I would appreciate any advice about my 11 yr old Weedeater lawnmower. This is a basic gasoline human-propelled mower. It has a Briggs & Stratton Quattro 4HP engine. I change spark plug annually, and oil and air filter change before and mid-way during mowing season. I use B&S 20 oz. 30W motor oil since I like the convenience of the 20 oz bottle, but it's pricey and I should be doing something else. My concern is that I have noticed more oil consumption this last season. I have to add about an ounce before each mow. (Maybe that's not excessive; I don't know.) I don't know anything about small engines, and don't really want to pay much for any repair, yet I like this mower. I have several 20 inch blades that I keep sharp, and it's hard to find 20 inch mowers anymore. (I like the small mower since my lot is relatively small.) Should I just look for a heavier 30W oil? Thanks.
11 yr old lawnmower
- Thread starter RustyH
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I would probably run a mix of MMO and HDEO 15w40 for a couple of hours and then dump and fill with 30w. If that doesn't stop consumption it's time to move to a 40w.
Its either its worn out, and needs a heavier oil (15w-40) or the breather could be worn out (it happens sometimes, and its a cheap replacement anyway) You are right, 20 inchers are getting harder to find. Whens the last time the head was taken off, and the carbon removed? Don't try to unless the yards already cut, and you have a new head gasket already to go on. And for measuring, keep one of the 20 ounce bottles, and fill it up with whatever other oil you choose. You can't go too wrong with a flush with mmo, may have a stuck oiling ring, but don't run it too long... I've done it before on a 4hp max series briggs (long stopped being made) had sat outside for years with the old sludgy oil in it, comes out clear as water when using 10w-40 havoline, its even hard to tell where its at on the dipstick. If your looking for a good oil though, just run 15w40 anyway.
I have a Murray w/ 3.5hp B&S from the late '80's I think. My grass is not very thick, so it works fine.
It was sitting in storage for YEARS until I got ahold of it.
It runs fine now with new plug and some TLC.
RustyH, you should decarbonize the combustion chambers and clean the carb with SeaFoam DeepCreep Aerosol. It helped my mower out.
You should also try Valvoline Maxlife Syn 10-30 or 10-40. I have some left over from last year's AZ sale, and my mower does not use any oil between drain/refill's with it. Maxlife (dino and Syn) are supposedly on the "heavy side".
If you are already paying about $3-4 for 20oz of B&S oil, pay $5 for 32oz of the ValMaxSyn and give it a try.
Good luck.
It was sitting in storage for YEARS until I got ahold of it.
It runs fine now with new plug and some TLC.
RustyH, you should decarbonize the combustion chambers and clean the carb with SeaFoam DeepCreep Aerosol. It helped my mower out.
You should also try Valvoline Maxlife Syn 10-30 or 10-40. I have some left over from last year's AZ sale, and my mower does not use any oil between drain/refill's with it. Maxlife (dino and Syn) are supposedly on the "heavy side".
If you are already paying about $3-4 for 20oz of B&S oil, pay $5 for 32oz of the ValMaxSyn and give it a try.
Good luck.
Hope I don't get shot for this, but my mowers get whatever I have leftover from my cars...with that being said, those B&S engines simply run forever. Even if it is burning a little oil and not smoking out your neighbors, so what? Just check it prior to each cut, add if needed, and then cut on! Your rings may be showing some age, but so? You wouldn't trade your car in if it started using a little oil now would you????
Why tear it down first? Save yourself a headache and try some MMO...
MMO would take a long time to remove carbon, It would be a very good idea and might I add quick and easy, to take the head off (make sure you have a new head gasket) and scrap all that you can off, then use MMO in the gas, I've noticed after one season, and popping the head off my old trusty 3.5 again, the piston was brown, yet you couldn't see any carbon, back of the intake valve was clean, as well as the head got a little cleaner... Yes MMO (marvel mystery oil) can be found at walmart in the 32 ounce quart bottles pretty cheap.
I would say to start with a fill of a 15w40 HDEO. If the consumption stops and you would like to use a syn I say go for Mobil 1 TD 5W-40. I would and do run a fuel system cleaner and a light ratio of a two stroke oil in the fuel. I say 100:1 or so. It could be that the breather is stuck open. I have had that happen once.
KC
KC
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