Best Oil for Lawn Mower to Protect Your Mowing Equipment

One of the essential tasks when it comes to maintaining your lawn mower engine is regular oil changes – this will ensure that the machine’s always working properly.

If you’re aiming to have the best-looking garden and lawn on your block, you need to have the lawn mower blades sharp and balanced plus, use a high-quality oil to make sure the engine runs without any issues.

Although you might feel that your lawnmower is just another piece of garden equipment that doesn’t require too much attention – you must ensure you do all the necessary things to prolong its life as well as the look of your landscape.

Gardener Oiling Lawn Mower in a Green Lawn

There are various types of lawn mowers that have different motors so it’s important to use a suitable type of oil for the best performance.

Below, you can read some of our recommendations on which is the best oil for lawn mower sold on Amazon.

Enjoy!

Top Pick

Briggs & Stratton SAE 30 30W Engine Oil - 48 Oz. 100028

Our top pick oil for lawn mower is the Briggs & Stratton 30W oil. This product is made in the USA and is ideal for use in warm temperatures. The brand is a recognized oil maker, loved among gardeners and lawn mower enthusiasts.

You should never compromise when it comes to the quality of the oil you use in your lawn mower that’s why this product is the perfect choice to help you prolong the life of your machine.

Budget Pick

Lawn-Boy 89930 2-Cycle 32:1 Ashless Engine Oil, 8-Ounce Bottle

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, check out the Lawn-Boy 8-ounce bottle. This oil is made to endure high operating temperatures and thanks to the special additives it’ll keep the engine clean and free of deposit accumulation.

You can be certain to improve the work and life span of the lawn mower with this product, plus the offer is a great value for money and this is a great choice for 2-cycle engine lawn mowers.

What Types of Oil For Lawn Mower Are There?

As you noticed in our review, there are different types of oils for lawn mowers and they usually fit different types of engines.

More so, you can use even motor oils to fuel up your lawn mowers, since they’re made in the same manner and can work well with smaller engines like these.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, we suggest using specialized lawn mower oil to get the best performance from your equipment and keep it in a good shape throughout the year, even during the idle season.

Below, you can review some of the types of oil and the climates they’re used in. This list can give you a better understanding of what to buy.

  • SAE 30 is designed for warmer climates and is one of the most commonly used motor oils for lawn mowers and other small engines.
  • SAE 10W 30 gives the best performance in places where the climate and temperature vary and it works great for cold starting, although it can increase the overall consumption of oil.
  • SAE 5W 30 synthetic oil is also good for cold start and doesn’t give a great oil consumption level.
  • SAE 5W semi-synthetic is best used for extreme cold climate.

What are the Main Features to Check for?

Some of the most important features to check when buying any type of oil are viscosity and quantity.

  • Viscosity is used to define the thickness of any flued as well as the ability to flow. For instance, if the oil is with high viscosity in cold temperatures it can get even thicker and when hot become thinner. Also, the fluidity variation can influence the engine lubrication – the more the oil can flow, the better the lubrication will be since it can reach even the smallest parts of the engine. On the other hand, thick oils can’t reach the small parts fast however, once they do, they’ll keep the parts lubricated for longer. In the end, it all comes down to the type of climate you live in.
  • Quantity is another factor to consider when purchasing fuel for your lawn mower. Make sure you purchase the needed amount to be able to fill up the mower and you don’t have any oil leftover or not enough.

When’s the Best Time to Change the Lawn Mower Oil?

This depends on the different specifications and characteristics shared by the lawn mower manufacturer. Some engines are designed in a way that doesn’t require any oil change. To save yourself from trouble, make sure you refer to the instruction manual to find the proper answer. Ideally, you can change the oil at least once every season.

How to Check Oil Level?

Checking the oil level in your mower is a task that you must do regularly to ensure there’s always enough oil for the mower to run properly. There are some steps you need to do in order to check the level:

  • With slight pressure remove the dipstick cup, clean it and then put it back in and make sure you lock it.
  • Then, again remove the cap and check the oil level.

How to Remove Old Oil From Lawn Mower?

It’s always a good idea to remove old oil from the lawn mower and there are certain tips & tricks you can use to do this the right way.

First, you need to find a good location where you want to dispose of the old oil, and this has to be far away from the garden, grass and other vegetation to avoid any mishaps and spillages. Potentially, the best place to do this is a paved area of your yard – make sure you also cover this area with papers to avoid any drops staining the concrete.

Once you’ve found the location, make sure the engine is cold before you start the draining and to be entirely safe make sure you wear protective gloves to avoid burning yourself.

For the actual draining, you can use an oil drain or a siphon pump and after turning the plug on the lawn mower counterclockwise, the oil will start draining in your collection device.

When draining oil from any type of motor, you must ensure to dispose of it in an eco-friendly manner. Never dump the oil in your garbage bin or drain; there are some special dealerships, centers, or gas stations that assist with oil disposal.

What’s The Right Amount of Oil?

Depending on the size of your lawn mower you can understand how much oil you need to use. To make this easier, we can divide the lawn mowers into walk-behind mowers whose capacity ranges between 15oz and 18oz and riding mowers that have a bigger capacity ranging between 48oz and 64 oz.

Additionally, you can always refer to the instruction manual for the lawn mower and make sure you understand the right size.

Adding the right amount of oil is important because if you add too much the engine might start exhausting gray or white smoke – this means it’s time to change the oil and add the right amount.

Excess oil can cause difficulties with starting and lower the performance of your mower – this can ruin a well-planned Sunday morning of grass mowing.

Oil for Lawn Mower Reviews

1. Briggs & Stratton Lawn Mower Oil

Highlighted Features

  • USA product
  • Formula for warm weather
  • 4-cycle engine suitable
  • High-quality
  • Great bottle size

One of the first benefits that can be noticed with this product is the fact that it comes at a very affordable price in relation to the size you get – especially when compared with buying small 6-pack bottles.

Briggs & Stratton is a brand that has a good reputation on the market, so you can be confident to use this oil. Although some of their products are a bit on the expensive end, you can still find they’re well worth it.

Using high-quality oil for your lawn mower can help extend the life of the mower and this is one aspect of equipment upkeep that you shouldn’t compromise on.

Some of the things you can do to take care of your mower engine are to check the oil levels regularly, don’t overfill, and use quality products.

2. STP Oil Formula Lawn Mower Oil

Highlighted Features

  • High-quality base
  • Friction protection
  • Anti-wear technology
  • Contains antioxidants
  • Corrosion inhibitor

If you want premium protection for your lawn mower upkeep, then this STP oil formula is the best choice – it’s designed to provide the ideal engine lubrication as well as reduce engine wear and tear.

Moreover, it contains a corrosion inhibitor that can help improve the shelf life of the equipment during the idle season. Thanks to the high quality, the oil can help reduce friction and manage the viscosity of the oil.

Also, it contains detergents that help maintain all the engine parts clean and free from carbon deposits.

This is a universal oil and can be used for your riding or push mowers, snow blowers, generators, and different 4-cycle small engines – don’t forget to refer to the user manual when using any type of oil and gardening equipment.

3. 5-Quart Motor Oil by Castrol

Highlighted Features

  • Engine sludge protection
  • Thermal breakdown & viscosity protection
  • Premium quality
  • Anti-wear additives
  • Reduced oil consumption

In order to get the best out of your lawn mowing equipment, always refer to the instruction manual and the recommendations that come directly from the manufacturer.

This motor oil by Castrol can provide you with great protection against sludge which is measured with the VG Sludge test sequence and you’ll receive great protection against thermal breakdown and viscosity.

Engine sludge can be dangerous for the mower because it blocks the engine’s essential oilways and can reduce the strength and damage the engine completely if left untreated. This oil contains a double-action formula that helps remove old sludge residue and reduces the creation of new sludge layers.

4. Honda Lawn Mower Motor Oil

Highlighted Features

  • Genuine OEM honda part
  • 2 bottles
  • High-quality
  • Prolongs engine life
  • Anti-wear
  •  

If you’re a Honda engine fan, you’ll love using this oil because it’s far superior to any other motor oils used for small engines.

According to experienced gardeners, this is a trustworthy product because it prolongs the life of the motor and mower in general.

This isn’t a synthetic oil, because in accordance with Honda’s manufacturing rules the suitable oils are petroleum-based and they serve as a lubricant – thus, all the oils they sell have to comply with the requirements at hand.

You can get most of the Honda oil if you use it based on the manual instructions and change it within the recommended times.

5. Ashless Engine Oil by Lawn-Boy

Highlighted Features

  • High temperature resistant
  • Prevent engine buildup
  • Easy mixing
  • All-in-one formula
  • Toro & Lawn-boy 2-cycle

This Lawn-boy ashless engine motor oil is formulated to survive even when working with high temperatures and 2-cycle engines. Thanks to the included special additives you can be certain that the motor will be clean, and you won’t experience any engine deposits accumulation.

In the long run, this can help prolong the life of the motor and maintain its power. The powerful and special formula can be easily mixed no matter what the weather conditions are – plus, the formula includes a fuel stabilizer that can help start the engine much smoother.

This manufacturer offers a premeasured container that can help understand how much oil you used up and how much you have left. It’s suitable for lawn-boy and toro 2-cycle engines.

6. Toro Lawn Mower Oil

Highlighted Features

  • Genuine OEM Toro
  • Tested & approved
  • Reduced molecular shearing
  • Prolongs engine life
  • High-quality

If you need a genuine OEM Toro oil, then this 18-ounces bottle can help you improve the overall performance of your Toro lawn mower. Since the oil has been made to provide the best results you can be certain that all strict requirements have been met and the testing has been done on hundreds of engines.

Furthermore, the oil can reduce molecular shaving and provide a long life. Also, if you’re not ready to pay for expensive mower servicing, you can do it yourself and this oil can help you in the process.

This product offers great value because it’s much cheaper than some options sold in stores – you can use it and dispense easily.

Your lawn mower will be running with efficient power for years and years to come when paired with this amazing product.

7. Husqvarna 32-ounces Mower Engine Oil

Highlighted Features

  • 4-cycle engine
  • Exceeds API SJ specs
  • High-temperature protection
  • Reduces wear & tear
  • High-quality

This Husqvarna 32-ounce engine oil is a premium formula made to fit different 4-cycle engines; this makes it ideal for any walk behind lawn mowers and thanks to the great protection from high temperatures it’ll keep the engine safe.

Additionally, it helps minimize the scuffing and engine wear and tear. To get the most out of the oil make sure you follow the instruction manual.

One of the great features of this Husqvarna oil is the fact it exceeds the different API SJ specifications which guarantee top-quality protection for your precious lawn mower engine.

8. John Deere Turf-Gard Lawn Mower Oil

Highlighted Features

  • 4-cycle oil
  • Gas engine exclusive
  • Max protection
  • 2-quart bottle
  • Great quality
  •  

John Deere’s turf-gard oil works great with 4-cycle type engines and it offers max protection for both the garden and the equipment you’re using.

This product is exclusive for gas engines and the offer with 2 quarts bottles is a great value for money when compared to other products of its category.

According to satisfied gardeners, this oil can fill up your lawn mower gas container and you’ll have some leftover for next time – it’s exactly what you need for cutting the fast-growing lawn grass.

This is a conventional regular oil blend that contains additives that provide continuous protection and lubrication.

9. Alamia Lawn Mower Oil

Highlighted Features

  • GenuineHonda OEM
  • Air filter
  • Spark plug
  • 12-oz engine oil
  • Great quality

This great product by Alamia offers a few great items in one – for an amazing, affordable price you can get genuine Honda OEM parts, spark plug, engine oil, air filter, and tune-up kit.

You should have in mind that the amount of oil that comes in this package might be enough for one fill however, the spark plug is a handy tool to have around your garden. It can have different sizes depending on what they’re used for.

Also, there are some locations where it’s difficult to find Honda part and the convenience of ordering online which this product offers are helpful.

Last but not least, the shipping is fast, and it fits Honda lawnmowers perfectly.

10. Pennzoil Lawn Mower Oil

Highlighted Features

  • Full synthetic
  • Fuel economy
  • Wear & tear protection
  • 1-quart bottle
  • Low-temperature oil flow

This Pennzoil platinum motor oil is a full synthetic oil prepared from natural gas through the PurePlus technology.

Additionally, you can be certain to save fuel and get even 550 miles/year on average more run time. When compared to other synthetic blends, this oil offers much better friction and wear protection.

The advanced formula helps with the oil flow in low or extremely hot temperatures – you need the proper lubrication for the fuel to flow quickly and lubricate different engine parts.

Thanks to horsepower protection, you can be sure that the engine won’t lose power and it’ll be protected from deposit formation.

Final Thoughts

Our extensive list of oil recommendations and tips on how to get most of the lawn mower oil can help with your everyday gardening activities.

Changing the engine oil is an important task and must be taken seriously from several aspects – ensure engine longevity, keep the environment and yourself safe.

On our list you can definitely find the right choice for you – the recommendations for the best oil for lawn mower vary in both pricing and type so there’s something for everyone.

Our first suggestion is the Briggs & Stratton lawn mower oil which works great in higher temperatures. It has great quality and can help you maintain your lawn mower in a great state throughout the year, especially in idle season.

If you want to get something less expensive, but with good quality then the Lawn-Boy lawn mower oil is the perfect choice for you. It contains detergent additives that help keep the engine clean and free from debris. You’ll see the benefits after the first use.

Happy Gardening!

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