Plants grow best when the sun and temperature are in their favor, and that means grass tends to grow more out of control during the summer months—keeping your lawn trimmed means using your lawnmower more often. To help things go more smoothly, here are a few important maintenance tips for your lawnmower to ensure your machine makes it through the summer growth period.
Change the Oil
The general guideline for replacing your lawnmower’s oil is every 50 hours of work or at least once per year. Using the start of the summer season as a reminder to replace the oil will help keep your mower in good condition. Much like with your vehicle, a well-oiled engine lubricates parts, allowing them to run smoothly and efficiently without grinding together and wearing down.
Replace or Sharpen the Blade
One of the most essential maintenance tips for your lawnmower is to take care of the blade. After all, you won’t get very far with a dull blade. Your mower will cut grass unevenly and often jam the blade causing several frustrations and the need to clean trimmings out of your blade area. Take the time to either sharpen your mower blade or replace it with a brand-new one. Working with a sharper blade makes the process go much faster than cutting grass with a dull edge.
Fuel Stabilizer
If it’s been a while since you last used your lawnmower, over 30 days or so, you may want to drain the fuel from your mower. Stagnant fuel coupled with the hot storage conditions most people keep their lawnmowers in results in varnish and gum build-up that may cause troubles upon start-up.
If there’s only a little bit of fuel left over in your tank at this time, it’s perfectly fine to flush the fuel out and replace it with new, clean gasoline or diesel. However, adding some fuel stabilizer from your local hardware or auto parts store may be the most efficient and cost-effective if you have a full tank. Stabilizers enable you to safely salvage leftover gasoline and clean the system so you don’t need to waste fuel.
