Dump cold or hot?

[Camprunner]

My father gave me his old push (self propelled) mower it has a B&S 6.75 hp motor and was somewhat taken care of. It has been sitting for about 4 years and I'm sure needed an oil change when put away. Is it better to dump the oil cold or run it to heat it up that will get all the junk sitting on the bottom of the sump suspended then change it? I hate to have all that gunk running threw a hot motor!

Also I have a quart of formula shell 10w40 sitting around is that ok to use?

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Under the circumstances, I would drain cold and refill. Run a good high detergent oil in the engine and drain hot. Refill with a similar oil.

 

[Lolvoguy]

cold and yes

 

[danthaman1980]

Generally I prefer to dump OPE oil when it is hot, to make the job go faster and to make sure I'm getting as much of the old oil out as possible... But I'm generally doing those OCIs annually.

In your case, I'd dump it cold, without starting it up. The 10W-40 Formula Shell will be fine - I'd run the new oil for an hour or two then change it again (hot this time) after the first or second mow.

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: danthaman1980
Generally I prefer to dump OPE oil when it is hot, to make the job go faster and to make sure I'm getting as much of the old oil out as possible... But I'm generally doing those OCIs annually.

In your case, I'd dump it cold, without starting it up. The 10W-40 Formula Shell will be fine - I'd run the new oil for an hour or two then change it again (hot this time) after the first or second mow.


+1 That is a good idea. That way in the end you will have fresh, clean oil. I would also take the time and check out the plug as well.

 

[raytseng]

how easy is it for you to do the job? in terms of do you actually have to turn the mower on its side, or it has a drain or you have an use an extractor or what.

i suggest do whatever makes your life easier. mower won't care. If you have a clean method go warm or hot. If its going to be messy go cold.

also this will be proof that it ran fine when stopped. and if it doesnt start up again you only have yourself to blame, lol

my 2cents is the blade is more important maintenace than the oil. get yourself a new blade and the mower feels like new

 

[69GTX]

Drain cold and flush some extra fluid through it.

I always do mine cold for convenience. At 75-85 deg F ambient temp it flows out quickly. If you want to get more gunk out then flush with a few ounces of fresh oil. It's not like 30c-50c more in oil is going to make any difference. I've never had an engine fail on lubrication. It's always the air/fuel/carb that eventually causes problems. It's the 4 yrs of fuel sitting around that is going to cause you some problems.

 

[Olas]

Drain it cold.

Fill it with diesel and let it sit a could days.

Drain and fill with the oil you have on hand and mow.

Drain and fill and it's good for a couple of years

 

[Linctex]

Hot or cold won't matter. My push mower has had the same sump fill for the last 8 years. I SERIOUSLY doubt there's any foreign material in your oil that you need to lose any sleep over.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted By: Olas

Fill it with diesel and let it sit a could days.


DO NOT FOLLOW THIS ADVICE!! PERIOD!!

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
Under the circumstances, I would drain cold and refill. Run a good high detergent oil in the engine and drain hot. Refill with a similar oil.

I'd do what he said.

 

[901Memphis]

I agree since it's been sitting a long time to drain as a much as you can cold and if you have the time, drain it again hot after you first mow with the fresh oil.

The fresh oil will help remove any old contamination from sitting.

 

[1989outlaw]

Better drain it cold because it most likely will not start anyway without messing with it . Everything will be mixed up from pulling on it

 

[Diesel16]

Originally Posted By: Linctex
Originally Posted By: Olas

Fill it with diesel and let it sit a could days.


DO NOT FOLLOW THIS ADVICE!! PERIOD!!


Why? If you do that it will free up all the sludge in the motor. Then you drain it and add new oil and run that for about a hour and dump it and refill with good oil. That is a old small engine mechanic trick. And it works.