Spring Lawn Mower Tune-Up Gets Engine Ready, Keeps Equipment Healthy

ENGINE EXPERTS AT BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION OFFER FOUR QUICK TUNE-UP TIPS

News provided by

Mar 30, 2016, 06:00 ET

MILWAUKEE, March 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- It's officially spring, and lawn care is once again top-of-mind for homeowners. The engine experts at Briggs & Stratton Corporation^®want to remind outdoor power equipment owners that taking time to prepare your lawn mower engine prior to the first cut will ensure easy starting and keep equipment running at its peak performance throughout the mowing season.

With four easy steps, an annual engine tune-up can be completed in 30 minutes:

Briggs & Stratton offers four quick lawn mower tune-up tips

Change the oil in the push mower.
Engine oil needs to be changed annually for two reasons. Oil can be vulnerable to dirt and debris, which causes wear on the internal components of the engine. Regular use of the engine also causes the oil to heat up and break down. Changing the oil can prevent engine damage and keep your engine running smoothly.

For easier, less messy oil changes, Briggs & Stratton offers an oil removal pump, which can be purchased online or from certified Briggs & Stratton dealers. Remember, oil must be recycled properly. After removing old oil, be sure to add fresh oil as specified in your operator's manual.
Replace the air filter.
Through regular use, the air filter collects dust and debris to prevent it from polluting the inside of the engine. The air filter must be replaced every three months, or after 25 hours of use for continued engine protection. To determine which air filter your mower needs, reference your operator's manual, search on briggsandstratton.com using the model number of your engine, or contact your local Briggs & Stratton dealer.
Replace the spark plug.
The use of an old spark plug can cause issues when starting your mower. It is important that you change the spark plug at the start of every mowing season, or after 100 hours of use to maintain an easy start every time.
Fill with fresh gasoline, and add fuel treatment & stabilizer.
Homeowners too often forget this very important fourth step of the tune-up process. Gasoline can go stale after as little as 30 days. Stale fuel contributes to gummed-up internal components, which causes hard starting. Additionally, the increase of ethanol-blended fuels (like E10) attracts moisture, which separates from the fuel, leading to rust and corrosion over time. This damage can affect carburetors, fuel lines, and the overall performance of the engine.

To prevent these issues, it's a good rule of thumb to remember: when you fill your gas can, treat your fuel. Briggs & Stratton's proprietary 5-in-1 Advanced Formula Fuel Treatment & Stabilizer is designed to defend against the damaging effects of ethanol and help stabilize fuel for up to three years. The alcohol-free formula also contains a cleaning detergent to help keep the engine's fuel clear of gum and varnish.

About Briggs & Stratton Corporation:
Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the world's largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. Its wholly owned subsidiaries include North America's number one marketer of pressure washers, and it is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of power generation, lawn and garden, turf care and job site products through its Briggs & Stratton^®, Simplicity^®, Snapper^®, Snapper Pro^® Ferris^®, PowerBoss^®, Allmand™, Billy Goat^®, Murray^®, Branco^® and Victa^® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents. For additional information, please visit www.basco.com and www.briggsandstratton.com.