messy: Tip the lawn mower over. oil misses the pan. Sometimes an oil change can do more bad than good, as well, when care is not taken to ensure dirt and other debris does not enter the engine.
So when they set out to imagine the next evolution of lawn mower engines, Briggs Stratton designed the EXi from the ground up with easy maintenance in mind.
No more oil changes.
In the average lawn mower engine, the two main reasons to change the oil are:
The EXi engine utilizes a cooling fan optimized for airflow to help keep it cool, as well as an overhead valve design that minimizes heat through the cylinder head, reducing the oil temperature by about 10 degrees.
The oil that’s in there will last longer. Cooler oil will take longer to break down.
To keep the oil clean, Briggs turned to an automotive-style paper air filter in a tight, press-fit element to keep dirt out. The oil fill tube also includes an extended lip to help prevent debris from getting in while adding oil to the engine.
But, what if you want to change the oil?
Yes, you can still change the oil if you want to.
On your average small engine, it is recommended that you change the oil after every 50 hours of operation. No doubt a lot of people will feel more comfortable sticking to that. While regular scheduled maintenance of your EXI engine will eliminate the need for an oil change, Briggs says it won’t hurt if you do it anyway.
The new EXi engine, with 7.25 or 6.75 gross torque, also includes other great features you’ve come to expect from Briggs Stratton, including:
ReadyStart Engine Starting System: No prime, no choke. just pull for power. The Briggs Stratton Starting Promise guarantees it will start in 2 tries, or they will fix it for free.
Murray Lawn Mower Vs. Craftsman – Which One Should You Buy?
The lawn-care industry is getting bigger and bigger. Homeowners will then have a lot of options to maintain the beauty of their lawns. Murray and Craftsman are among their top choices.
But which is better, Murray lawn mower vs. Craftsman ? You need to consider their differences and your preferences to opt for the winner in this battle.
So, we will help you compare lawn mowers of these two brands. Let’s see which product suits your needs better!
Murray Lawn Mower Vs. Craftsman: Introduction
Murray lawn mowers were once products of the Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company. However, in 2005, the Briggs Stratton Corporation acquired Murray to expand its product lines and market share.
After that, Briggs Straton continued manufacturing Murray lawn mowers with their own technology. Some models have specialized engines made by Briggs Straton.
Advanced technology makes Murray lawn mowers famous for their durability and performance.
Similarly, Craftsman was once a line of garden equipment owned by Sears. However, Sears Holdings, which had a restricted license for Craftsman equipment, sold the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black Decker in 2017.
Craftsman lawn mowers are popular in the industry for their high-quality construction and versatility. Landscapers and homeowners both appreciate products from this brand.
Both Murray and Craftsman offer lawn mowers in different types, designs, features, and price ranges. Hence, it will help to refer to specific models to compare the two brands in detail.
So, the comparison section below will talk about their products in general. You can research to look for the exact features of each model. Then, it will be easier for you to settle on an ideal machine.
Both brands are famous in the industry
Murray Lawn Mower Vs. Craftsman: Comparison
There are many factors to consider when comparing Murray vs. Craftsman lawn mowers, including cost, effectiveness, features, and durability. This comparison table will tell you some.
| Murray | Craftsman | |
| Power | Depending on the model | Depending on the model |
| Features | Fewer features | features |
| Durability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Price | Cheaper | expensive |
Power
Murray and Craftsman lawn mowers have multiple engine options, including electric and gas-powered models. The power of your machine depends on the engine you buy.
Craftsman mowers are slightly more powerful than their competitors because of the higher-quality materials. Yet, some Murray models offer robust engines, too.
Features
Lawn mowers from Murray and Craftsman come with various features to make your grass-cutting simpler and more effective.
Aside from the adjustable cutting heights and comfortable grips, they also provide mulching and bagging alternatives.
However, Craftsman is a winner in this term thanks to its advanced features. For example, you can use its Smart Lawn app to monitor real-time data on your mowing patterns.
Durability
The durability of a lawn mower depends on its material and construction. In this regard, both Murray and Craftsman products can satisfy your requirements.
Both manufacturers’ most common materials are steel, plastic, aluminum, and rubber. They have different characteristics, so you can pick the best one based on your demands.
Besides, you can extend your mower’s lifespan by maintaining it properly and regularly. Thus, learning maintenance tips is a must for all lawn mower users.
Price
Craftsman lawn mowers are often more expensive than Murray models because they have more advanced features.
However, the materials, designs, types, and features will affect the specific price of Murray and Craftsman lawn mowers.
Murray lawn mowers are more affordable
Murray Lawn Mower Vs. Craftsman: Which Should You Choose?
Murray and Craftsman lawn mowers are durable, robust, and reliable products. But you can only choose. To make up your mind, please consider these things:
Can I use 20w50 motor engine oil in my lawn mower?
The short answer is yes, you can use 20w50 oil in a lawnmower but results may vary.
This kind of oil is not designed specifically to be used in a lawnmower.
20W50 is actually a fairly specialized petrol engine oil formulated for use in engines made generally before 1980.
The starting point for considering what kind of oil to add is the characteristic of the oil known as viscosity. This is the thickness of the oil and that has a direct effect on how well the engine is lubricated during use, especially when temperatures change.
Typically, ’30 weight oil’ (often referred to as SAE30) is used in lawn mowers as it is designed with the engines of older lawn mower in mind. temperature factors are a key player here. both of the engine (which obviously heats differently from a car) and also the local weather conditions play a part in determining engine performance.
The thicker viscosity of 30 weight oil assists air-cooled engines to keep them running. cooler!
20w50 will work in engines for what could be described as the summer weather period. If you live in colder climes then you should really consider using 30 weight.
If you live in a region that has large temperature swings between summer and winter then a blended oil such as 10w30 may be suitable. the 10w reflects the winter use protection and the 30 reflects the warm temp.
If you’ve spotted a trend in those numbers, good on you. the colder weather in which you use your engine, the lower your W for winter number can go.
One thing to bear in mind is while winter oils can help improve cold weather starting they may contribute to an increase in oil consumption by the engine. You just want to get your grass cut though eh?
When in doubt, you should always refer to the user manual of the lawn mower. If you do not have it, then google it. the manufacturers place them online because they know their users will benefit from them. a happy user is a happy brand whisper naturally!
Another factor to consider in your oil choice is will it help keep the engine clean internally?
Will the detergents contained in the oil help prevent sludge build up?
Most quality engine oils will have such detergents added. and for this reason alone, we recommend you avoid using cheap engine oil if you can!
There is an argument that you see creeping in every so often that the modern mower engine, is still basically the same kind of engine that has been around for 60 years since the end of the Second World War.
Those old original engines ran on the crudest, rudest kind of oils around. The modern oils, including synthetics, are clearly superior oils and probably do over and above what is required for many engines. This train of thought probably underlies why many users report using certain oils in certain engines and never having any issues with the oil’s performance.
What oil type is best to use for my lawn mower?
For Briggs Stratton manufactured small engines, we recommend the use of Briggs Stratton Warranty Certified mower oil for best performance in Snapper lawn mowers, tractors, snow blowers and other outdoor power products. Other high-quality detergent small engine and lawn mower oil types are acceptable if classified for service SF, SG, SH, SJ or higher. Do not use special additives.
When changing the oil in your Snapper mower, use the outdoor temperatures to determine the proper oil viscosity for the engine. Use the chart to select the best viscosity for the outdoor temperature range expected.
Lawn mower engine oil recommendations for brands other than Briggs Stratton would be best obtained through the engine manufacturer, engine Operator’s Manual or local Snapper Service Repair Dealers.
When performing mower maintenance or repair, Snapper recommends reading and following all safety precautions outlined in the Snapper Product Manual. This extends to changing the oil in all Snapper products, including tractors, riding mowers, zero turn mowers, tillers and other outdoor power products. Any FAQ instruction provided on the website are not intended to replace work completed by a Snapper Authorized Dealer. Terms and Conditions apply to all of the information presented on this website. Before operating your equipment or conducting small engine maintenance, you should always read and comprehend the entire Operator’s Manual.
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