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re: too much oil?

15 years ago

Hello all, newbie here -

I've always used a Reel mower, bought my first gas powered mower this year. It's a Poulan side discharge/mulcher. Briggs & Stratton engine. I've only used it about 4 times. I checked the gas and oil the other day before starting to cut, oil was low ( yes I know how to read a dipstick) so I added some. Still read low, added some more, still read low. So like a bonehead I kept adding oil. Now of course the dipstick is reading up at the Caution Do Not Overfill area. And it won't start. So has oil gotten into the engine and have I ruined my new mower? I was thinking of taking a turkey baster and sucking out some oil until it reads at a normal level. I don't really want to turn the mower over and try to drain it.

I appreciate any advice and no laughing out loud!

Thanks,

Jan

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Comments (8)

walt2002
15 years ago
"have I ruined my new mower?"

No.

"I was thinking of taking a turkey baster and sucking out some oil until it reads at a normal level."

Well that would work but don't know how you are going to clean out your Turkey Baster.

Walt Conner
mowernoob
15 years ago
The turkey baster should work fine, just don't take it back in the kitchen. Once you get the oil to the proper level, remove the spark plug and pull the start rope a couple times to make sure most of the oil is pushed out of the combustion chamber. Reinstall the sparkplug and try to start it, make sure you are out in the yard or driveway as it will probably smoke for a minute or two.
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john_
15 years ago
Just tip on it's side with a container in hand until oil drains out the fill tube, little at a time until the level looks good.
bill_kapaun
15 years ago
"I don't really want to turn the mower over and try to drain it."

What method do you use when you change the oil?
walt2002
15 years ago
"What method do you use when you change the oil?"

Right, drain a little this way AND make sure your oil level isn't high because the float needle stuck leaking gasoline into cylinder contaminating oil.

Check each time before running.

Walt Conner
tabbymom
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks everybody for your replies.

"What method do you use when you change the oil?"
Haven't had to change the oil yet, just got the mower. This is only about the 4th time I've used it.

"Just tip on it's side with a container in hand until oil drains out the fill tube, little at a time until the level looks good."

I thought about that but the guy at the store where I bought it said not to do that, it would hurt the mower.

I'll try the turkey baster idea. Thanks for the tip about the spark plug. Like I said earlier, I've always used a push/reel mower, never had to deal with these peksy engines.

Thanks again everybody!
otterhead
15 years ago
"the guy at the store....said not to do that, it would hurt the mower"

?!?!?!?

He is obviously a moron.
walt2002
15 years ago
Well he could be protecting his --- in case mower was turned the wrong way, got oil in air cleaner or into cylinder.

It has to have an owner's manual, owner's manual is bound to tell how to drain oil.

Walt Conner

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