If you’ve changed your lawn mower’s oil, you’ve no doubt seen listings like “SAE 30,” “10W-30,” “5W30” and so on and so on. But do you know what those listings mean?
In this issue, we’ll talk about your lawn mower’s oil.
The classification of motor oils is the brainchild of The Society of Automotive Engineers, and actually focuses on the viscosity – or thickness – of the oil.
The first number will give you an idea of how thick the motor oil is. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. For example, 0 is essentially like water but 10 is more like honey.
The “W” stands for winder, and is an indication of the thickness of the oil in colder conditions. The letters “SAE” indicate that the oil meets the standards of The Society of Automotive Engineers.
In some cases, thicker oil is a good compensation for gaps in the rotating shaft of your mower that have developed over the years.
It’s best to check the oil level in your mower just before each time your start the engine. To get the most accurate reading, check it when the engine is cold.
To check it, follow these steps:
If you need to add oil, be sure the engine is off and the sparkplug lead is disconnected.
After that, follow these steps:
Working in direct heat is nothing to play around with. That’s yet another reason why it makes sense to partner with a professional and licensed lawn service provider.
To see what we can do for your lawn, call us here at Juniper Landscape Company; our number is (619) 334-9464.