Have had lawn mower for a year now and going to change oil, its a briggs &
stratton machine, 2 stroke. What type of oil do I use as I have plenty of
20/50 that I use for motorbikes, should I use a special one for the mower?

thanks

"Scudo" wrote in message
o.uk...
Have had lawn mower for a year now and going to change oil,
Do you mean "change the oil" or mean "select another brand of oil to use"?

its a briggs &
stratton machine, 2 stroke.
You usually do NOT "change the oil" in 2 cycle motors. You either mix the
oil with the gas or add 2-cycle oil to a reservoir. There is no crankcase
(containing oil) for you to change.

What type of oil do I use as I have plenty of
20/50 that I use for motorbikes, should I use a special one for the mower?
Uhm yeah, maybe some 2-CYCLE OIL should be used? You think?

thanks
Don't mention it

Another good question is why anyone still makes two cycle lawn mowers.
Or why anyone would buy one. Pollution from home equipment like this
is under scrutiny and two cycle engines are much dirtier than 4 cycle.
Plus you have the pain of constantly mixing gas. And for what? To
save a little weight?

I didn't know Briggs made a 2 stroke. I have been working on small
engines for years and never seen one.

Mel & Donnie down in Bluebird Valley In the middle of beautiful down
town Yountsville. Managers of the water works.

I am based in the UK and yes I agree about the pollution but was all I could
afford at the time and to be honest I couldn`t have told you when I bought
it that it was 2 or 4 stroke, I have (last year) got rid of my 2 stroke
hedge trimmer as that was going to choke me to death, I replaced with
electric. Possibly they don`t make it but sub contract and stick their name
on it...I dunno

The lawnmower is just a small hand push thing not one of those super duper
sit on ones.


"Mel-Donnie Kelly" wrote in message
...
I didn't know Briggs made a 2 stroke. I have been working on small
engines for years and never seen one.

Mel & Donnie down in Bluebird Valley In the middle of beautiful down
town Yountsville. Managers of the water works.

"Scudo" wrote:
I am based in the UK and yes I agree about the pollution but was all I
could afford at the time and to be honest I couldn`t have told you when I
bought it that it was 2 or 4 stroke, I have (last year) got rid of my 2
stroke hedge trimmer as that was going to choke me to death, I replaced
with electric. Possibly they don`t make it but sub contract and stick
their name on it...I dunno

The lawnmower is just a small hand push thing not one of those super
duper sit on ones.

Do you understand the two cycle oiling concept? Crankcase oil changes are
for four cycle lawnmower engines. The two cycle engine gets its lubrication
from the oil you add to the fuel.

Thanks steveo,
just though it may have turned slightly acidic with heat from the engine
and age.

I do realise what you are saying though.

"Steveo" wrote in message
...
"Scudo" wrote:
I am based in the UK and yes I agree about the pollution but was all I
could afford at the time and to be honest I couldn`t have told you when
I
bought it that it was 2 or 4 stroke, I have (last year) got rid of my 2
stroke hedge trimmer as that was going to choke me to death, I replaced
with electric. Possibly they don`t make it but sub contract and stick
their name on it...I dunno

The lawnmower is just a small hand push thing not one of those super
duper sit on ones.

Do you understand the two cycle oiling concept? Crankcase oil changes are
for four cycle lawnmower engines. The two cycle engine gets its
lubrication
from the oil you add to the fuel.

"Thanks steveo,
just though it may have turned slightly acidic with heat from the
engine
and age.

I do realise what you are saying though. "


Apparently not, because this makes no sense either.

"Apparently not, because this makes no sense either."

In 4 stroke engines the heat generated causes a breakdown of the chemical
composition and makes the oil more chemically acidic when compared to fresh
oil, this oil if left for a period of time can have a corrosive effect on
the metal parts of an engine. This is the main reason why any vehicle that
has seasonal usage only should have an oil change before it is stored and
not left in the vehicle over a long period with the old oil and then changed
at the start of the season.

With that in mind and the fact I only use the (2 stroke) lawn mower for 4
months of the year, I was reckoning that to a lesser degree the above may
apply.

I have no wish to continue with this thread so any replies will be
unanswered.

regards
Scudo


wrote in message
oups.com...
"Thanks steveo,
just though it may have turned slightly acidic with heat from the
engine
and age.

I do realise what you are saying though. "


Apparently not, because this makes no sense either.

" have no wish to continue with this thread so any replies will be
unanswered.
regards
Scudo "

What a pity. We were all waiting to here how you were going to change
the oil in a two stroke engine that doesn't have any oil to change.

"Scudo" wrote in message
.uk...
Thanks steveo,
just though it may have turned slightly acidic with heat from the engine
and age.

If you are looking at oil that "may have turned slightly acidic" it's NOT a
two stroke.

Are you sure you're not looking inside your barbeque grill?

^^

"Scudo" was pretty close when he stated;

In 4 stroke engines the heat generated causes a breakdown of the chemical
composition and makes the oil more chemically acidic when compared to
fresh
oil,
Not entirely true- it's the impurities and contaminates (due to incomplete
combustion) that cause the acidic buildup. Heat causes the lubrication
properties of the oil to breakdown which gradually increases wear in the
motor (but does NOT add impurities).


this oil if left for a period of time can have a corrosive effect on
the metal parts of an engine.
Agreed.


This is the main reason why any vehicle that
has seasonal usage only should have an oil change before it is stored and
not left in the vehicle over a long period with the old oil and then
changed
at the start of the season.
Agreed.


With that in mind and the fact I only use the (2 stroke) lawn mower for 4
months of the year, I was reckoning that to a lesser degree the above may
apply.
How can it apply to oil that has NOT been exposed to combustion? If the
two-stroke oil had been exposed to combustion, it would have come out the
exhaust and you'd not have a problem!

There are other problems that should be addressed before that- such as the
tendency of gasoline to become 'gummy' after sitting for a period of time,
proper corrosion prevention, etc.


I have no wish to continue with this thread
So.

so any replies will be
unanswered.
Like you were providing good answers previously?

^^

As this is likely a 4 cycle B&S engine, 30W for summer use will work fine,
while 10W-30 is better for colder weather. There are 2 cycles, such as
motorcycles that do have a crankcase which requires oil changes as well as
require a fuel/oil mix.
"Scudo" wrote in message
o.uk...
Have had lawn mower for a year now and going to change oil, its a briggs &
stratton machine, 2 stroke. What type of oil do I use as I have plenty of
20/50 that I use for motorbikes, should I use a special one for the mower?

thanks

Thanks for the information Frank
appreciated


"Frank Knight" wrote in message
link.net...
As this is likely a 4 cycle B&S engine, 30W for summer use will work fine,
while 10W-30 is better for colder weather. There are 2 cycles, such as
motorcycles that do have a crankcase which requires oil changes as well as
require a fuel/oil mix.
"Scudo" wrote in message
o.uk...
Have had lawn mower for a year now and going to change oil, its a briggs
&
stratton machine, 2 stroke. What type of oil do I use as I have plenty
of
20/50 that I use for motorbikes, should I use a special one for the
mower?

thanks

"Thanks for the information Frank
appreciated "

It just gets better with every post. I thought you left us with your
last post? But, your back! And now Mr I need to change the oil in my
2 cycle mower and I'm sure that's what I have, is thanking Frank for
telling him he has a 4 cycle engine? What's up with that? And who
would be stupid enough to be asking what kind of oil to use in a mower
they own? Unless it fell off the turnip truck, it surely came with a
manual. And even if did fall off a truck, you can find a manual
online. In other words, RTFM!