Can You Use Synthetic Oil in a Lawn Mower? [ULTIMATE Guide]

Can You Use Synthetic Oil in a Lawn Mower – Modern lawnmowers have an oil chamber that has to be filled with oil. Many kinds of oils are available today, but which one should you choose? The wrong type of oil could be harmful to your engine. It is possible to think, “Can you use synthetic oil on a lawn mower?” Read on for some guidance.

Can You Use Synthetic Oil in a Lawn Mower?

You can definitely make use of synthetic oil on your mower. It typically will last longer than mineral oil, so you don’t have to change it frequently. But, this doesn’t limit the field of oil much.

What Is Synthetic Oil?

Synthetic oil comprises petroleum products, typically crude oil, which is transformed into artificially-produced chemicals. Additives and the synthesis process are considered a trade secret by the producer of every oil brand.

Synthetic oil Short History

Synthetic oil was created in 1929, as per the Car and Driver magazine. The Nazis utilized synthetic oil as they could not obtain enough mineral oil in WWII. Today, certain engines, including aircraft, require synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is utilized to increase the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks. It makes to make all engines run more efficiently as well as mowers.

What are the features of Synthetic Oil?

Synthetic oil is designed to function in a particular environment without the need for other additives. For instance, 5W-30, for example, will be an oil dense at cold temperatures and thin in hot temperatures. 

To make it behave the same at all temperatures, certain add-ons make the oil thinner at cold temperatures and increase its thickness when temperatures are hot.

As it is new, 5W-30 extracted from crude oil works like this. However, the additives wear off as they become dirty hot and old. In this case, the crude oil can go back to being thicker at cold and thin at hot temperatures. Synthetic 5W-30 does not have this issue. It just needs to be replaced as it gets dirty.

How to Use Synthetic Oil in a Lawnmower?

Using synthetic oil in small engines improves the fluidity between components and prolongs engine lifespan because there is less wear and tear, which means less wear and fewer breakdowns and repair costs. 

Synthetic oil is a good choice for machines that operate in extreme cold or hot conditions or steep terrain. The process of changing your lawnmower’s engine from cleaning oil to one that is synthetic is quite simple.

Review the manual for your lawnmower owner to determine whether the manufacturer’s policy prohibits using synthetic oil on the mower. If synthetic oil is employed, consult the manual to find the recommendation from the manufacturer on the weight of synthetic oil and the brand you should apply. 

The use of non-approved types of oil could void the warranty or cause damage to the engine of certain lawnmowers. If synthetic oil is not able to be employed on your mower, do not apply synthetic oils to the mower, and stop this program.

It is recommended to run the mower for about 60 seconds to warm the oil in the engine. Then, place the mower on a leveled area so that the crankcase is completely drained. Switch off your engine. Warm oil drains quicker than cool oil.

Find the mower’s drain plug, ensuring the oil is still warm. The oil drain plug is located near your engine’s lower part. It could appear as an asymmetrical bolt or be round and have coarse threads, based on the type of mower and the brand. Consult the owner’s manual to locate the drain plug’s location for oil when needed.

Clean all dirt and grass accumulation from the area around the drain plug for oil. The drain plug can be removed by using an adjustable wrench and draining the oil out of the crankcase into a sealed container. Could you not touch the oil, as it may be hot? Install the drain plug to its original position and secure it.

Locate the mower’s filter for oil. For most brands, it is at the base of the motor at the rear in front of the engine. Take off the oil filter using an oil-filter wrench. Then, run a small amount of oil along the gasket made of rubber on the new oil filter. Install the new filter on the engine and then employ the oil filter wrench to fix it.

The cap that fills the oil that is typically a dipstick. Then, fill the crankcase of the mower with the weight, brand and quantity of synthetic oil advised by the manufacturer of the mower. Replace the dipstick with a strong seal.

Get the mower’s motor running and allow it to run while you examine the drain plug for oil and the oil filter to see if there are leaks. If you notice leaks, tighten the drain plug or oil filter to ensure it is tighter.

Please switch off the mower and allow it to sit for a while. This will allow the oil to run from the engine’s crankcase. Take the dipstick out of the tube for filling with oil. Wipe the dipstick clean with a newspaper or a rag, then place the dipstick back into the tube that holds the oil. 

If it’s a screw-type dipstick, make sure you screw it into the correct position. Take the dipstick out of the tube for filling oil, and verify the oil level at the end of the dipstick. The dipstick’s oil level should be between the “Fill” and the “Add” mark on the dipstick.

How Is Synthetic Oil Different From Mineral Oil?

Synthetic oil has many advantages over mineral oils. As per Consumer Reports, synthetics have the following advantages:

• Resist oil breakdown, meaning you don’t have to replace it frequently.
• It can withstand higher temperatures, which is crucial for four-stroke engines.
• Provides better protection against wear and tear on the engine.
• Keeps your engine cleaner.
• Helps keep turbochargers running better and also protects them from damage.
• Flows better at cold temperatures.
• Contain the exact molecules that the engine requires to run a specific task.
• More likely to not be acidified and oxidized.
• It fights deposits and sludge.
• Guards the engine against stress in the event of heavy hauling or temperature extremes.

How Often Do I Change Synthetic Oil in My Mower?

The frequency of oil changes in vehicles is determined by the miles you’ve driven. For mowers, the changes are determined by the time you have completed them.

After five hours of use, the new push mowers must be changed with oil. This is because the mold marks and other pieces of metal break off after a few hours of usage and can contaminate the oil. 

Then the push mowers must be changed in their oil every 50 hours or before spring when you mow your lawn for the first time. 

Mowers that ride need to have their oil changed every 50 hours of use or in spring before the first time you use it depending on the most recurring frequency. 

If you’re mowing in on a dusty area, you’ll need to change your oil more frequently. If that is the case, you should check the oil regularly and replace it whenever it becomes dirty.

Picking A Synthetic Oil

You will typically use the same amount of synthetic oil as you would with mineral oil. Look in the manual of your mower’s owner for the exact weight of oil you should purchase for your lawn mower. However, there are a variety of classifications for oil. 

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) devised the most popular classification scheme. The SAE group was the one to develop the first standards for cars within the United States. During World War II, these standards were adopted by other countries.

The number indicates the degree of viscosity or the capacity to flow. Molasses is much more viscous in viscosity than water, for instance. Thus, the higher that number is, the greater the thickness of the oil. 

The thickness of the oil is measured at around 100 degrees Celsius or around 210 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature that would be expected within a vehicle.

If it’s not operating, the W on the oil label informs you of how the oil’s thickness is before the engine gets started. The W is a reference to winter. 

In cold weather, the engine begins to run and is not lubricated until the oil is warm and flows. The longer it is required, the more the engine wears out excessively. If it is left for too long, the engine starts to get burned.

Also, a 10W-40 oil, a very popular kind of oil, operates similarly to the SAE 10 oil when cold and an SAE 40 oil when hot. If you only choose the SAE10 oil, you’ll cause the oil to be too thin to safeguard the engine when it is hot. This also causes the engine to wear out too quickly.

conclusion

In the end, you can utilize synthetic oil for your mower’s engine. Check out the user’s manual and purchase the synthetic oil that the manufacturer suggests. You won’t have to change your oil often, and the oil will be more tolerant of your engine.