Tune Up Your Mower For A Trouble-Free Mowing Season

Posted: 5/22/2013

A timely tune-up can help your mower keep your lawn looking great all season long.

(NAPSI)--Performing regular engine maintenance is critical to keeping the small engine in a lawn mower running at peak performance. A mower engine tune-up takes about 30 minutes and costs under $12 for the average push mower, according to the engine experts at Briggs & Stratton Corporation, the largest manufacturer of gasoline-powered engines for outdoor power equipment.

How to Tune Up Your Push Mower in Four Easy Steps:

1. Change the mower oil

2. Replace the air filter

3. Replace the spark plug

4. Add fuel preservative to the gasoline

A tune-up on a riding mower may also require replacing the oil and fuel filters. Briggs & Stratton provides small engine tune-up kits that include everything needed to make the task even easier. “Most people who own a walk-behind mower can tune up their mower following simple instructions,” says Synoilva Shaw, with the Briggs & Stratton marketing department. “We’ll even walk homeowners through a tune-up step by step on our website at www.briggsandstratton.com, or they can follow our helpful tune-up schedule.”

Homeowners know the importance of tuning up their lawn mower engine. According to research by Briggs & Stratton, 66 percent of homeowners who purchased a new push mower will perform a tune-up at least once a season. Also, 76 percent of homeowners tune up their engine mower before the season starts. Tuning up is key in extending the life of a mower engine and can reduce emissions by up to 30 percent.

Mower Won’t Start? Try a Tune-up

Shaw points out that difficult starting is the No. 1 problem people report having with their lawn mowers, according to company research. A tune-up could be the answer. “The source of most starting problems is old gasoline—gas goes stale in about 30 days, and the new ethanol-based fuels can be especially problematic,” she notes.

The company warns that certain gasoline blends should never be used in lawn mower engines and other small gas engines. Fuel blends containing more than 10 percent ethanol, like E15 or E85 gasoline, or gasoline containing other alcohol blends can damage small gas engines. Small engine repair required because of the use of these unapproved gasoline blends is not covered under the Briggs & Stratton warranty.

You can buy a mower tune-up kit online or at authorized Briggs & Stratton dealers and home improvement stores. In addition, the company helps homeowners recycle oil from their lawn mower engine through participating Briggs & Stratton dealers nationwide. To date, over 150,000 gallons of used engine oil have been recycled. Used mower engine oil can be dropped off in a closed container. Find a participating dealer at www.recyclemoweroil.com.