How To Oil A Foam Air Filter

Your air filter is super important in ensuring your gas mower runs smoothly. Information technology'south in that location to allow the correct amount of air into the engine, without too letting in dirt and crud that could impair its performance and potentially cause long-term impairment.

Then if yours is absolutely soaked in oil, you can probably judge that it's not going to do its job correct, and that information technology'due south not something you can just leave to "wait and see what happens". Things are not going to improve. In fact, it'due south quite likely that your mower is not going to run at all until you accept action.

A lawn mower air filter soaked in oil will take to exist removed and and then replaced with a new i 95% of the fourth dimension. With foam filters, information technology might be possible to clean it.

Lawn Mower Air Filter is Soaked in Oil

Backyard Mower Air Filter Soaked in Oil: Here's What to Do

Before we get into the weeds, I volition but say that you shouldn't freak out if yous detect your air filter is soaked in oil. Aye, it is a bit of a mess. Simply your mower is not ruined, and it really is quite an like shooting fish in a barrel and affordable set up. Here's what you're going to want to do:

Safety First – Always

Whatsoever time yous're doing some maintenance on your mower, y'all should ever take certain precautions. Here'southward what I recommend:

If you've been using it, let it cool down – laying your easily on a mower if the engine is however hot from running is a bad thought. Leave it outside for a few minutes and allow it cool off before you starting time work.
Disconnect spark plug – This is so important and might salve your fingers someday. As long as the spark plug is connected, there's e'er a gamble the mower could fire up. It shouldn't, but in theory, it's possible. Go far impossible by disconnecting the spark plug now.
Wear gloves – This isn't an absolute must, simply when I'chiliad going to come into contact with any chemical – oil, gasoline, etc – I prefer to put some thin protective gloves on. Latex gloves work well.

Now…Dealing with that Oil Soaked Filter

Air filters in lawn mowers are not yet. They vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, only in full general, at that place are two main types. And the steps you should take do depend somewhat on which type of filter your mower uses.

Dealing with an Oil Soaked Paper Filter

Paper Air Filters

If you're dealing with a newspaper filter, information technology's simple. You have just 1 choice – to replace it. There's no manner yous're cleaning a paper lawn mower air filter soaked in oil. Don't even attempt. You probably take more chance of digging to the earth's cadre with a shovel.

If you lot have some replacement filters on hand, great. If non, you're going to accept to get some. I'd always recommend going with the manufacturer-specific ones as opposed to the "universal" ones that are sold. They generally work better IMO.

While you lot don't need to do anything to the filter itself other than fit information technology, y'all are going to desire to make clean any oil from the casing. You're probably going to want to remove the air filter housing and remove any oil from the carburetor opening too. Become sometimes, even when you supercede the filter, your mower won't start. And it's normally because oil is blocking the carburetor. If you spray a bit of carburetor cleaner into the throat of the carburetor, and so attempt to get your mower going, this will often clear the rest. Don't be alarmed if you encounter black fume coming out of the mower for a while. That's just the oil remainder being burnt off.

Foam Air Filters

There'south a small chance – and information technology is a small run a risk – that you might be able to relieve your filter if it'southward made from foam. It actually depends on how bad the situation is.

But to not exist wasteful, it'southward ever worth trying to make clean a foam filter that's soaked in oil earlier you moving ridge the white flag and go out and buy a new one.

The procedure is super elementary.

Knock off any debris. This will be difficult if it's super soaked, but if you haven't changed/cleaned your filter for some time, in that location'south likely going to be a buildup of debris on the elevation side of the filter. Knock this off while you lot're still outside, or into a garbage bin.
Take it to the sink. At present you lot're going to want to accept the filter to a sink and you're doing to utilise some good old hot h2o and dishwashing liquid. Give it a thorough make clean, trying to become all of the oil off. If you manage to do that, rinse it to remove all of the lather.
Clasp out all of the wet. One time you're done cleaning, give the filter a really skilful squeeze to drain as much of the moisture out every bit possible. On the terminal clasp, it tin exist helpful to wrap it in some paper towel, as this helps soak up fifty-fifty more of the h2o.
Leave it in the dominicus. At present information technology'due south simply a waiting game. You lot need to permit the filter completely dry. And the best way to do this is to leave information technology in the sun.

If you do all of this and it comes out clean – y'all're aureate. Y'all tin can now but add together some oil to the filter (yeah – kind of ironic given the topic we're roofing here, but foam filters practise need to accept a small amount of oil soaked into them), reseat it back into its casing, supersede the embrace and y'all're good to go.

If you attempt to clean your air filter, but the oil just isn't coming out and it remains clogged, you're going to want to source a replacement (as with paper filters, I would advise you to go with a manufacturer-specific ane if yous tin), clean out the casing and fit the new filter.

Other Things to Cheque If Your Air Filter is Clogged with Oil

If you remedy the oil soaked air filter, but you lot still have issues with starting your mower afterward, there are a few other things you can cheque. I would advise you to do these things anyhow to be honest, since it's possible other parts of your mower might have been compromised, especially if you determine the cause of your oil trouble equally being your mower was tipped on the wrong side.

Check the condition of your spark plug if you have oil on your air filter

Spark Plug

If the combustion chamber is flooded with oil and/or gas, it's possible that the spark plug may be contaminated. Y'all're going to want to remove it and give it a quick clean with a soft wire brush, And do make sure you employ a soft brush, as harder wire brushes may harm the porcelain insulator around the electrode. And that wouldn't exist very clever!

Afterward you're done cleaning it, go out it to air dry before replacing it.

Carburetor

The other fairly common reason why your lawn mower might not start afterward an oil problem is that oil is either completely or partially blocking the carburetor. Y'all're going to need to endeavour and remedy that.

There's an easy/lazy way (which I touched on a scrap earlier) so a harder/more involved way. If you're similar me, you'll probably try the lazy mode outset and then become for the other option only if necessary.

Okay, and then yous're going to demand some carb cleaner for this. All yous're going to do is spray some of this in the throat of the carburetor, and so y'all're going to try to start your mower. If you can become it started, this will usually clear the rest. It might not run as smoothly for a few minutes, but should sort itself out the longer you run it.

If this doesn't work, you lot're going to need to remove the carb to requite it a more thorough cleaning. This is definitely more involved, and if you're not someone that likes to play around with these sorts of things, you might want to inquire someone with a bit more noesis/experience.

Almost Common Causes of a Lawn Mower Air Filter Soaked in Oil

In that location are a few different potential reasons why you might notice yourself staring down at a backyard mower air filter soaked in oil. Nosotros're going to run through them speedily below.

Turning Your Mower on the Wrong Side

This might be a revelation to some of you, merely there is in fact a correct way and a wrong way to tip your backyard mower. And an oil soaked air filter is what tin can happen if you tip your mower the wrong way. It's a mistake that I encounter time and time again, particularly amid those that don't have likewise much experience with mowing the backyard. They tip their mower over to tighten/sharpen/change their blade, and halfway through discover a messy surprise.

The position of the air filter can vary depending on the make and model of mower that you have. Only when you tip it on its side, the air filter should ever be pointing upwards. If it'south pointing downward, you lot've got the gas and oil up in the air, and gravity is going to do the rest.

Mowing on Extremely Sloped Country

At present this doesn't happen often and won't apply to almost people, only I have heard of information technology being responsible for oil leaks in mowers, so idea I'd mention information technology. If you have grassy slopes to mow that have a pretty steep gradient, it'due south possible that while yous're mowing, the angle the mower is positioned at can cause oil to motility out of the crankcase (by our good friend "gravity" once more) and get-go to make its journey toward the air filter.

Y'all Put Likewise Much Oil in Your Mower

Most residential mowers don't require huge quantities of oil. The crankcases are generally pretty small. Simply if you overfill information technology manner past the recommended level, the chances of oil spilling out of the crankcase are MUCH higher. Information technology'll usually get equally far as the cylinder, and you'll run into some black smoke (quite an alarming sight), but sometimes it might go as far as the carburetor and air filter (if you overfilled information technology to a stupid level).

Check if you've put too much oil in your mower

So whenever y'all're adding oil to your mower, add together very pocket-size amounts and use the dipstick to measure the current level. Continue calculation small amounts until it's within the range that is recommended by the manufacturer.

Internal Engine Problems

If yous rule out the other causes I've mentioned, then this could potentially be the reason why your air filter is soaked with oil, particularly if your mower is quite old. A blown head gasket, damaged cylinder or worn cylinder rings are all potentials causes of oil traveling a path it should not and reaching the air filter.

If this is the example, unless y'all have considerable knowledge and experience with pocket-sized engine repair, you're going to demand the aid of a specialist to repair and reconstruct the engine. Depending on how much your mower is worth, it may actually be more financially viable to just buy a brand new mower, as engine repair can be expensive.

I Can Encounter A Bit of Oil in My Filter: Should I be Worried?

Paper filters shouldn't really always have any oil on them. Simply if your mower has a cream air filter, you should exist aware that a light coating of oil is completely normal. In fact, it'due south necessary. Information technology'southward actually this oil that prevents grit and dirt from passing right through it.

It'south too fairly mutual that this type of air filter can get oilier over fourth dimension, and that's why you need to periodically remove and clean your filter to restore information technology to its optimum condition.

All I'm saying hither is, don't freak out if yous notice your foam air filter is slightly oily. It'south supposed to be.

Prevent a Lawn Mower Air Filter Soaked in Oil: A Few Final Tips

To wrap this mail upwardly, let's very speedily summarize the main things you tin can do to prevent a lawn mower air filter from becoming soaked in oil.