Lawn Mower Maintenance Schedule (Spring, Mid-Season, Winterizing)

Schedule at a glance

How to do it

1. Spring tune-up (do this all in one session):
2. 1. Disconnect the spark plug wire (safety — prevents accidental start).
3. 2. Drain old oil into a container (tip the mower toward the discharge side with the oil cap removed).
4. 3. Add fresh oil — typically SAE 30 for 4-cycle engines (check your manual). Don't overfill.
5. 4. Remove the spark plug with a socket wrench. Inspect — black tip or wet means rich mixture, white means lean.
6. 5. Install a new spark plug, gapped per spec (.030" is typical for push mowers).
7. 6. Remove the air filter housing. Clean foam filters with soapy water, let dry, oil lightly. Replace paper filters.
8. 7. Sharpen the blade — remove with a wrench, sharpen at 30-45° angle with a metal file or grinder. Balance it (must sit flat on a nail through the center hole).
9. Winterizing:
10. 1. Add fuel stabilizer (Sta-Bil) to the fuel tank, run the engine for 5 minutes to circulate.
11. 2. Drain the fuel tank (or run engine dry).
12. 3. Change oil (old oil left over winter degrades and corrodes internals).
13. 4. Clean undercarriage of accumulated grass clippings.
14. 5. Store in a dry place.

Signs you're overdue

• Hard to start (often a bad spark plug or stale fuel)
• Black smoke from the exhaust (rich mixture, dirty air filter, or wrong oil weight)
• Mower stalls in tall grass (dull blade or restricted airflow)
• Cuts grass unevenly or leaves ragged tips (dull or unbalanced blade)
• Engine surges or hunts (carburetor needs cleaning or rebuilding)
• Grass discharge clogs constantly (worn blade or wet conditions)

What it costs

Spring tune-up parts: $20-$35 DIY (oil, spark plug, filter, blade sharpening). Professional tune-up: $80-$150.

FAQ