Ready, set, mow: An easy 10-minute lawn mower tuneup

(BPT) – The incredible look of lush, green grass. The feel of soft lawn beneath your toes. The smell of the freshly cut yard on a warm sunny day. A healthy lawn starts with good maintenance and the most important step is mowing. Is your lawn mower ready to go?

A lawn mower is an investment, and if you take a few proactive maintenance steps, you’ll keep it running efficiently all season long. However, research from Briggs & Stratton Corp., the world’s largest manufacturer of small engines for outdoor power equipment, found that only 30 percent of mower owners are performing regular maintenance.

Think lawn mower maintenance is a time-consuming headache? It doesn’t have to be. All it takes is 10 minutes and you’ll give your gas-powered mower the tuneup it needs to run its best and extend its life. Expert tip for before you get started: Disconnect your spark plug wire and leave it disconnected for the entire tuneup.

Step 1: Lube it up

Oil is the lifeblood of the engine, so it’s essential to change it with each passing season. Over time oil gets dirty and can harm the machine components. Be sure to use new oil made specifically for small engines of outdoor power equipment. This will help ensure maximum efficiency and protect the engine.

Wondering what type of oil you need for your mower and how much to use? Access an interactive oil finder tool to help answer those questions and more at www.BRIGGSandSTRATTON.com/oilfinder.

Keep in mind, changing the oil on your mower is faster, easier and less messy when you use an affordable oil removal kit. These kits allow you to easily extract old oil and add new with minimal mess and headache.

And, Briggs & Stratton’s EXi engines never need an oil change — ever, due to Just Check & Add technology. Simply check and add oil as needed.

Step 2: Let the air flow

As you can imagine, lawn mower air filters catch all kinds of dirt and debris while you mow the lawn. Over time, this debris can block the airflow needed for your engine to run well. If you own a walk-style mower, the engine likely has a paper or foam filter.

Pleated paper air filters should always be replaced once visually dirty. If your mower uses a foam filter, you may be able to clean it by hand using dish soap and hot water, allowing it to dry completely before replacing it back in the machine.

Keep in mind, changing the air filter should be done seasonally and is surprisingly simple. Take off the filter cover using a screwdriver if necessary, remove the old filter and replace it with a new one. If your mower uses a foam filter, there are likely extra steps involved, so be sure to check your engine operator’s manual or the new filter box for instructions.

Step 3: Get fresh gas

Did you know that gas can go bad in as few as 30 days? This bad gas can potentially clog the engine’s fuel system, which could lead to your mower not starting and require costly repairs. Adding a fuel treatment like STA-BIL, the official fuel additive for Briggs & Stratton engines, to your red gas can every time you fill it can help prevent this type of damage. Learn more at keepfuelfresh.com.

Once you complete these three simple steps, reconnect the spark plug wire and you’re ready to mow. In just minutes you can tune up your mower and help it work at peak performance so you can mow efficiently and then sit back and enjoy your freshly cut lawn. For easy-to-access instruction, check out www.BRIGGSandSTRATTON.com/askalexa to have Alexa help you with an easy oil change and provide information about which oil to use.