With winter rapidly approaching, many homeowners are beginning to dig out their snowblower from the back of the garage or tool shed and go through the typical maintenance checks that must be done before it is first used on a major snow accumulation.
As part of this pre-season maintenance process, homeowners should be aware that the oil in the snowblower from last season will need to be removed and replaced with fresh oil, ensuring that the engine will function properly all season long without overheating, locking up, or incurring other major damage.
The proper maintenance schedule and procedures are set out in Honda’s user manual, but homeowners often misplace the manual and are never quite sure whether or not they’re being overly cautious, or overly neglectful, of their snowblower’s needs. For those who just don’t have the owner’s manual on hand anymore, there are a few steps to follow, and a few considerations to make, when changing the oil in a snowblower built by Honda.
Getting the Timing Right: When to Check and Change the Oil
Honda snowblowers have been specifically designed by the company to withstand harsh outside conditions and function properly in all kinds of weather. Even so, they must be properly maintained in order to ensure that their unique defenses against the elements remain intact and effective. That starts with checking and changing the oil in the engine, of course, and there are a few key guidelines to follow.
The amount of oil that’s actually in the engine should be checked by the operator before every single use of the snowblower. This is absolutely critical, as oil levels can fluctuate based on the prior period of use, as well as the weather conditions. This can negatively affect the engine and can lead to major complications if the snowblower is used without a sufficient amount of oil in the engine.
Like a typical vehicle, the snowblower should have an oil change at incremental periods. In the user manual for its snowblowers, Honda suggests that operators completely change the oil in the snowblower after every 20 hours of usage. The company also recommends a complete oil change at the beginning of the winter season, and that oil change should be completed before the first winter storm puts the snowblower into active use.
Getting the Job Done: How to Change Oil in a Honda Snowblower
Before completing an oil change on the snowblower, start the equipment and let it run for a few minutes. This will warm the oil up and make it far easier to change. Remember, cold weather will cause the oil to get quite thick. Without heating it up, leftover oil and residue could remain in the engine.
After the oil has been warmed up, turn the snowblower off and remove the ignition key. Disconnect the spark plug wire on the engine in order to guard against any unexpected sparks that might lead to serious safety hazards. Finally, place the snowblower in an elevated position using blocks of wood or cement. This will prevent it from rolling away during the process, and it will make it easier to drain the oil effectively.
Locate the drain plug near the engine and loosen it with a wrench. Be sure to have a container ready so that the oil currently in the engine can be caught, rather than drained onto the ground. After the old oil has completely drained from the engine, replace this plug so that the new oil does not leak out of the engine before and during use. Place new oil into the engine; typically, owners will need to use Honda 5W-30 snowblower oil.
Finally, replace the motor oil cap, reconnect the spark plug wire, and place the key back into the ignition. Remove the snowblower from the blocks that it was sitting on and dispose of the old oil appropriately. Some snowblower owners may want to once again fire up the engine and allow the new oil to warm up, thin out, and coat the mechanical parts of the snowblower. This is optional, however, and does not need to be done in order for the new oil to be fully effective.
Oil and More: Where to Buy Supplies for Honda Snowblowers
When it comes to finding the right oil and other parts for Honda power equipment, there is likely no better source than HondaLawnParts.com. Honda owners will find everything they need at the website, complete with the best parts and lubricants for each unique model of snowblower.
Honda Lawn Parts is located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and is able to serve central and southern Pennsylvania with its extensive line of Honda parts, lubricants, and equipment. Using the company’s website will allow customers everywhere to experience the joy of shopping with a company that is solely focused on Honda products and has the expertise to keep them running properly throughout the year.
