A lawnmower, a grass cutter, is a machine that uses one or two blades to cut the grass surface to a proper height. A lawnmower uses gasoline as fuel, but does it need engine oil? Yes, it does. Let’s see what kind of oil a lawn mower takes.
There are a lot of engine oils on the market, and for lawn mowers, these following oil types can work best.
- SAE- 30
- SAE 10W- 30
- SAE 5W- 30
- Synthetic SAE 5W-30
- Vanguard 15W-50.
So many types of oils are suggested because each works best at a certain temperature.
First of all, we will see SAE-30. This oil is suited for warmer temperatures, and it is mostly used in small engines. The suitable temperature range for this oil is 4-50 ° C or 40–100 ° F.
Next, SAE 10W- 30 has a wide temperature range, but when the winter starts, it may cause increased consumption of oil. Its temperature range is 18-38 ° C or 0-100 ° F.
SAE 5W-30 is best for cold temperatures. Because of the thin viscosity, it is used in cold temperatures. Now let’s see about the synthetic SAE 5W- 30. It is best for protection at all temperatures, and it also has less oil consumption with an enhanced starting speed.
For commercial or continuous use, Vanguard 15W-50 will be the best option, and it has a temperature range from 20 to above 120 ° F.
From the above, there are five types of engine oils that will be best for a lawnmower. Out of 5, synthetic SAE 5W-30 will be the best choice because it can work smoothly at all temperatures and synthetic oils contain fewer contaminants, so they provide a lower risk of engine sludge. An important note on synthetic oil is that it does need to be changed at regular intervals, like other oils.
Which Oil Should You Use?
It might be really useful for you if you know the meaning behind these oil names. It will help you to pick the right engine oil in the right situation. SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, and ‘W’ in the name stands for winter. 10W-30 means the viscosity of the oils at a cold temperature is 10, and at the hot temperature, it is 30.
We need to note the viscosity of the oil because, in winter or at lower temperatures, if the viscosity is lower, then it will work smoothly, and in hot temperatures, it works smoothly if the viscosity is higher. So make sure to use engine oil with lower viscosity in winter and engine oil with higher viscosity in summer.
The reason for the need for oil is that it helps to lubricate the moving metal parts. If there is no oil in the engine, then it will be spoiled quickly. There are so many perks of using engine oil, like preventing it from rusting, etc.