If your lawn mower is approaching 50 hours of use since its last oil change, you are getting close to needing fresh oil and a new oil filter. Going much longer without doing these maintenance tasks could result in overheating and engine wear problems. So, it’s definitely important to change the oil and install new oil filters regularly. If you want to know how to change a riding lawn mower oil filter, you have come to the right place.
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How to Change a Riding Mower Oil Filter (Steps Overview)
To change an oil filter on a riding lawn mower, you’ll need to do an oil change and install a new filter. This is because you can’t change a filter without replacing the oil.
Here are 15 Easy Steps to Change a Riding Lawn Mower Oil Filter. We’ll break them down in more detail later on in the blog.
- Warm the Engine
- Allow the Engine to Cool
- Remove the Spark Plug
- Position the Oil Pan
- Remove the Sump Oil Drain Bolt
- Remove the Oil Filler Cap
- Allow the Oil to Drain Fully
- Remove the Old Oil Filter
- Install the New Filter
- Inspect and install the Sump Oil Drain Bolt
- Fill the Engine With Fresh Oil
- Connect the Spark Plug
- Run the Engine
- Check the Oil Level
- Top Off the Oil as Needed
How Often Should You Change the Oil Filter on a Riding Lawn Mower?
For a new mower, you should do the first oil change and oil filter replacement after the first 5-10 hours of use. After that, you can change the oil after every 50 hours of use. This number might differ slightly for different lawn mower manufacturers and different engines, so it’s always a good idea to check your owner’s manual to be sure. But fifty hours is an average number many lawnmowers go by.
It is also a good idea to change the oil filter as part of your lawnmower winterizing process or when you’re getting your lawnmower ready for spring. Additionally, if you use your lawn mower for extended periods or in dusty conditions, you may need to carry out oil changes and filter replacements more often.
Why Do You Have to Change the Oil Filter and Oil at the Same Time?
You should always change the oil filter when doing an oil change on your riding lawn mower. This is for a few reasons. First, if you don’t change the filter when doing an oil change, your lawn mower engine may not be able to drain fully. Also, using an old oil filter will contaminate your new oil.
Lastly, if you remove an oil filter from your riding lawn mower without draining the oil first, the engine oil will drain from the oil filter mounting point. This is because the oil filter is located low on the engine, below the fill level of the engine oil. So, even if you tried to change your riding lawn mower oil filter without changing the oil, your lawn mower will drain anyway, and you will end up with no oil in your engine. Therefore, both have to be done at the same time.
Check out my in-depth guide on how to drain oil from a lawn mower.
How Do I Know if My Oil Filter is Bad?
If your oil needs to be changed because you are reaching your 50-hour mark, then your oil filter will be bad. It is not possible for your oil filter to still be good if your oil needs to be changed. Your old, dirty engine oil is running through the oil filter, so when the oil is bad, so is the oil filter.
Additionally, you might experience these symptoms if you run your lawnmower with a dirty oil filter:
How to Change Oil Filter on a Riding Mower (Step-By-Step)
You will need a few tools and parts to install a new oil filter on your riding mower. Here is everything you will need to change your oil filter on a riding mower.
What You’ll Need to Change a Riding Lawn Mower Oil Filter
- Oil Pan
- Socket Wrench
- Oil Funnel
- Oil Filter Wrench
- Clean Up Cloth
- Engine Oil
- New Oil Filter (Lawn Mower Specific)
Warm Up the Engine
To make an oil change easier, allow your lawn mower to warm up for a minute. The movement of the engine helps to dislodge dirt, and the warmth allows the oil to flow more easily.
Allow the Engine to Cool
Once the engine has warmed up, let it cool down for approximately ten minutes. Lawnmowers can reach operating temperatures of around 250°C – 350°C in just a few minutes, so it is vital you let the engine cool first to avoid burning yourself.
Remove the Spark Plug
Next, you need to remove the cable attached to the spark plug. This ensures that the engine is safe and cannot accidentally fire up.
Position the Oil Pan
Place the oil pan underneath the sump oil drain bolt so that the pan is aligned to catch the old oil from the engine’s sump. The sump oil drain bolt is located at the lowest point of your lawn mower’s engine.
Remove the Sump Oil Drain Bolt
Remove the sump oil drain bolt from the engine using your socket wrench or other selected tool. Then, allow the old oil to drain.
Remove the Oil Filler Cap
Next, remove the oil filler cap to help the old oil drain from the engine faster.
Allow the Oil to Drain Fully
Allow the oil to drain fully through the sump drain. This can take a while, but if you remove the oil filter too early, the oil will begin to drain from the oil filter location and probably make a big mess.
Remove the Old Oil Filter
Next, use the oil filter wrench to remove the old oil filter from your lawn mower. Be aware that the oil filter could contain a small amount of oil. So, be prepared for oil to leak from both the filter and the oil filter mounting location. Having a clean-up cloth ready will help prevent oil from spilling onto your mower.
Install the New Filter
Grab your new oil filter and cover the rubber gasket with a light coat of oil. This will help the filter tighten without damaging the o-ring. Then, install the filter onto your lawn mower by hand so that the filter is snug and compresses the o-ring. I don’t recommend using your filter wrench to tighten the new oil filter, as it can overtighten and damage it.
Inspect and install the Sump Oil Drain Bolt
The next step is to reinstall the sump oil drain bolt. First, inspect the bolt’s o-ring and check that it is in good condition, has no cracks or splits, and isn’t over-compressed. If the o-ring is damaged, the oil will likely leak through the seal. So, it will need to be replaced. Once you confirm the o-ring is ok, go ahead and reinstall the bolt back onto the sump.
Fill the Engine With Fresh Oil
Insert an oil funnel into the oil filler cap and fill the engine with the required type and amount of oil. Then, remove the funnel and install the filler cap.
Connect the Spark Plug
Next, reconnect the spark plug cable to the spark plug.
Run the Engine
Run your lawn mower for a couple of minutes at idle so that the new oil can move around the engine. During this time, the oil filter will fill with oil. Then, shut off the mower and allow the engine to cool down.
Check the Oil Level
Now that the filter has filled, use the dipstick to check the oil level.
Top Off the Oil as Needed
Finally, if your lawn mower needs more oil, add small amounts (1oz at a time) to avoid accidentally overfilling the engine.
