So, we all have various petrol driven machinery don't we?

How often do YOU service it (or have it serviced)?

Do you even know what the oil change intervals actually ARE?

To clarify we are talking the likes of Briggs and Stratton engines such the 'Intek', 'Max', 'Quantum' and  'Sprint' variants and Hondas such as the 'GV' and 'GVC' among others.

Did you know these require an oil change every 50 hours in 'arduous'  or 'heavy' (read commercial) use?

Just have a look at the service schedule here - 5th page down.

http://www5.briggsandstratton.com/eu/en/pdf/owners_manual/100%5CMS8...

Just think - if you use your lawnmower five hours a day, five days a week, like some of us do, then it has done fifty hours running in two weeks!

The average homeowner may get away with a yearly service but very few do more than fifty hours of cutting a year.

 By sticking to this recommended oil change interval, it greatly prolongs the engines lifespan - I know of a contractor that only had their Hayter Harriers serviced TWICE a year - after a years cutting, the engines were all worn out, smoky and knocking.

They shifted to doing their own oil changes approx every fifty hours - now they haven't changed an engine in 4 years AND they don't smoke, knock or rattle - as a matter of fact they run very well!

Most small engines only use around a pint of oil every oil change - so 5 litres of oil will last most of the season, even if you use 10 litres, its cheaper than a new engine every year!

Don't forget - always take the spark plug lead off before doing anything under your mower, always tip it carburetor side upwards and be careful of that (hopefully!) sharp blade....Don't forget to check/change the air filter and spark plug at recommended intervals too.

I know there may be someone out there that will say, I've NEVER changed the oil and it still runs fine - all I can say is "You've been lucky so far"......

Not sure how many hours your mower runs? - you can even get a handy electronic hour meter that will count them for you.....