It is handy knowing how to drain oil from your lawn mower. Whether you’re doing an oil change, turning your mower over for repairs, or need to replace bad gas, draining the oil is a key step for all lawn mower owners. While it may sound daunting, it’s actually a really easy process. Let’s go over the most common methods to drain oil from a push lawn mower and a ride-on mower.
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How to Drain Oil From a Push Lawn Mower
There are three common methods to drain oil depending on what kind of lawn mower you have. The first method is to tip the mower over and drain out the oil. The second method is to suck the oil out using an oil vacuum pump. The third method is to drain the oil from the sump of a bigger mower.
7 Steps to Drain the Oil by Tipping the Lawn Mower
Tipping the lawn mower is exactly as it sounds. By laying the mower on its side, the oil is able to easily drain out of the mower. This method is intended for small push mowers. From start to finish, it should take 15 minutes. Yup, it’s that simple.
Protect the Floor
Working with oil can get messy really fast. Even if you’re working on your garage, you’ll want to protect the floor. You can lay old cardboard boxes to soak up any spilled oil and make cleaning up easier. Place your lawn mower over the floor cover.
Use a Pan to Collect the Oil
The oil draining out of your mower needs to go somewhere. For this, you can use an oil-collecting pan. Place it next to the lawn mower, so it lines up with the oil cap when you tip the mower over.
Warm Up the Engine
Turn ON your lawn mower for a minute or two to warm up the engine. This will help loosen up the oil and make it runnier. Turn OFF your mower after a couple of minutes before the engine has a chance to get too hot. WARNING: The key here is for the oil to get warm, not hot.
Remove the Dip Stick
Remove the dipstick and put it somewhere safe.
Tip the Lawn Mower Over
Take hold of the handles and tip over the lawn mower. Make sure that you point it in the direction where the oil filter faces toward the floor. Allow the oil to drain into the pan.
Drain the Oil
Let the oil drain for a while. Once it gets down to a slow drip, leave it for another 10 minutes. There could be some gunk sitting at the bottom of the tank that will take some more time to drain out.
Fill the Engine with New Oil
Tip the lawn mower back on its wheels and refill it with new oil using a funnel. Make sure you use the right oil and amount for your engine.
What You’ll Need to Drain Oil By Tipping
- Cardboard
- Oil Pan
- Oil Funnel
- New Engine Oil
6 steps to drain Oil from a Lawn Mower Using an Oil Vacuum Pump
Another super easy method to drain oil from a lawn mower is to use an oil vacuum pump. You can use this method with any lawn mower.
Warm Up the Engine
Turn ON the mower for a minute or two to warm up the engine and loosen up the oil. Turn OFF the mower after a couple of minutes before it gets hot. WARNING: You need the oil to get warm, not hot.
Remove the Dipstick
Remove the dipstick and put it somewhere safe.
Insert the Pump
Insert the vacuum pump hose into the engine through the opening where the oil is filled.
Pressurize the Pump
Pressurize the vacuum pump by pumping it until you feel resistance. When a vacuum forms, the oil will get sucked through the hose. Keep an eye on the hose to ensure oil continues to pump out of the engine. If the oil flow stops, pump again. Do this until all of the oil is drained from the engine.
Remove the Pump
Remove the vacuum pump hose from the engine and clean it. Release the pressure valve.
Fill the Engine with New Oil
Refill with new oil using a funnel. Make sure you use the right oil and amount for your engine.
What You’ll Need To Drain Oil With A Vacuum Pump
10 Steps To Drain Oil From The Sump Of A Riding Lawn Mower
Riding mowers have a sump at the bottom of the engine where the oil collects. Because it’s not possible to tip over a riding mower, there is a bolt in the bottom of the sump to drain the oil. This is similar to draining oil from a car. Riding mowers also have large oil filters collecting oil. If you need to remove all of the oil, then using a vacuum pump won’t be an ideal method since it won’t be able to pull the oil from the oil filter.
Warm Up the Engine
Turn ON the ride-on mower for a couple of minutes to warm up the engine and loosen up the oil. Turn OFF the mower before it gets hot. WARNING: You don’t want the oil to get hot, just warm.
Position the Oil Pan Beneath the Sump
Place the oil pan under the bolt on the bottom of the sump. You can also lay a piece of cardboard to catch oil spills.
Remove the Sump Bolt
Unscrew the sump bolt using a socket wrench. The oil will immediately start draining, so you will likely get some on your hands. This is why the oil must be warm and not hot.
Drain the Oil
Let the oil drain for a while.
Remove the Used Oil Filter
Remove the oil filter using your hand or an oil filter wrench.
Drain Excess Oil
Removing the oil filter will likely cause excess oil to drain. Allow more time for the oil to continue draining until it comes to a stop.
Install the New Oil Filter
Install the new oil filter by screwing it onto the engine. Coating the rubber gasket with oil will make it easier to tighten the oil filter. Make sure you don’t overtighten the filter.
Clean The Sump Bolt
Clean the sump bolt of metal filings. Sump bolts are usually magnetic to pull in metal filings and prevent them from floating around in the engine.
Install the Sump Bolt
Check that the sump bolt’s o-ring is in place and install the bolt onto the bottom of the sump. Tighten it firmly to prevent leaks.
Fill The Engine With New Oil
Refill with new oil using a funnel. Make sure you use the right oil and amount for your engine.
What You’ll Need to Drain Oil From The Sump
- Cardboard
- Oil Pan
- Socket Wrench Set
- Replacement Oil Filter (Mower Specific)
- Oil Filter Wrench
- Oil Funnel
- New Engine Oil
